Home Addition — Michigan license requirements
01 The project
The starting point is the work itself — Home Addition in Michigan. The job determines which trades are involved, and the trades determine which license classifications may be required.
No project components are seeded for this project — we do not invent component lists without evidence.
02 Jurisdiction
This project is evaluated for Michigan — the no-GC-licence state. There is no statewide general-contractor licence: the individual Residential Builder and Maintenance & Alteration Contractor licences (Article 24, MCL 339.2401 et seq.) cover the residential structure — a detached 1- or 2-family dwelling or a townhouse of not more than 3 stories — and the skilled trades run on their own articles of the Skilled Trades Regulation Act (electrical Art. 7, mechanical Art. 8, plumbing Art. 11). The statute's only dollar figure is the $600 anti-splitting exemption, and permits come from the local building department. Michigan jurisdiction page.
Local building and permit fees were not read — LOCAL_AUTHORITY_REQUIRED — and the RB/M&A PSI examination fee plus the initial master-plumber and plumbing-contractor licence amounts are unpublished (NOT_VERIFIED). Michigan imposes no surety bond and no state general-liability minimum on these credentials (verified absences), but the WDCA workers' compensation rule bites at 3+ employees (or 1+ at 35+ hours/week for 13+ weeks). Inside the City of Detroit the electrical credential is issued locally. State requirements are not the complete story for any city or township.
03 Trade → license
Relations below are recorded per state — only this jurisdiction's classifications are shown.
Trades involved: no seeded components — trade resolution follows from the classification relations below.
- May require RESIDENTIAL-BUILDER — Individual Residential Builder (RB) confirmed S-MI-MCL-2401 rule MI-RB-LICENSEMCL 339.2401(a)(i): 'an addition to … a residential structure' is Residential Builder work — the clearest Article 24 page. Path: 18 years of age, 60 hours of approved prelicensure education (incl. 6 hours Michigan Residential Code and 6 hours MIOSHA Construction Safety Standards), PSI examination, $195 application, a Michigan place of business, three-year cycle by 5/31 with 21/3 hours of CE.
- Component basis BUILDER-COMPANY — Residential Builder / M&A Company License (entity with qualifying officer) confirmed S-MI-MCL-2405 rule MI-QUALIFYING-OFFICERIf the builder operates as a corporation/partnership/LLC the entity licence runs through a qualifying officer who passes the exam and holds the individual licence; company and officer renew together or the company falls into Section 2405 Suspension.
- Component basis BRANCH-OFFICE — Branch Office License confirmed S-MI-MCL-2404 rule MI-PLACE-OF-BUSINESSA builder with more than one Michigan place of business (yard, shop, second office) needs a branch office licence for each additional location (MCL 339.2404(4)); $195 application / $150 renewal.
- Component basis PLUMBING-CONTRACTOR — Plumbing Contractor License confirmed S-MI-MCL-6111 rule MI-PLUMBING-CONTRACTORThe addition's rough-in plumbing is plumbing installation: a Plumbing Contractor licence with master plumber representation (MCL 339.6111) — and MCL 339.2403(h) exempts that contractor from Article 24 only for the plumbing portion.
- Component basis ELECTRICAL-CONTRACTOR — Electrical Contractor License confirmed S-MI-LARA-ELEC rule MI-ELECTRICAL-CONTRACTORThe addition's wiring needs an Electrical Contractor licence with an associated Master Electrician (MCL 339.2403(g) exempts only the electrical work); inside the City of Detroit the electrical credential is issued locally instead.
04 Scope
What the official sources say about the work involved — typed assertions, never a boolean "covers". Interpretations are marked as such.
- Officially included ELECTRICAL-CONTRACTOR Electrical Installation Maintenance And Repair As A Business With An Associated Master Electrician (may_perform) Skilled Trades Reg. Act Art. 7; MCL 339.5707 S-MI-LARA-ELEC MCL 339.2403(g) exempts this licensee from Article 24 for electrical work only — see SCOPE-MI-TRADE-CONTRACTORS-NON-TRADE-WORK.
- Requires another classification ELECTRICAL-CONTRACTOR Article 24 Licence For The Non Electrical Scope Of A Residential Project (requires) MCL 339.2403(g)-(i) S-MI-MCL-2403 The same B_requires_other_class determination applies to michigan:plumbing-contractor (for (h)) and michigan:mechanical-contractor (for (i)) — one row per trade pair would duplicate the verbatim text, so the single row carries all three citations.
- Requires another classification BUILDER-COMPANY Individual Residential Builder Or Ma Licence Held By The Qualifying Officer (requires) MCL 339.2405(1)-(4) S-MI-MCL-2405 The entity licence never stands alone — the qualifying officer's individual licence is a precondition at application and at every renewal.
- Requires another classification BRANCH-OFFICE One Branch Office Licence Per Additional Michigan Place Of Business (requires) MCL 339.2404(4) S-MI-MCL-2404 Branch office licences renew on the three-year 5/31 cycle without Express Pay.
- Officially excluded ELECTRICAL-CONTRACTOR State Article 7 Licensing Authority Inside The City Of Detroit (may_not_perform) LARA electrical page (official local carve-out) S-MI-LARA-ELEC The one verified local licensing carve-out read this phase; every other locality remains LOCAL_AUTHORITY_REQUIRED (research §I item 5).
- Officially included RESIDENTIAL-BUILDER Erection Construction Replacement Repair Alteration Addition Improvement Wrecking Or Demolition Of A Residential Structure (may_perform) MCL 339.2401(a), (c) S-MI-MCL-2401 The broadest Michigan credential — new construction AND repair/alteration of residential structures.
- Officially excluded RESIDENTIAL-BUILDER Standalone Commercial Only Structures Under A Statewide Gc Credential (may_not_perform) MCL 339.2401(c); LARA Residential Builders page S-MI-MCL-2401 The LARA page's 'combination residential and commercial structure' wording sits beside the statute's narrower definition — combination structures are therefore answered from the residential side, and purely commercial work resolves to the local layer (research §A/§G).
- Officially included PLUMBING-CONTRACTOR Plumbing Installation Maintenance And Repair As A Business Under Master Plumber Representation (may_perform) MCL 339.6111(1)-(7) S-MI-MCL-6111 MCL 339.2403(h) exempts this licensee from Article 24 for plumbing work only.
- Not determined ELECTRICAL-CONTRACTOR Examination Status CONFLICT-MI-001 Preserved From Two Official Sources (requires) MCL 339.5707(1); LARA electrical page; form BCC-974 S-MI-LARA-ELEC Both sides are official — CONFLICT-MI-001 is preserved UNRESOLVED.
05 Requirements
| Requirement | Kind | Statement | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acting as a residential builder or M&A contractor in Michigan requires an Article 24 licence unless an exemption applies MCL 339.2403 opening paragraph verbatim (read 2026-10-05) | license | MCL 339.2403 (read verbatim 2026-10-05): 'Notwithstanding article 6, a person may engage in the business of or act in the capacity of a residential builder or a residential maintenance and alteration contractor or salesperson in this state without a license under this article, IF the person is 1 of the following' — the nine enumerated exemptions (a)–(i). Every person outside those nine exemptions needs the licence, which LARA issues only after the 60-hour prelicensure education, the PSI examination and the $195 application (MCL 339.2404; LARA prelicensure page). | S-MI-MCL-2403Source S-MI-MCL-2403 — Michigan Legislature — Michigan Compiled Laws (legislature.mi.gov)MCL 339.2403 — Acting as a residential builder or M&A contractor without a license (the exemptions, incl. the $600 anti-splitting rule) — MCL 339.2403 opening paragraph verbatim (read 2026-10-05) https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-339-2403 Retrieved 2026-10-05 · last verified 2026-10-05 Verbatim exemptions (a)-(i): authorized representatives of government; an owner of property as to a structure for the owner's own use and occupancy; an owner of rental property as to maintenance and alteration of that rental property; an officer of a court within scope; a person (other than a salesperson) working solely under contract with a licensed RB or M&A contractor; 'a person that is working on 1 undertaking or project by 1 or more contracts, if the aggregate contract price for the labor, material, and any other items for the undertaking or project is less than $600.00' — void where the work is part of a larger or major operation or the operation is divided into sub-$600 contracts 'to evade this act'; licensed electrical contractors (Art. 7) for electrical work only; licensed plumbing contractors (Art. 11) for plumbing work only; licensed mechanical contractors (Art. 8) for mechanical work only. Amended 2016 PA 412, effective 2017-04-04. |
| 60 hours of approved prelicensure education before the examination or the application Prelicensure Education Requirements page verbatim (read 2026-10-05) | experience | LARA verbatim: 'Beginning June 1, 2008, an applicant for a Residential Builder or Maintenance & Alteration Contractor license must complete 60 hours of approved prelicensure education prior to taking the examination or submitting a license application to the Department.' The 60 hours carry at least 6 hours in each of seven named subjects — Business Management, Estimating, and Job Costing; Design and Building Science; Contracts, Liability, and Risk Management; Marketing and Sales; Project Management and Scheduling; The Michigan Residential Code; MIOSHA Construction Safety Standards — plus the remaining 18 hours from other topics on the approved-course list. | S-MI-LARA-PRELICSource S-MI-LARA-PRELIC — Residential Builders' and Maintenance and Alteration Contractors' Board (Article 24, Act 299)Prelicensure Education Requirements for Residential Builder and M&A Contractor applicants — 60 hours — Prelicensure Education Requirements page verbatim (read 2026-10-05) Retrieved 2026-10-05 · last verified 2026-10-05 Verbatim: 'Beginning June 1, 2008, an applicant for a Residential Builder or Maintenance & Alteration Contractor license must complete 60 hours of approved prelicensure education prior to taking the examination or submitting a license application to the Department.' At least 6 hours each in Business Management/Estimating/Job Costing; Design and Building Science; Contracts, Liability and Risk Management; Marketing and Sales; Project Management and Scheduling; The Michigan Residential Code; MIOSHA Construction Safety Standards — the remaining 18 hours from other approved topics. Then: submit the application and fee, be of good moral character, and 'successfully complete the Residential Builder or Maintenance & Alteration Contractor examination.' Examinations are conducted by PSI at one of five PSI testing centers six days a week; examination fees are paid directly to PSI (since 2008-06-01 no exam fee goes to the State of Michigan/BCC). |
| The RB/M&A examination — PSI-administered after the 60-hour course, exam fee paid to PSI MCL 339.2404(2) + LARA prelicensure page (read 2026-10-05) | exam | MCL 339.2404(2) verbatim: 'the department shall require that an applicant for a license under this article pass an examination that establishes that the applicant has a fair knowledge of the obligations of a residential builder or residential maintenance and alteration contractor to the public and the applicant's principal, and the statutes relating to the applicant's licensure.' LARA adds: examinations are conducted by PSI at one of five PSI testing centers in Michigan, available six days a week; since 2008-06-01 examination fees are paid directly to PSI when the examination is scheduled and are no longer submitted to the State of Michigan/Bureau of Construction Codes. | S-MI-MCL-2404Source S-MI-MCL-2404 — Michigan Legislature — Michigan Compiled Laws (legislature.mi.gov)MCL 339.2404 — Examination, M&A crafts and trades, place of business, 3-year license, renewal competency — MCL 339.2404(2) + LARA prelicensure page (read 2026-10-05) https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-339-2404 Retrieved 2026-10-05 · last verified 2026-10-05 Verbatim: the department 'shall require that an applicant … pass an examination that establishes … a fair knowledge of the obligations of a residential builder or residential maintenance and alteration contractor to the public and the applicant's principal, and the statutes relating to the applicant's licensure' (except as provided in section 2404c); the M&A license is issued to an individual who qualifies 'by passing the examination' and includes the crafts 'carpentry; concrete; swimming pool installation; waterproofing a basement; excavation; insulation work; masonry work; roofing; siding and gutters; screen or storm sash installation; tile and marble work; and house wrecking', with the license specifying the craft or trade and incidental/supplemental work allowed; an RB or M&A contractor 'shall maintain a place of business in this state' and each additional place needs a branch office license; 'The department shall issue the license … for a period of 3 years in duration'; renewal requires stating a current copy of the Michigan residential code and meeting continuing-competency requirements; documentation kept at least 5 years. Also: good-moral-character evidence may be required and the operator's license/state ID is collected for identity only. |
| Entity licences run through a qualifying officer, with a suspension cascade MCL 339.2405(1)-(4) verbatim (read 2026-10-05) | license | MCL 339.2405(1) verbatim: a corporation, partnership, association, LLC or other entity applying for a licence 'shall designate 1 of its officers, partners, or members or its managing agent as a qualifying officer. A qualifying officer who takes and passes the examination and meets all other requirements of this article is entitled to a license … A qualifying officer shall also obtain and maintain a license under this article as an individual. A qualifying officer is responsible for exercising the supervision or control of the building or construction operations necessary to secure full compliance with this article.' Under §2405(2) the entity licence is suspended when a qualifying officer's licence is suspended, revoked or denied; under §2405(4) it is suspended when the qualifying officer ceases to serve. | S-MI-MCL-2405Source S-MI-MCL-2405 — Michigan Legislature — Michigan Compiled Laws (legislature.mi.gov)MCL 339.2405 — Entity licenses: qualifying officer designation, responsibilities and suspension cascade — MCL 339.2405(1)-(4) verbatim (read 2026-10-05) https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-339-2405 Retrieved 2026-10-05 · last verified 2026-10-05 Verbatim: a corporation/partnership/association/LLC applies by designating a qualifying officer who 'takes and passes the examination and meets all other requirements' and 'is responsible for exercising the supervision or control of the building or construction operations necessary to secure full compliance with this article'; the qualifying officer must also hold an individual license; every partner/trustee/director/officer/member and control person must be at least 18 and meet the license requirements other than knowledge and experience; the entity license is suspended when a qualifying officer's license is suspended/revoked/denied (subsection (2)); if the qualifying officer ceases, the license is suspended (subsection (4)). |
| No Michigan credential is keyed to a dollar value — the statute's only figure is the $600 anti-splitting exemption MCL 339.2403(f) verbatim (read 2026-10-05) | license | MCL 339.2403(f) is the ONLY dollar amount in Article 24 (read verbatim 2026-10-05): the exemption applies when 'the aggregate contract price for the labor, material, and any other items for the undertaking or project is less than $600.00,' and it is void where the work is part of a larger or major operation or where 'a division of the operation is made in contracts of amounts less than $600.00, to evade this act.' Commercial multi-state guides claim Michigan licensing thresholds of $50,000 or a $7,500–$50,000 home-improvement band; no official Michigan source states either figure, so those claims are recorded in the research record only (docs/research/michigan-research.md §A/§I) and are never published as a licence threshold or as a seeded conflict (a conflict row requires two official sources). | S-MI-MCL-2403Source S-MI-MCL-2403 — Michigan Legislature — Michigan Compiled Laws (legislature.mi.gov)MCL 339.2403 — Acting as a residential builder or M&A contractor without a license (the exemptions, incl. the $600 anti-splitting rule) — MCL 339.2403(f) verbatim (read 2026-10-05) https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-339-2403 Retrieved 2026-10-05 · last verified 2026-10-05 Verbatim exemptions (a)-(i): authorized representatives of government; an owner of property as to a structure for the owner's own use and occupancy; an owner of rental property as to maintenance and alteration of that rental property; an officer of a court within scope; a person (other than a salesperson) working solely under contract with a licensed RB or M&A contractor; 'a person that is working on 1 undertaking or project by 1 or more contracts, if the aggregate contract price for the labor, material, and any other items for the undertaking or project is less than $600.00' — void where the work is part of a larger or major operation or the operation is divided into sub-$600 contracts 'to evade this act'; licensed electrical contractors (Art. 7) for electrical work only; licensed plumbing contractors (Art. 11) for plumbing work only; licensed mechanical contractors (Art. 8) for mechanical work only. Amended 2016 PA 412, effective 2017-04-04. |
| Building permits are local, under the Michigan Residential Code Consumer guide + Michigan Residential Code Notification (read 2026-10-05) | permit | Michigan publishes no statewide building-permit process on the pages read: the Michigan Residential Code Notification (2018-01-30) records that 'Pursuant to MCL 125.1504(6) the department has determined to not update the Michigan residential code,' and LARA's co-branded consumer guide instructs consumers to confirm 'local regulations, permit requirements' and states 'The contractor should handle permits.' Permits are therefore issued and enforced by the local building department for the municipality where the project sits, and any permit-fee answer is LOCAL_AUTHORITY_REQUIRED. | S-MI-CONSUMER-GUIDESource S-MI-CONSUMER-GUIDE — Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) — Bureau of Construction Codes (BCC), Licensing SectionMichigan Co-Branded Consumer Guide to Home Improvement Projects (LARA) — Consumer guide + Michigan Residential Code Notification (read 2026-10-05) Retrieved 2026-10-05 · last verified 2026-10-05 Official consumer guide linked from the Licensing Section page, read 2026-10-05: 'Verify contractor licenses or registrations with state licensing agencies'; 'The contractor should handle permits'; 'Confirm the contractor's insurance coverage'; 'Consider performance bonds for large projects' (consumer choice, defined as 'a financial guarantee that protects project' performance — NOT a licensing condition); glossary defines License, Bond and Permit; warns about unlicensed/unsolicited contractors and contractors with 'no insurance or contracts.' No dollar threshold appears anywhere in the guide. |
06 Rule: MI-RB-LICENSE
Article 24 licensing: a person may act as a residential builder or M&A contractor without a licence ONLY inside MCL 339.2403's nine exemptions (MI-EXEMPTIONS). RB covers the erection, construction, repair, alteration or addition of a residential structure for compensation other than wages for personal labor only; M&A covers repair, alteration or improvement, building a garage, laying concrete on residential property and serial flipping, carrying the twelve statutory crafts.
| Outcome | Conclusion | Caveats |
|---|---|---|
| construction-new-or-whole | residential_builder_license_required |
|
| repair-alteration | ma_license_required |
|
| labor-only-wages | outside_license_scope |
|
Rule confidence: confirmed. Missing inputs produce NOT_DETERMINED — never a forced answer. Sources: S-MI-MCL-2403S-MI-MCL-2401S-MI-MCL-2404
07 Rule: MI-QUALIFYING-OFFICER
MCL 339.2405: an entity applicant designates a qualifying officer who passes the exam, holds an individual licence and 'is responsible for exercising the supervision or control of the building or construction operations necessary to secure full compliance with this article.' Discipline or departure of the officer suspends the entity licence (§2405(2), (4)); LARA puts a company into 'Section 2405 Suspension' when the officer's individual licence lapses.
| Outcome | Conclusion | Caveats |
|---|---|---|
| entity-needs-officer | qualifying_officer_required |
|
| officer-disciplined | entity_license_suspended |
|
Rule confidence: confirmed. Missing inputs produce NOT_DETERMINED — never a forced answer. Sources: S-MI-MCL-2405S-MI-LARA-RENEWALS
08 Rule: MI-PLACE-OF-BUSINESS
MCL 339.2404(4) verbatim: 'A residential builder or residential maintenance and alteration contractor shall maintain a place of business in this state. If a residential builder or residential maintenance and alteration contractor maintains more than 1 place of business in this state, the department shall issue a branch office license … for each place of business maintained.'
| Outcome | Conclusion | Caveats |
|---|---|---|
| michigan-office-required | place_of_business_required |
|
| additional-offices | branch_office_license_required |
|
Rule confidence: confirmed. Missing inputs produce NOT_DETERMINED — never a forced answer. Sources: S-MI-LARA-FEESS-MI-MCL-2404
09 Rule: MI-PLUMBING-CONTRACTOR
MCL 339.6111 verbatim: 'To qualify for a plumbing contractor license, the applicant must either hold a master plumber license or employ the holder of a master plumber license as his or her representative' — only a sole proprietor, partner, corporate officer or LLC member may apply, the application names the representing master, the examination is passed and the licence fee paid; LARA: 'The contractor license will not be issued without master plumber representation.' Renewal: three years by 4/30 at $300 (+$100 late).
| Outcome | Conclusion | Caveats |
|---|---|---|
| plumbing-business | plumbing_contractor_license_required |
|
| master-leaves | redesignate_master_within_30_days |
|
Rule confidence: confirmed. Missing inputs produce NOT_DETERMINED — never a forced answer. Sources: S-MI-MCL-6111S-MI-LARA-RENEWALS
10 Rule: MI-ELECTRICAL-CONTRACTOR
LARA verbatim: 'Electrical Contractor License — This is required if you want to do business as an electrician.' The licence needs an associated Master Electrician (one master per contractor; without one the licence is on hold), costs $300 for the three-year cycle expiring December 31 of every third year (MCL 339.5707(7)), and is the licence MCL 339.2403(g) exempts from Article 24 for electrical work only.
| Outcome | Conclusion | Caveats |
|---|---|---|
| electrical-business | electrical_contractor_license_required |
|
| master-not-associated | license_on_hold |
|
Rule confidence: confirmed. Missing inputs produce NOT_DETERMINED — never a forced answer. Sources: S-MI-LARA-ELECS-MI-MCL-5707
11 Rule: MI-PRELICENSE-60H
LARA verbatim: 'Beginning June 1, 2008, an applicant for a Residential Builder or Maintenance & Alteration Contractor license must complete 60 hours of approved prelicensure education prior to taking the examination or submitting a license application to the Department.' At least 6 hours in each of seven named subjects (incl. Michigan Residential Code and MIOSHA Construction Safety Standards) plus 18 elective hours.
| Outcome | Conclusion | Caveats |
|---|---|---|
| before-exam-and-application | prelicensure_education_required |
|
| hours-complete | prelicensure_education_satisfied |
|
Rule confidence: confirmed. Missing inputs produce NOT_DETERMINED — never a forced answer. Sources: S-MI-LARA-PRELIC
12 Rule: MI-NO-DOLLAR-THRESHOLD
No Michigan credential is keyed to a dollar value. MCL 339.2403(f)'s $600 figure is an EXEMPTION for a whole undertaking under $600 aggregate (void when a larger operation is split into sub-$600 contracts to evade the act) — not a licensing floor. Commercial guides claim $50,000 or a $7,500–$50,000 home-improvement band; no official Michigan source states either figure.
| Outcome | Conclusion | Caveats |
|---|---|---|
| no-value-floor | no_dollar_value_license_threshold |
|
Rule confidence: confirmed. Missing inputs produce NOT_DETERMINED — never a forced answer. Sources: S-MI-MCL-2403
13 The licensing path for an addition
| Question | Michigan answer | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Is it Article 24 work? | yes — 'an addition to … a residential structure' is Residential Builder work (rule MI-RB-LICENSE) | S-MI-MCL-2403 |
| Prelicensure | 60 hours of approved education before the exam AND the application (7 subjects × 6h + 18 elective) | S-MI-LARA-PRELIC |
| Examination | PSI, five Michigan testing centres; fee paid to PSI (amount not published) | S-MI-MCL-2404 |
| Entity applicant? | designate a qualifying officer who passes the exam and holds the individual licence; renew both or Section 2405 Suspension applies | S-MI-MCL-2405 |
| Value threshold | none exists — the only figure in Article 24 is the $600 anti-splitting EXEMPTION | S-MI-MCL-2403 |
| Rough plumbing & wiring | Plumbing Contractor licence (master representation) + Electrical Contractor licence (associated master) | S-MI-MCL-6111 |
Note: the $600 anti-splitting exemption (Project under $600 aggregate contract price — licence not required, with the anti-splitting rule)and the local permit layer (Building permits are local, under the Michigan Residential Code) are stated in full on the Michigan jurisdiction page.