Home Addition — Utah license requirements
01 The project
The starting point is the work itself — Home Addition in Utah. 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 Utah — the one-act state. Title 58 Chapter 55 and one agency (DOPL's Division of Professional Licensing) hold the whole ladder: the licence duty attaches to engaging in a construction trade for compensation, never to a price; the $7,000 line of 58-55-305(1)(h)(i) exempts small alteration and repair work while the statute's seven trade overlays stay attached at any value; general classifications owe 2 years / 4,000 hours, the 25+5-hour courses and the Utah Business & Law exam, while 17 specialties owe neither exam nor experience. Building permits are the local compliance layer the state never issues (15A-1- 205(2)). Utah jurisdiction page.
Chapter 55's official 88-page PDF, the DOPL FY2025-26 fee-schedule PDF and every DOPL page cited here were machine-read on 2026-10-11; direct fetches that returned 403 were read through a text proxy (same bytes, official URLs cited). No Utah municipal code or permit schedule was opened, so every city fact — valuation tiers, permit fees, registration questions — stays LOCAL_AUTHORITY_REQUIRED. All three conflicts ($2M-vs-$3M GL aggregate; H100-vs-S350; the RLRF $330) are published side by side, and the elevator-mechanic and residential-master application requirements are flagged open rather than guessed. State requirements are not the complete story for any locality.
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 B100 — B100 General (Building) Contractor confirmed S-UT-R156-55A rule UT-B100-SCOPEAn addition is structural: footings, foundation and bearing walls put it outside R101's non-structural boundary (R156-55a-301w(2)), so the contract rides B100 — or R100 while the building stays within ≤4 units residential / ≤3 stories / ≤20,000 sq ft (58-55-102(42)).
- Alternative path R100 — R100 Residential and Small Commercial Contractor confirmed S-UT-CODE-55 rule UT-R100-CAPThe same build on a single-family or ≤4-unit residence may ride R100 instead of B100 — including the mechanical-work carve-in for up-to-four-unit residences.
- May require S310 — S310 Foundation, Excavation, and Demolition Contractor confirmed S-UT-R156-55A rule UT-SPECIALTY-NO-EXAMExcavation and demolition are their own specialty class (S310, R156-55a-301ad) — concrete cutting is licence-EXEMPT (R156-55a-301an(1)(i)) but the ground work itself is not; B100/R100 may also take it as a component.
04 Scope
What the official sources say about the work involved — typed assertions, never a boolean "covers". Interpretations are marked as such.
- Officially included B100 All Building Construction Plus Every Specialty Scope (may_perform) 58-55-102(26); R156-55a-301c S-UT-R156-55A B100 is the only Utah licence that swallows the whole specialty list — roofing, S202 solar, B200 modular and pools included — and it still cannot touch the excluded trade stacks.
- Officially excluded B100 Electrical Plumbing Trade Work Elevators R200 S700 (may_not_perform) 58-55-102(26)(a); R156-55a-301c(2)(b) S-UT-R156-55A
- Officially excluded R100 Buildings Beyond 4 Units Or 3 Stories Or 20000 Sq Ft (may_not_perform) 58-55-102(42); R156-55a-301h S-UT-CODE-55
05 Requirements
| Requirement | Kind | Statement | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Licence required before contracting in the construction trades (58-55-301(1)(a)) 58-55-301(1)-(2) verbatim (read 2026-10-11) | license | 58-55-301(1)(a) verbatim (compiled XML read 2026-10-11): 'A person engaged in the construction trades licensed under this chapter, as a contractor regulated under this chapter, as an alarm business or company, or as an alarm company agent, shall become licensed under this chapter before engaging in that trade or contracting activity in this state unless specifically exempted from licensure under Section 58-1-307 or 58-55-305.' 58-55-301(2) then issues the licence classifications — alarm company, alarm company agent, apprentice electrician, apprentice plumber, construction trades instructor, elevator contractor, elevator mechanic, general building/general electrical/general engineering/general plumbing contractor, HVAC contractor, journeyman and master electricians and plumbers, residential and small commercial contractor, both residential electrical and residential plumbing tiers and specialty contractor. | S-UT-CODE-55Source S-UT-CODE-55 — Utah State LegislatureUtah Code Title 58 Chapter 55 — Utah Construction Trades Licensing Act (compiled current text: §§ 101–112, 201–213, 301–313, 401–403, 501–508, 601–604, 701–704) — 58-55-301(1)-(2) verbatim (read 2026-10-11) https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title58/Chapter55/C58-55_1800010118000101.xml Retrieved 2026-10-11 · last verified 2026-10-11 Read 2026-10-11 from the Legislature's compiled-code XML (HTTP 200 via curl) and cross-checked against the rendered section pages in a real browser — the section HTML loads its body client-side and this project's URL-fetcher failed the site's TLS chain (disclosed above). Backs the licence duty (58-55-301), the 28-classification licence list, the LOCAL PREEMPTION ('the only licenses required …' + 'Neither the state nor any of its political subdivisions may require … any additional business licenses, registrations, certifications …'), the board structure (58-55-201: Electrician and Plumbers Licensing Board; Alarm System Security and Licensing Board), qualifications and the master-qualifier ladder (58-55-302), the contractor CE statute (58-55-302.5 — 6 h/two-year cycle with the twelve approved-provider associations incl. the Utah Roofing Contractors Association), the trade CE statute (58-55-302.7 — electricians 16 h, plumbers 12 h, elevator mechanics 8 h), the two-year renewal cycle (58-55-303), the qualifier regime incl. the 10-day/60-day rule and the licence-number-on-permit duty (58-55-304), THE $7,000 EXEMPTION with its trade overlays and the $3,000 affirmation trigger (58-55-305), financial responsibility (58-55-306), gas/fire-sprinkler scope (58-55-308), the political-subdivision permit conditions (58-55-310), unlawful conduct (58-55-501 — incl. permit unlawful acts and the qualified-beneficiary registration duty), unprofessional conduct (58-55-502 — incl. 'failure to reimburse the Residence Lien Recovery Fund as required by Section 38-11-207'), the penalty ladder (58-55-503 — class A misdemeanor; $1,000/$2,000/$2,000-per-day citation fines; 20 days to contest), crane certification (58-55-504) and the Construction Business Registry (58-55-702). The trade-scope definitions used by the rule live at 58-55-102(8),(9),(17),(18),(26)–(31),(35)–(38),(40),(42),(44)–(49),(53) — all quoted from this compilation. Sections carrying an end date of 2027-01-01 are the Chapter-42 (2026 GS) renumbering into new Part-1 numbering — cited as forward-looking only. |
| Two years / 4,000 hours of paid construction experience for B100/E100/R100 — and the five alternative doors DOPL GC page + FAQ + application PDF v.20260930 + R156-55a-302b (read 2026-10-11) | experience | DOPL FAQ verbatim (snapshot 2025-12-11): 'For a general contractors license (B100, E100, or R100), at least two years (or 4,000 hours) of paid work experience is required in the construction industry. No experience is required for a specialty contractor license.' The application PDF (v.20260930) lists the alternatives, each with documentation: self-certification of 'at least 4,000 hours of paid work experience'; 'Previously identified as a qualifier, for at least TWO years, on any Utah contractor license at any time'; 'an accredited 2 or 4-year degree in Construction Management'; 'an active and unrestricted Utah professional engineer license'; 'passed the NASCLA Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors'; one year of licensed out-of-state experience for endorsement; or qualifier status on a Utah licence before May 9, 2017. R156-55a-302b supplies the rule's 4,000-hour and NASCLA/CM-degree/Utah-PE formulations. | S-UT-DOPL-GCSource S-UT-DOPL-GC — Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL), Department of CommerceDOPL — Apply for a General Contractor License (B100/R100/E100/P200/P201/E200/E201 list; 30-hour pre-licensure course; 2-year/4,000-hour experience; master qualifier for plumbing/electrical; endorsement path) — DOPL GC page + FAQ + application PDF v.20260930 + R156-55a-302b (read 2026-10-11) Retrieved 2026-10-11 · last verified 2026-10-11 Read 2026-10-11 through the Wayback snapshot of 2025-12-11 (disclosed). The page lists the general-contractor classifications verbatim — 'B100 General Contractor / R100 Residential/Small Commercial Contractor / E100 General Engineering Contractor / P200 General Plumbing Contractor / P201 Residential Plumbing Contractor / E200 General Electrical Contractor / E201 Residential Electrical Contractor' — over the specialty requirements PLUS: 'Experience Requirement. Two (2) years of experience in the construction industry. This experience must be at least 4,000 hours (or 2 years) of paid work experience at any time in your life' with the alternative doors (qualifier on a current/previous Utah licence ≥2 years; Construction Management degree; 'Passed NASCLA Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors'; 'One (1) year of licensed experience working in another State … if the license is currently active and in good standing'; qualifier on a Utah licence before 2017-05-09); 'Plumbing Contractors. Must have Master Plumber qualifier.'; 'Electrical Contractors. Must have Master Electrical qualifier.'; the Utah Business & Law Exam is taken 'directly with the authorized exam provider … Do not submit your application until you have passed the exam'; and the endorsement path for out-of-state licensees. |
| Pre-licensure course: 25 hours for specialties, 30 hours for general/plumbing/electrical/HVAC classes DOPL Specialty page + application PDF (read 2026-10-11) | exam | DOPL specialty page verbatim: 'Specialty contractors require a 25-hour pre-licensure course. All general contractors (E100, R100, B100), plumbing and electrical contractors require a 30-hour pre-licensure course (unless you took the pre-licensure course BEFORE October 1, 2019 in which case you do not need the extra 5 hours)'. The current application PDF restates it: 'Pre-licensure Course (25-hour pre-licensure course minimum plus 5-hour Business and Law Course if applying for General Classification)'. Providers named by DOPL: Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), the Utah Home Builders Association (UHBA) and Associated General Contractors of Utah (AGC). | S-UT-DOPL-SCSource S-UT-DOPL-SC — Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL), Department of CommerceDOPL — Apply for a Specialty Contractor License (25-hour specialty vs 30-hour general pre-licensure course; GL certificate '$1,000,000 for each incident and $3,000,000 in total' — pre-2026-04-20 text, CONFLICT-UT-001; entity registration; workers' comp or Labor-Commission waiver) — DOPL Specialty page + application PDF (read 2026-10-11) Retrieved 2026-10-11 · last verified 2026-10-11 Read 2026-10-11 through the Wayback snapshot of 2025-12-14 (disclosed). Verbatim: 'Find your desired Specialty Contractor License Classification(s). Refer to Utah office of administrative rules for a list of the available Specialty Contractor Classifications and the description of each scope of practice'; 'Specialty contractors require a 25-hour pre-licensure course. All general contractors (E100, R100, B100), plumbing and electrical contractors require a 30-hour pre-licensure course (unless you took the pre-licensure course BEFORE October 1, 2019 in which case you do not need the extra 5 hours)'; the insurance sentence — 'a general liability insurance certificate with minimum required coverage of $1,000,000 for each incident and $3,000,000 in total that covers and where DOPL is listed as certificate holder' — SIDE B of CONFLICT-UT-001 (this snapshot predates the 2026-04-20 $2M change that R156-55a-302d and the hub announcement now state); plus the entity-registration/EIN/state-withholding/unemployment requirements and 'Have obtained a Workers Compensation Coverage Waiver from the Utah Labor Commission' for employers without employees. Providers named: 'Associated Builders and Contractors Inc (ABC), Utah Home Builders Association (UHBA), or Associated General Contractors of Utah (AGC)'. |
| The Utah Contractor Business and Law Examination — the ONLY division exam for contractors, through Prov R156-55a-302a; DOPL Exam Information (read 2026-10-11) | exam | R156-55a-302a (rule eff. 08/07/2026): the only examination the division requires of contractor applicants is the Utah Contractor Business and Law Examination, with retakes 'no sooner than 30 days following any failure, up to three failures; and … no sooner than six months'; endorsement applicants owe NO Business & Law exam. DOPL's exam page verbatim: the Business-and-Law list is B100, E100, H100, R100, E200, E201, P200, P201 (with 'Master classification needed' beside the electrical and plumbing rows); 'The divisions contractor exam administrator is ProV exams. No pre-approval is required to sit for these examinations'; 'The exam is administered in-person at one of 21 ProV testing centers or online through Examroom AI'; 'You are allowed 3 attempts, 30 days apart with each subsequent retake 180 days apart'. The GC page adds: take the exam 'directly with the authorized exam provider … Do not submit your application until you have passed the exam'. | S-UT-DOPL-EXAMSource S-UT-DOPL-EXAM — Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL), Department of CommerceDOPL — Exam Information (Prov is 'the divisions contractor exam administrator'; Business & Law required for B100/E100/H100/R100/E200/E201/P200/P201; 21 ProV centres or online via Examroom AI; '3 attempts, 30 days apart … subsequent retake 180 days apart') — R156-55a-302a; DOPL Exam Information (read 2026-10-11) Retrieved 2026-10-11 · last verified 2026-10-11 Read 2026-10-11 through the Wayback snapshot of 2025-12-09 (disclosed). Verbatim: the Business-and-Law list — B100, E100, H100, R100, E200, E201, P200, P201 — with 'Additional requirements: Master classification needed' beside the electrical/plumbing rows; 'The HVAC (H100) license requires two exams be passed: the Contactor Business and Law ad the HVAC written exam. The divisions contractor exam administrator is ProV exams. No pre-approval is required to sit for these examinations'; 'The exam is administered in-person at one of 21 ProV testing centers or online through Examroom AI'; 'You are allowed 3 attempts, 30 days apart with each subsequent retake 180 days apart'. The per-exam PRICE is Prov's and appears nowhere on DOPL pages (withheld by name). |
| Financial responsibility by signed questionnaire — a surety bond only IN LIEU (58-55-306; R156-55a-602 minima) 58-55-306 verbatim; R156-55a-602; application PDF (read 2026-10-11) | bond | 58-55-306(1) verbatim: an applicant or renewing/reinstating licensee demonstrates financial responsibility 'by: (a) (i) completing a questionnaire developed by the division; and (ii) signing the questionnaire, certifying that the information provided is true and accurate; or (b) submitting a bond in an amount and form determined by the commission with the concurrence of the director.' 58-55-306(2): the licensee 'shall maintain financial responsibility throughout the period of licensure'; (3): 'The division may audit the financial responsibility of an applicant or licensee on a random basis or upon finding of a reasonable need'; (5): for unincorporated entities the division weighs each owner's PERSONAL finances and may prohibit an individual from the trades, or require a bond of 20% of annual gross distributions. R156-55a-602 sets the in-lieu bond minima at $50,000 general / $25,000 for R100 / $15,000 for other classifications. The application PDF confirms the mechanism: 'Prior to issuing the license, a bond may be required … see Utah Code § 58-55-306 and Utah Admin Rule R156-55a-602.' | S-UT-CODE-55Source S-UT-CODE-55 — Utah State LegislatureUtah Code Title 58 Chapter 55 — Utah Construction Trades Licensing Act (compiled current text: §§ 101–112, 201–213, 301–313, 401–403, 501–508, 601–604, 701–704) — 58-55-306 verbatim; R156-55a-602; application PDF (read 2026-10-11) https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title58/Chapter55/C58-55_1800010118000101.xml Retrieved 2026-10-11 · last verified 2026-10-11 Read 2026-10-11 from the Legislature's compiled-code XML (HTTP 200 via curl) and cross-checked against the rendered section pages in a real browser — the section HTML loads its body client-side and this project's URL-fetcher failed the site's TLS chain (disclosed above). Backs the licence duty (58-55-301), the 28-classification licence list, the LOCAL PREEMPTION ('the only licenses required …' + 'Neither the state nor any of its political subdivisions may require … any additional business licenses, registrations, certifications …'), the board structure (58-55-201: Electrician and Plumbers Licensing Board; Alarm System Security and Licensing Board), qualifications and the master-qualifier ladder (58-55-302), the contractor CE statute (58-55-302.5 — 6 h/two-year cycle with the twelve approved-provider associations incl. the Utah Roofing Contractors Association), the trade CE statute (58-55-302.7 — electricians 16 h, plumbers 12 h, elevator mechanics 8 h), the two-year renewal cycle (58-55-303), the qualifier regime incl. the 10-day/60-day rule and the licence-number-on-permit duty (58-55-304), THE $7,000 EXEMPTION with its trade overlays and the $3,000 affirmation trigger (58-55-305), financial responsibility (58-55-306), gas/fire-sprinkler scope (58-55-308), the political-subdivision permit conditions (58-55-310), unlawful conduct (58-55-501 — incl. permit unlawful acts and the qualified-beneficiary registration duty), unprofessional conduct (58-55-502 — incl. 'failure to reimburse the Residence Lien Recovery Fund as required by Section 38-11-207'), the penalty ladder (58-55-503 — class A misdemeanor; $1,000/$2,000/$2,000-per-day citation fines; 20 days to contest), crane certification (58-55-504) and the Construction Business Registry (58-55-702). The trade-scope definitions used by the rule live at 58-55-102(8),(9),(17),(18),(26)–(31),(35)–(38),(40),(42),(44)–(49),(53) — all quoted from this compilation. Sections carrying an end date of 2027-01-01 are the Chapter-42 (2026 GS) renumbering into new Part-1 numbering — cited as forward-looking only. |
| General liability $1,000,000 each incident / $2,000,000 total, DOPL as certificate holder (R156-55a-302d, eff. 2026-04-20) R156-55a-302d; application PDF v.20260930; DOPL hub (read 2026-10-11) | insurance | R156-55a-302d (rule eff. 08/07/2026) verbatim: 'coverage amounts of at least $1,000,000 for each incident and $2,000,000 in total', plus workers' compensation insurance or a Utah Labor Commission coverage waiver. The current application PDF restates it: 'Minimum coverage is $1,000,000 for each incident and $2,000,000 in total and must cover all your scope of work for the license, for the entire duration of active licensure in compliance with Utah Admin. Rule R156-55a-302d', with the certificate naming DOPL as certificate holder. DOPL's hub announcement, effective 2026-04-20: 'New Contractor Licensing Requirements Effective April 20, 2026 Applies to all contractors. Updated insurance minimums: $1 million per occurrence $2 million aggregate'. Employees trigger the workers' comp certificate plus Workforce Services unemployment and Tax Commission withholding registrations (or a PEO contract); employers without employees submit a Labor Commission coverage waiver. | S-UT-R156-55ASource S-UT-R156-55A — Utah Office of Administrative Rules (R156-55a, Utah Construction Trades Licensing Act Rule)Utah Admin. Code R156-55a — Utah Construction Trades Licensing Act Rule (effective 08/07/2026; notice of continuation 06/09/2026) — R156-55a-302d; application PDF v.20260930; DOPL hub (read 2026-10-11) https://adminrules.utah.gov/public/rule/R156-55a/Current%20Rules Retrieved 2026-10-11 · last verified 2026-10-11 · effective 2026-08-07 Read 2026-10-11 in a real browser and through the site's own public content API (the site is a JS application). The operative rule behind every credential row: contractor scopes B100/E200/E100/P200/H100/R100/E201/P201 (301c–301j; B100 'includes … all scopes of work relating to specialty contractor licenses … the scope of work for B200 … and the construction, fabrication, or installation of activity pools …' and excludes E200/E201/P200/P201, trade licences, R200, S700 and S510 elevators, HVAC 'unless … performed upon a single-family residence or a multi-family residence up to four units. Nothing … shall be construed as waiving the requirements that all HVAC work relating to natural gas be performed by a Certified Natural Gas Technician'); the trade licences (301m–301v); the 16 specialty classes (301w–301al) incl. R101's 'more than $50,000 total including materials and labor' cap, S280 Roofing ('apply and install asphalt, pitch, tar, felt, flax, shakes, shingles, roof tile, slate …' incl. 'installation of electrical skylights, if the electrical connection is performed by an E200 or E201 contractor') and S202 Solar Photovoltaic ('fabricate, construct, install, or replace photovoltaic modules and related components', excluding 'any wiring, connections, and wire methods as governed in the National Electrical Code'); the three-specialty cap and R101 exclusivity (301am); the 28 exempt activities + lead/asbestos/fire-alarm carve-outs (301an); the exam rule — only the Utah Contractor Business and Law Examination, retakes 'no sooner than 30 days following any failure, up to three failures; and … no sooner than six months', and NO Business & Law exam for endorsement applicants (302a); the H100 qualifier regime — 4,000 HVAC hours ≥90% workload ≤5 years or a plumbing trade licence, Business & Law + HVAC written exam at ≥70%, interim qualifiers to 2027-11-30 (302g); experience definitions — 4,000 hours, NASCLA/CM-degree/Utah-PE alternatives (302b); insurance proof — 'coverage amounts of at least $1,000,000 for each incident and $2,000,000 in total' + workers' comp or a Labor-Commission waiver (302d); CE standards — 6 h per two-year term, 'A minimum of three hours shall be core education … A minimum of three hours shall consist of live in-class attendance', HVAC 3 h, backflow 2 h, energy 1 h (303b); qualifier duties — 'not less than 12 hours of work per week', three-licensee cap, three-specialty cap with R101 exclusive (304); sole-owner permit reporting (305); the handyman affirmation — 'greater than $3,000 but less than $7,000', liability '$1,000,000 for each incident and $3,000,000 in total', reaffirmed 'on or before November 30 of each odd numbered year' (305a); financial-responsibility audit factors (306); the Certified Natural Gas Technician programme (308b); inactive status (312); and the bond rule (602). |
| Owners and lessees working their own property (58-55-305(1)(j)) and the local owner-occupant permit path 58-55-305(1)(j),(e); SLC Building Services FAQ (read 2026-10-11) | exemption | 58-55-305(1)(j) verbatim: 'owners and lessees of property and persons regularly employed for wages by owners or lessees of property or their agents for the purpose of maintaining the property, are exempt from this chapter when doing work upon the property.' Salt Lake City's Building Services FAQ applies the same line to permits: 'If the structure is owner /occupied and YOUR primary residence (the one you reside in), the property owner may obtain the appropriate permits'; 'In accordance with the State of Utah, property owners obtaining a permit for their primary structure must also submit an Owner / Builder Certification with their plan review documents'; and 'If the property is a rental or commercial property, a contractor is required obtain the permits and do the work required'. 58-55-305(1)(e) additionally exempts a sole owner's helpers working for 'token compensation' — minimal, unrelated to fair market value and incidental (meals, transport). | S-UT-CODE-55Source S-UT-CODE-55 — Utah State LegislatureUtah Code Title 58 Chapter 55 — Utah Construction Trades Licensing Act (compiled current text: §§ 101–112, 201–213, 301–313, 401–403, 501–508, 601–604, 701–704) — 58-55-305(1)(j),(e); SLC Building Services FAQ (read 2026-10-11) https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title58/Chapter55/C58-55_1800010118000101.xml Retrieved 2026-10-11 · last verified 2026-10-11 Read 2026-10-11 from the Legislature's compiled-code XML (HTTP 200 via curl) and cross-checked against the rendered section pages in a real browser — the section HTML loads its body client-side and this project's URL-fetcher failed the site's TLS chain (disclosed above). Backs the licence duty (58-55-301), the 28-classification licence list, the LOCAL PREEMPTION ('the only licenses required …' + 'Neither the state nor any of its political subdivisions may require … any additional business licenses, registrations, certifications …'), the board structure (58-55-201: Electrician and Plumbers Licensing Board; Alarm System Security and Licensing Board), qualifications and the master-qualifier ladder (58-55-302), the contractor CE statute (58-55-302.5 — 6 h/two-year cycle with the twelve approved-provider associations incl. the Utah Roofing Contractors Association), the trade CE statute (58-55-302.7 — electricians 16 h, plumbers 12 h, elevator mechanics 8 h), the two-year renewal cycle (58-55-303), the qualifier regime incl. the 10-day/60-day rule and the licence-number-on-permit duty (58-55-304), THE $7,000 EXEMPTION with its trade overlays and the $3,000 affirmation trigger (58-55-305), financial responsibility (58-55-306), gas/fire-sprinkler scope (58-55-308), the political-subdivision permit conditions (58-55-310), unlawful conduct (58-55-501 — incl. permit unlawful acts and the qualified-beneficiary registration duty), unprofessional conduct (58-55-502 — incl. 'failure to reimburse the Residence Lien Recovery Fund as required by Section 38-11-207'), the penalty ladder (58-55-503 — class A misdemeanor; $1,000/$2,000/$2,000-per-day citation fines; 20 days to contest), crane certification (58-55-504) and the Construction Business Registry (58-55-702). The trade-scope definitions used by the rule live at 58-55-102(8),(9),(17),(18),(26)–(31),(35)–(38),(40),(42),(44)–(49),(53) — all quoted from this compilation. Sections carrying an end date of 2027-01-01 are the Chapter-42 (2026 GS) renumbering into new Part-1 numbering — cited as forward-looking only. |
| Permits are the LOCAL compliance agency's job — the state issues none and assesses no permit fee (15A-1-205(2)) 15A-1-202/203/205; SLC FAQ; MSD Building Services (read 2026-10-11) | permit | 15A-1-205(2) verbatim: the state construction code division 'has no responsibility to: conduct inspections to determine compliance with the codes; issue permits; or assess building permit fees' — those duties sit with the local 'compliance agency' ('an agency of the state or any of its political subdivisions that issues permits for construction regulated under the codes', 15A-1-202), advised by the Uniform Building Code Commission whose contractor seats include general (one residential), electrical and plumbing contractors (15A-1-203). Salt Lake City's FAQ applies the split: 'If there is a contractor on the job, it is the contractor's responsibility according to state law to obtain the permit and see to the inspections'; 'If the work being done can be considered general maintenance or repair under $3000 in valuation, an owner or representative may obtain the permit' — 'General maintenance does include roofing, but does not include anything structural…'; and 'Permit fees are based on the value of the project' (the linked consolidated schedule did not extract — withheld by name). The Greater Salt Lake Municipal Services District serves Magna, Kearns, White City, Emigration Canyon, Copperton, Brighton and unincorporated Salt Lake County and 'interpret[s] and enforce[s] the building code'. | S-UT-CODE-15ASource S-UT-CODE-15A — Utah State LegislatureUtah Code Title 15A Chapter 1 — State Construction Code Act (§ 15A-1-202 definitions incl. 'compliance agency'; § 15A-1-203 Uniform Building Code Commission; § 15A-1-205 the division 'has no responsibility to: conduct inspections …; issue permits; or assess building permit fees') — 15A-1-202/203/205; SLC FAQ; MSD Building Services (read 2026-10-11) https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title15A/C15A_1800010118000101.xml Retrieved 2026-10-11 · last verified 2026-10-11 Read 2026-10-11 from the compiled XML. The state/local boundary this seed publishes: DOPL administers the codes but 'has no responsibility to: conduct inspections to determine compliance with the codes; issue permits; or assess building permit fees' (15A-1-205(2)) — those duties sit with the local 'compliance agency' ('an agency of the state or any of its political subdivisions that issues permits for construction regulated under the codes …', 15A-1-202), advised by the 13-member Uniform Building Code Commission whose contractor seats include 'two … general contractors, one of which shall specialize in residential construction; one shall be an electrical contractor; and one shall be a plumbing contractor' (15A-1-203). |
06 Rule: UT-B100-SCOPE
58-55-102(26)(a): B100 is qualified 'to perform or superintend construction of structures … except plumbing, electrical work, mechanical work, work related to the operating integrity of an elevator, and manufactured housing installation, for which the general building contractor shall employ the services of a contractor licensed in the particular specialty, except that a general building contractor engaged in the construction of single-family and multifamily residences up to four units may perform the mechanical work and hire a licensed plumber or electrician as an employee.' R156-55a-301c adds the inclusions — 'all scopes of work relating to specialty contractor licenses … R156-55a-301w through …301al', the B200 modular scope and pools/spas — and the exclusions (E200/E201/P200/P201, the trade licences, R200, S700, S510 elevators, HVAC beyond ≤4-unit residences) with the natural-gas saving clause for the CNGT.
| Outcome | Conclusion | Caveats |
|---|---|---|
| b100-takes-scope | b100_may_take_scope | — |
| b100-excluded-stack | b100_may_not_take_excluded_trade_stack | — |
| b100-hvac-residential-carve-in | b100_hvac_limited_to_residential_upto_four_units | — |
| b100-not-held | b100_not_held | — |
07 Rule: UT-R100-CAP
R100 Residential and Small Commercial Contractor: the residential side reaches single-family and multifamily residences up to FOUR units; the small-commercial side is capped at buildings no more than THREE stories and no more than 20,000 square feet (58-55-102(42) + R156-55a-301d's scope). There is NO published dollar ceiling anywhere in the sources read (research §K/§O) — the measure is units/stories/square-feet, never contract value — and R100 carries the LOWEST in-lieu bond floor ($25,000 vs $50,000 general; R156-55a-602). Over the line the work needs B100 (or the appropriate general/specialty class).
| Outcome | Conclusion | Caveats |
|---|---|---|
| residential-within-four-units | r100_residential_scope_ok | — |
| residential-over-four-units | r100_residential_scope_exceeded | — |
| small-commercial-within-caps | r100_small_commercial_scope_ok | — |
| small-commercial-over-caps | r100_small_commercial_scope_exceeded | — |
08 Rule: UT-SPECIALTY-NO-EXAM
58-55-302(1)(c)(i) requires NO division examination for apprentice electricians, apprentice plumbers and specialty contractors; 58-55-302(1)(e)(ii)(A): 'no employment experience is required for licensure as a specialty contractor'. DOPL's FAQ verbatim: 'No experience is required for a specialty contractor license'. The current application confirms the split — 'If you are only applying for Specialty Classifications, you do not need to complete this section' (exam and experience). A specialty applicant still owes the 25-hour course, the $1M/$2M insurance, financial responsibility, the qualifier regime and the same biennial cycle. Two specialty wrinkles: S370 needs the NITC STAR exam path and S510's qualifier must hold the Elevator Mechanic licence.
| Outcome | Conclusion | Caveats |
|---|---|---|
| specialty-no-exam | specialty_no_exam_no_experience | — |
| general-classification | general_classification_owes_exam_and_experience | — |
09 Rule: UT-OWNER-EXEMPTION
Utah Code 58-55-305(1)(d) exempts 'a person who … constructs or repairs a residential structure that the person owns' subject to the rule-set limits: SOLE owner, 'noncommercial, nonpublic use', not more than one residential structure per year and not more than three per five years (R156-55a-305(4) reporting duties sit on top). Locally, Salt Lake City lets the owner-occupant of their PRIMARY residence pull the permit with an Owner/Builder Certification, but 'If the property is a rental or commercial property, a contractor is required obtain the permits and do the work required' — owner-builder is never a commercial tool (Riverton: 'illegal to declare owner-builder on any commercial project').
| Outcome | Conclusion | Caveats |
|---|---|---|
| owner-occupant-within-limits | owner_builder_path_available |
|
| owner-over-frequency-limit | owner_builder_frequency_limits_exceeded | — |
| owner-on-rental-or-commercial | owner_builder_not_available_non_owner_occupied | — |
| contractor-performs | owner_exemption_not_in_play_contractor_path | — |
10 Rule: UT-LOCAL-PERMIT
§58-55-501 makes the permit duties personal: (4) applying for or obtaining a building permit when not licensed/exempt; (5) issuing a permit to someone without a licence; (6) obtaining a permit for an unlicensed required person; (7) FAILING TO OBTAIN a building permit when required — all unlawful conduct. The state does not permit: §15A-1-205(2) — DOPL 'has no responsibility to: conduct inspections …; issue permits; or assess building permit fees' — the local 'compliance agency' does (§15A-1-202). Salt Lake City's rules illustrate the local layer: the owner-occupant of their PRIMARY residence pulls the permit with an Owner/Builder Certification; 'If the property is a rental or commercial property, a contractor is required obtain the permits and do the work required'; and 'general maintenance or repair under $3000 in valuation' may be pulled by an owner or representative ('General maintenance does include roofing, but does not include anything structural…').
| Outcome | Conclusion | Caveats |
|---|---|---|
| permit-missing | building_permit_required_before_work | — |
| permit-obtained | building_permit_satisfied | — |
| no-permit-reported | no_building_permit_requirement_reported | — |
11 The addition stack — structural work leaves R101 behind
| Question | Utah answer | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Which licence holds the contract? | B100 General Building (footings, foundation and bearing walls are structural — outside R101) or R100 while within ≤4 units / ≤3 stories / ≤20,000 sq ft (rules UT-B100-SCOPE, UT-R100-CAP) | S-UT-CODE-55 |
| Experience and courses? | 2 years / 4,000 paid hours (or NASCLA / CM degree / Utah PE / prior qualifier) + the 25-hour prelicensure and 5-hour business-and-law courses + the Utah Business & Law exam (rules UT-GC-EXPERIENCE, UT-GC-EXAM) | S-UT-DOPL-GC |
| Money proof? | the signed questionnaire by default; a bond only in lieu at the R156-55a-602 tiers ($50k general / $25k R100 / $15k specialty once debts reach $1,000) + GL $1M/$2M (rule UT-FINANCIAL-RESPONSIBILITY) | S-UT-CODE-55 |
| Owner building it themself? | the owner-builder path — one residential structure per year, three per five years, noncommercial use (rule UT-OWNER-EXEMPTION) | S-UT-CODE-55 |
| Excavation portion? | S310 Foundation/Excavation/Demolition is its own specialty — concrete cutting is exempt (R156-55a-301an(1)(i)), the ground work is not; B100 may take it as a component | S-UT-DOPL-FAQ |
| The local layer? | the building permit and its valuation-based fee survive preemption — every city fact stays LOCAL_AUTHORITY_REQUIRED (rule UT-LOCAL-PERMIT) | S-UT-CODE-15A |
12 Fees and the credential boundary
| Question | Utah answer | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Contractor application | $175 per classification + $50 per qualifier + $1 e-lib (machine-read FY schedule); specialty and general are the same price | S-UT-DOPL-EXAM |
| Renewal ladder | $128 biennial (Nov 30 odd years for contractors, even for trades) + $20 late + $50 reinstatement; 6 CE hours (3 live) for contractors | S-UT-DOPL-SC |
| The $3,000–$7,000 band? | the $45/$45 handyman exemption affirmation + $1M/$3M liability insurance — the only place Utah's $3M aggregate survives (CONFLICT-UT-001) | S-UT-R156-55A |
| Coverage and money proof? | GL $1M/$2M with DOPL as certificate holder; questionnaire-first financial responsibility, bond only in lieu at the 602 tiers | S-UT-R156-55A |
| Local permit fee? | the state issues no permits and assess no fee (15A-1-205(2)); every municipal rate stays LOCAL_AUTHORITY_REQUIRED | S-UT-CODE-15A |