Handyman license requirements in Michigan
Short answer: Michigan has one of the lowest limits in the country: residential jobs of $600 or more need a Residential Builder or Maintenance & Alteration contractor license from the state (LARA).
General information, not legal advice. Checked October 13, 2026 against the sources below. Rules change, so confirm with the agency before you take a job.
The $600 rule
Michigan's Occupational Code requires a license for residential work where the total job, labor and materials included, is $600 or more. Most handymen go for the Maintenance & Alteration contractor license, which is issued for specific trades like carpentry, painting or siding, each with its own exam. The broader Residential Builder license covers more. Both are issued by the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA).
You can't split a bigger job into pieces under $600.
Trade work
Electrical, plumbing and mechanical (HVAC) work need separate skilled-trades licenses, regardless of the job's size.
Official sources
Questions
Do you need a license to be a handyman in Michigan?
Yes, for residential jobs of $600 or more. Most handymen get a Maintenance & Alteration contractor license from LARA.
More guides
- Do you need a license to be a handyman? Rules by stateDollar limits, trade work and local rules, state by state.
- How to start a handyman business: a checklistLicensing, insurance, pricing and your first customers.
- How to price handyman jobs: hourly, flat rate, or bothHourly, flat rate or both, and how to set each one.
- How to write a handyman estimate that gets a yesWhat to include, what to leave out, and when to follow up.