Kentucky Electrician License Renewal (HBC)

Last reviewed October 2026 · 4 min read

Kentucky's Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction (HBC) licenses electrical contractors, master electricians and electricians. Since House Bill 444 took effect on July 15, 2024, every license issued or renewed is good for two years, at double the old yearly fee. You renew by the last day of your birth month in the second year, with proof of continuing education and, for contractors, proof of insurance. A 60-day grace period follows with a $50 late fee; after that the license terminates.

At a glance

Renews every: 2 years: any license issued or renewed on or after July 15, 2024 is a biennial license. Renew on or before the last day of your birth month in the second year
Contractor businesses: An electrical contractor license issued to a corporation, partnership or other business without a birth month renews on or before the last day of the month it was issued, in the second year
Fee: $400 for an electrical contractor, $200 for a master electrician, $100 for an electrician, for the two-year license. Fees aren't refundable
Continuing education: At least 6 hours of CE per year from an approved provider (KRS 227A.100(7)), with proof sent with the renewal. Master electrician and electrician courses cover job safety, electrical codes or the electrical trade; electrical contractor courses cover business or job safety. A contractor can't use a master electrician's or electrician's hours toward the contractor's CE
CE for businesses: A licensee that's a corporation, business or partnership designates an authorized agent to complete its CE
Extra hours: Hours beyond the requirement carry forward into the next two educational years, up to 12 hours in total
Renew: Online through the HBC Online Licensing portal (a license shows there for renewal within 60 days of expiration), or with the paper Licensing Renewal Application, Form DHBC L-1
Contractor insurance: Electrical contractors send proof of general liability and workers' compensation insurance as a certificate listing HBC as the certificate holder. The law requires a general liability policy of at least $1,000,000 and compliance with workers' comp and unemployment insurance laws
Late renewal: A 60-day grace period follows the expiration date: you can keep working and renew with the renewal fee plus a $50 late fee. A renewal whose required documents are all postmarked by the last day of the renewal month is on time, with no late fee
If it terminates: A license not renewed by the end of the 60-day grace period terminates and you can't practice. Reinstating costs the renewal fee plus a reinstatement fee equal to it, with no exam if you apply within 3 years of termination
Inactive status: You can ask HBC to place a license on inactive status: no renewal while inactive, and contractors don't need liability insurance, but you can't do electrical work. Reactivating takes the renewal fee, a reactivation fee and the CE

CE totals: the statute says 6 hours per year, but HBC's CE regulation (815 KAR 2:010) was written for yearly licenses: it says 6 hours before renewal, earned in the 12 months before renewal. Ask HBC how many hours your two-year renewal needs, and keep your certificates.

815 KAR 2:010 also says no more than 2 hours of safety practices and procedures per 12 months count toward the required hours.

A first license's fee may be prorated for as little as 13 months, and it still expires at the end of your birth month: check the date on your license.

Provisional electrician licenses are nonrenewable and aren't covered by these renewal rules.

How to renew

Check your license's expiration date: the last day of your birth month (or, for a business's contractor license, its issue month) in the second year.
Finish your CE with an approved provider: at least 6 hours a year, in the subjects your license type needs.
Contractors: get a current certificate of general liability (at least $1,000,000) and workers' comp insurance listing HBC as the certificate holder.
Renew in the HBC Online Licensing portal once the license shows there (within 60 days of expiration), or mail Form DHBC L-1, and pay $400, $200 or $100.
Missed the date? Renew within the 60-day grace period with the $50 late fee, before the license terminates.

Still tracking this in a spreadsheet? On a paid plan, get emailed 90, 60, 30, 7 and 1 days before it expires, by default.

Start free

Deadline checklist

6 months outCheck your expiration date (end of your birth month, or a business's issue month) and book the CE hours you still need with an approved provider.
60 days outThe license appears for renewal in the HBC Online Licensing portal. Contractors: get insurance certificates listing HBC as certificate holder.
30 days outRenew online or mail Form DHBC L-1 with your CE proof and the fee ($400 contractor, $200 master, $100 electrician).
Expiration dateMissed it? You have a 60-day grace period with a $50 late fee. After that the license terminates.

Put this renewal in your calendar

Know your expiration date? Download a free calendar file with reminders before it, no sign-up needed. It's made in your browser: nothing you type is sent to us (your browser keeps it only if you follow the sign-up link, for your new ledger). A Google Calendar button sends just that one event to Google.

The file covers one date: once you renew, make a new one. How to add it to your calendar

The license isn't the only thing expiring

Most lapses that cost contractors work aren't the license itself. They're one of these, renewing on a different date:

Contractors: the general liability and workers' comp certificates HBC needs at renewal
Your yearly CE hours
General liability insurance policy
Workers' compensation policy (or exemption)
Certificates of insurance (COIs) you've given to clients and GCs
Commercial auto insurance

LicenseLedger keeps every one of those dates in one place and emails you before each one expires, with reminders far enough ahead to finish CE and paperwork.

Track your renewal dates free

Frequently asked questions

How often do you renew a Kentucky electrical license?

Every 2 years: any license issued or renewed on or after July 15, 2024 is a biennial license. Renew on or before the last day of your birth month in the second year.

How much does it cost to renew a Kentucky electrical license?

$400 for an electrical contractor, $200 for a master electrician, $100 for an electrician, for the two-year license.

How many CE hours do Kentucky electricians need?

At least 6 hours of CE per year from an approved provider (KRS 227A.100(7)), with proof sent with the renewal. HBC's CE regulation still reads 6 hours before renewal, so ask HBC how many hours your two-year renewal needs.

Is there a grace period for Kentucky electrical license renewal?

Yes. A 60-day grace period follows the expiration date: you can keep working and renew with the renewal fee plus a $50 late fee. After that, the license terminates.

Official sources

Rules, fees and CE requirements change. Confirm the current requirements with the official source before you renew:

Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction (HBC), eServices

This guide is general information, not legal advice.

Other Kentucky guides

All Kentucky guides on one page

Electrician guides for other states

Compare electrician license renewals across states

Get a reminder before this renewal is due

Add this license, your insurance policies and the COIs you collect from subs to LicenseLedger, and get an email before each one expires. Free for up to 3 records, no credit card required.

Start free

How LicenseLedger works for electricians

Not ready to sign up? Get the free tracking spreadsheet

Kentucky Electrician License Renewal (HBC)

Last reviewed October 2026 · 4 min read

At a glance

Renews every: 2 years: any license issued or renewed on or after July 15, 2024 is a biennial license. Renew on or before the last day of your birth month in the second year
Contractor businesses: An electrical contractor license issued to a corporation, partnership or other business without a birth month renews on or before the last day of the month it was issued, in the second year
Fee: $400 for an electrical contractor, $200 for a master electrician, $100 for an electrician, for the two-year license. Fees aren't refundable
Continuing education: At least 6 hours of CE per year from an approved provider (KRS 227A.100(7)), with proof sent with the renewal. Master electrician and electrician courses cover job safety, electrical codes or the electrical trade; electrical contractor courses cover business or job safety. A contractor can't use a master electrician's or electrician's hours toward the contractor's CE
CE for businesses: A licensee that's a corporation, business or partnership designates an authorized agent to complete its CE
Extra hours: Hours beyond the requirement carry forward into the next two educational years, up to 12 hours in total
Renew: Online through the HBC Online Licensing portal (a license shows there for renewal within 60 days of expiration), or with the paper Licensing Renewal Application, Form DHBC L-1
Contractor insurance: Electrical contractors send proof of general liability and workers' compensation insurance as a certificate listing HBC as the certificate holder. The law requires a general liability policy of at least $1,000,000 and compliance with workers' comp and unemployment insurance laws
Late renewal: A 60-day grace period follows the expiration date: you can keep working and renew with the renewal fee plus a $50 late fee. A renewal whose required documents are all postmarked by the last day of the renewal month is on time, with no late fee
If it terminates: A license not renewed by the end of the 60-day grace period terminates and you can't practice. Reinstating costs the renewal fee plus a reinstatement fee equal to it, with no exam if you apply within 3 years of termination
Inactive status: You can ask HBC to place a license on inactive status: no renewal while inactive, and contractors don't need liability insurance, but you can't do electrical work. Reactivating takes the renewal fee, a reactivation fee and the CE

815 KAR 2:010 also says no more than 2 hours of safety practices and procedures per 12 months count toward the required hours.

A first license's fee may be prorated for as little as 13 months, and it still expires at the end of your birth month: check the date on your license.

Provisional electrician licenses are nonrenewable and aren't covered by these renewal rules.

How to renew

Check your license's expiration date: the last day of your birth month (or, for a business's contractor license, its issue month) in the second year.
Finish your CE with an approved provider: at least 6 hours a year, in the subjects your license type needs.
Contractors: get a current certificate of general liability (at least $1,000,000) and workers' comp insurance listing HBC as the certificate holder.
Renew in the HBC Online Licensing portal once the license shows there (within 60 days of expiration), or mail Form DHBC L-1, and pay $400, $200 or $100.
Missed the date? Renew within the 60-day grace period with the $50 late fee, before the license terminates.

Still tracking this in a spreadsheet? On a paid plan, get emailed 90, 60, 30, 7 and 1 days before it expires, by default.

Start free

Deadline checklist

6 months outCheck your expiration date (end of your birth month, or a business's issue month) and book the CE hours you still need with an approved provider.
60 days outThe license appears for renewal in the HBC Online Licensing portal. Contractors: get insurance certificates listing HBC as certificate holder.
30 days outRenew online or mail Form DHBC L-1 with your CE proof and the fee ($400 contractor, $200 master, $100 electrician).
Expiration dateMissed it? You have a 60-day grace period with a $50 late fee. After that the license terminates.

Put this renewal in your calendar

The file covers one date: once you renew, make a new one. How to add it to your calendar

The license isn't the only thing expiring

Most lapses that cost contractors work aren't the license itself. They're one of these, renewing on a different date:

Contractors: the general liability and workers' comp certificates HBC needs at renewal
Your yearly CE hours
General liability insurance policy
Workers' compensation policy (or exemption)
Certificates of insurance (COIs) you've given to clients and GCs
Commercial auto insurance

LicenseLedger keeps every one of those dates in one place and emails you before each one expires, with reminders far enough ahead to finish CE and paperwork.

Track your renewal dates free

Frequently asked questions

How often do you renew a Kentucky electrical license?

Every 2 years: any license issued or renewed on or after July 15, 2024 is a biennial license. Renew on or before the last day of your birth month in the second year.

How much does it cost to renew a Kentucky electrical license?

$400 for an electrical contractor, $200 for a master electrician, $100 for an electrician, for the two-year license.

How many CE hours do Kentucky electricians need?

Is there a grace period for Kentucky electrical license renewal?

Yes. A 60-day grace period follows the expiration date: you can keep working and renew with the renewal fee plus a $50 late fee. After that, the license terminates.

Official sources

Rules, fees and CE requirements change. Confirm the current requirements with the official source before you renew:

Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction (HBC), eServices

This guide is general information, not legal advice.

Other Kentucky guides

All Kentucky guides on one page

Electrician guides for other states

Compare electrician license renewals across states

Get a reminder before this renewal is due

Add this license, your insurance policies and the COIs you collect from subs to LicenseLedger, and get an email before each one expires. Free for up to 3 records, no credit card required.

Start free

How LicenseLedger works for electricians

Not ready to sign up? Get the free tracking spreadsheet