Michigan Mechanical Contractor License Renewal

Last reviewed October 2026 · 4 min read

Michigan licenses HVAC, refrigeration, hydronic, ductwork and other mechanical work through one state mechanical contractor's license from LARA's Bureau of Construction Codes, and cities can't add a license of their own. It runs three years and expires on August 31, though not every mechanical contractor renews in the same year. Renewal costs $300 and needs no code update course. A license not renewed by its expiration date lapses the next day and you can't practice after that date; after more than 3 years expired, LARA says you re-apply and re-test.

At a glance

Renews every: Three years, by August 31. Not all mechanical contractor licenses expire in the same year: check the expiration date on yours
Renewal opens: 90 days before the expiration date
Fee: $300 to renew (the license fee is $100 for each year of the three-year license)
Continuing education: None: LARA doesn't require code update courses for a mechanical contractor license
Renew: Online through LARA's Accela system, with Express Pay (no login needed) or by logging in to your Accela account. If your address or contact information changed, log in and update it before renewing; you may need to link your license to your Accela account first
Not renewed: Under MCL 339.5411, a license not renewed on or before its expiration date lapses the day after, and you can't practice the occupation after that date. LARA's page and the Act both allow renewing for a time after it expires, but the sources don't agree on how long or what it costs, so contact LARA right away. LARA warns that letting it expire may also affect pulling permits and signing for time for future applicants, and can lead to citations or enforcement action
Expired more than 3 years: LARA says you re-apply and re-test
Work classifications: One license covers the classifications you're licensed in: hydronic heating and cooling and process piping, HVAC equipment, ductwork, refrigeration, limited or unlimited heating service, limited or unlimited refrigeration and air conditioning service, fire suppression, and specialty
Local licenses: A Michigan municipality can't set its own licensing for these work classifications. To work in a municipality, you register your state license with the enforcing agency that issues its mechanical permits, for a fee of no more than $15; that registration is valid until your license's expiration date
Contractor of record: A business doing mechanical work designates a licensed mechanical contractor as its contractor of record and tells LARA in writing. If that person leaves the business, it has 90 days to designate another licensed employee or officer

If you also hold a Michigan plumbing or electrical license, those renew on their own dates (April 30 for plumbing licenses, December 31 for electrical licenses), separate from the mechanical license.

A licensee or qualifying officer on active duty in the armed forces can ask LARA, in writing or by email and with proof of active-duty status, for a temporary exemption from renewal fees and requirements, valid until 90 days after release from active duty and for no more than 36 months from the license's expiration. A licensee who supervises licensed work also tells LARA how that supervision will be covered.

How to renew

Check the expiration date on your license: mechanical contractor licenses expire on August 31 every third year, and not all in the same year.
From 90 days before it expires, check your address on file. If it changed, log in to Accela (linking your license to your account first if you haven't) and update it.
Renew online with Express Pay or through your Accela account and pay the $300 fee by August 31. No code update course is needed.
After renewing, check the registrations you hold with local permit offices: each one is valid only until your license's expiration date.

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

90 days outRenewal opens. Check the expiration date on your license and update your address in Accela if it changed.
30 days outRenew online with Express Pay or in Accela and pay the $300 fee.
August 31Last day to renew on time. If it isn't renewed, the license lapses the next day and you can't practice after that date.
After renewingCheck your registrations with local permit offices, which run only until your license's expiration date.

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:

Your license registrations with each municipality's permit office (valid until your license's expiration date)
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

When does a Michigan mechanical contractor license expire?

Every three years, on August 31. Not all mechanical contractor licenses expire in the same year, so check the expiration date on yours. Renewal opens 90 days before the expiration date.

How much does it cost to renew a Michigan mechanical contractor license?

$300 to renew: the license fee is $100 for each year of the three-year license.

Do Michigan mechanical contractors need continuing education?

LARA lists no code update course or other continuing education for a mechanical contractor license.

What if my Michigan mechanical contractor license expired?

Under MCL 339.5411, a license not renewed on or before its expiration date lapses the day after, and you can't practice the occupation after that date. LARA's page and the Act both allow renewing for a time after it expires, but the sources don't agree on how long or what it costs, so contact LARA right away. Expired more than 3 years, LARA says you re-apply and re-test.

Official sources

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

LARA Bureau of Construction Codes, license and registration renewals

This guide is general information, not legal advice.

Other Michigan guides

All Michigan guides on one page

HVAC guides for other 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 HVAC techs

Not ready to sign up? Get the free tracking spreadsheet

Michigan Mechanical Contractor License Renewal

Last reviewed October 2026 · 4 min read

At a glance

Renews every: Three years, by August 31. Not all mechanical contractor licenses expire in the same year: check the expiration date on yours
Renewal opens: 90 days before the expiration date
Fee: $300 to renew (the license fee is $100 for each year of the three-year license)
Continuing education: None: LARA doesn't require code update courses for a mechanical contractor license
Renew: Online through LARA's Accela system, with Express Pay (no login needed) or by logging in to your Accela account. If your address or contact information changed, log in and update it before renewing; you may need to link your license to your Accela account first
Not renewed: Under MCL 339.5411, a license not renewed on or before its expiration date lapses the day after, and you can't practice the occupation after that date. LARA's page and the Act both allow renewing for a time after it expires, but the sources don't agree on how long or what it costs, so contact LARA right away. LARA warns that letting it expire may also affect pulling permits and signing for time for future applicants, and can lead to citations or enforcement action
Expired more than 3 years: LARA says you re-apply and re-test
Work classifications: One license covers the classifications you're licensed in: hydronic heating and cooling and process piping, HVAC equipment, ductwork, refrigeration, limited or unlimited heating service, limited or unlimited refrigeration and air conditioning service, fire suppression, and specialty
Local licenses: A Michigan municipality can't set its own licensing for these work classifications. To work in a municipality, you register your state license with the enforcing agency that issues its mechanical permits, for a fee of no more than $15; that registration is valid until your license's expiration date
Contractor of record: A business doing mechanical work designates a licensed mechanical contractor as its contractor of record and tells LARA in writing. If that person leaves the business, it has 90 days to designate another licensed employee or officer

If you also hold a Michigan plumbing or electrical license, those renew on their own dates (April 30 for plumbing licenses, December 31 for electrical licenses), separate from the mechanical license.

How to renew

Check the expiration date on your license: mechanical contractor licenses expire on August 31 every third year, and not all in the same year.
From 90 days before it expires, check your address on file. If it changed, log in to Accela (linking your license to your account first if you haven't) and update it.
Renew online with Express Pay or through your Accela account and pay the $300 fee by August 31. No code update course is needed.
After renewing, check the registrations you hold with local permit offices: each one is valid only until your license's expiration date.

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

90 days outRenewal opens. Check the expiration date on your license and update your address in Accela if it changed.
30 days outRenew online with Express Pay or in Accela and pay the $300 fee.
August 31Last day to renew on time. If it isn't renewed, the license lapses the next day and you can't practice after that date.
After renewingCheck your registrations with local permit offices, which run only until your license's expiration date.

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:

Your license registrations with each municipality's permit office (valid until your license's expiration date)
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

When does a Michigan mechanical contractor license expire?

Every three years, on August 31. Not all mechanical contractor licenses expire in the same year, so check the expiration date on yours. Renewal opens 90 days before the expiration date.

How much does it cost to renew a Michigan mechanical contractor license?

$300 to renew: the license fee is $100 for each year of the three-year license.

Do Michigan mechanical contractors need continuing education?

LARA lists no code update course or other continuing education for a mechanical contractor license.

What if my Michigan mechanical contractor license expired?

Official sources

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

LARA Bureau of Construction Codes, license and registration renewals

This guide is general information, not legal advice.

Other Michigan guides

All Michigan guides on one page

HVAC guides for other 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 HVAC techs

Not ready to sign up? Get the free tracking spreadsheet