Michigan Residential Builder License Renewal (LARA)

At a glance

Renews every

3 years, by May 31. Not all residential builder licenses renew in the same year: check the expiration date on yours

Renewal opens

90 days before the expiration date

Fee

$150 to renew an individual license

Continuing education

21 hours if this is your first or second renewal cycle; 3 hours from your third cycle on

What the hours cover

If you were first licensed in 2009 or later, the 21 hours include at least 3 hours in each calendar year of your first 6 years, and at least 3 hours on building codes and laws, safety, and changes in construction and business law. The 3 hours in later cycles are 1 hour each of codes, safety and legal issues. After disciplinary action, LARA can order more

Proof of CE

You don't send it in unless you're audited, but keep your records of the hours for at least 5 years

Code book

When you renew, you state that you have a current copy of the Michigan Residential Code

Renew

Online through LARA's Accela system: individual licenses can use Express Pay without logging in. Company licenses must log in to Accela

After it expires

The license lapses the day after the expiration date, and you can't work or use the title until it's renewed

Late renewal

Within 60 days after expiration: the renewal fee plus a $20 late fee

After 60 days

Late renewal is over: you apply for relicensure, which can mean showing recent CE. Lapsed more than 3 years, you also need 60 hours of prelicensure courses and to pass the current license exam. Call LARA before you apply

If you're the qualifying officer for a builder or M&A company, renew your individual license as well as the company license: a company can't operate without a qualifying officer. Company licenses don't carry their own CE requirement.

Maintenance & alteration contractors (roofing, siding and gutters, basement waterproofing, concrete, masonry and the other licensed crafts) follow the same 3-year cycle, fee and CE rules as residential builders.

Salesperson licenses also renew every three years by May 31, with no CE, and must be linked to an employer before they can be renewed.

Questions: LARA's Bureau of Construction Codes licensing section at 517-241-9316.

How to renew

1. Check the expiration date on your license: it's May 31, but not every license expires in the same year.
2. Finish your CE hours (21 in your first two cycles, 3 after that) with approved courses, and keep the records for 5 years. First licensed in 2009 or later? Take at least 3 hours in each calendar year of your first 6 years, not all at the end.
3. Make sure you have a current copy of the Michigan Residential Code: you state that you do when you renew.
4. Update your address in Accela if it changed, then renew online (Express Pay works for an individual license) and pay the $150 fee before May 31.

Deadline checklist

• 90 days outRenewal opens: check the expiration date on your license (May 31, in your license's renewal year).
• 90 days outFinish your CE hours (21 in your first two cycles, 3 after that; in your first 6 years, at least 3 in each calendar year) and file the certificates where you'll find them for 5 years.
• 45 days outConfirm you have a current copy of the Michigan Residential Code, and that your address in Accela is up to date.
• 30 days outRenew online through Accela and pay the $150 fee. Qualifying officers: renew the company license too.
• Expiration dateLast day to renew on time. From the next day the license has lapsed: stop work. Within 60 days you can still renew with a $20 late fee.

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

Frequently asked questions