Mississippi Contractor License Renewal (MSBOC)

Last reviewed October 2026 · 5 min read

The Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC) issues commercial certificates of responsibility and residential licenses, and both renew every 12 months. The board emails a renewal notice about 60 days before the expiration date on your certificate, but renewing on time is your job. Both need a general liability certificate; commercial renewals add a balance sheet, and residential renewals add each qualifier's 2 hours of continuing education (licenses issued since July 1, 2015). A license can be renewed late for up to 180 days; after that you apply again.

At a glance

Renews every: 12 months: residential licenses and commercial certificates of responsibility must be renewed every 12 months. Go by the expiration date printed on your certificate
Renewal notice: MSBOC emails a renewal notice about 60 days before the expiration date, to the email address on file. It's the license holder's responsibility to renew, and to tell MSBOC about a change of address
Renew: Online by uploading the required documents and paying, or by mailing the renewal form with the documents and a check or money order before the expiration date. Pick one method: paying online but mailing documents separately delays or gets the renewal rejected
Fee: $400 for a commercial license, $100 for a residential license. After expiration it's $450 commercial and $110 residential. Fees are non-refundable
Late renewal: A commercial or residential license can be renewed late for up to 180 days after the expiration date printed on the certificate. Expired more than 180 days, it can't be renewed and needs a new application
Commercial renewals: Send a general liability insurance certificate (insured name matching the license, MSBOC listed as certificate holder), proof of good standing with the Mississippi Secretary of State (not for individuals or sole proprietors), a workers' comp certificate if required by law, and a balance sheet showing $50,000 net worth for a major classification or $20,000 for a specialty classification. A renewal missing any of these is returned
Commercial insurance: MSBOC's rules (Rule 1.1) and FAQ say commercial certificates of insurance must show at least $300,000 per occurrence and $600,000 aggregate
Residential renewals: Send a general liability insurance certificate (insured name matching the license, MSBOC listed as certificate holder), proof of Secretary of State good standing (not for individuals or sole proprietors), a workers' comp certificate if required by law, and proof of each qualifier's 2 hours of continuing education. MSBOC's FAQ says there's no minimum coverage for residential license holders
Continuing education: Residential licenses only: each qualifying party completes 2 credit hours a year from a board-approved provider or instructor (a credit hour is 50 minutes). It applies to residential licenses issued on or after July 1, 2015, and not while inactive. Hours don't carry over, and you can't renew without them
Inactive status: An inactive license still renews every year with the fee, without the liability insurance proof (or, for commercial, the balance sheet), but you can't bid, contract or work while inactive. Switching status takes a written request and a $25 fee
Trades: On any residential project, a subcontractor doing electrical, plumbing, mechanical or HVAC work needs a residential license, no matter the dollar amount. Commercial major classifications include mechanical and electrical work

Renewal notices: MSBOC's license problems page still says it will mail a renewal application, but its renew-your-license page says that from 2026 it relies only on email, about 60 days before expiration. Either way, the board's rules say not getting a notice doesn't excuse a late renewal.

If the qualifying party leaves, MSBOC's FAQ says both they and the company must notify the board immediately, and the company has 90 days to find a replacement. A company reports a change of name right away on the board's change form (commercial certificates report a change of address the same way); at renewal, the form also asks you to describe any change of qualifying party, ownership, name or address in writing on company letterhead.

How to renew

Check the expiration date printed on your certificate, and make sure MSBOC has your current email address: the renewal notice comes by email about 60 days ahead.
Residential: have each qualifier finish 2 credit hours of CE with a board-approved provider (licenses issued on or after July 1, 2015).
Commercial: get a current general liability certificate naming MSBOC as certificate holder, and a balance sheet showing the net worth your classification needs ($50,000 major, $20,000 specialty).
Print proof of good standing from the Secretary of State (companies only) and a workers' comp certificate if you're required to carry it.
Renew online or by mail, not both, and pay the fee ($400 commercial, $100 residential) before the expiration date.
Missed it? You can still renew late for up to 180 days at the higher fee; after that it's a new application.

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 outCheck the expiration date on your certificate and your email on file with MSBOC. Residential: book each qualifier's 2 CE hours.
60 days outWatch for MSBOC's renewal email (check spam). Commercial: order the liability certificate naming MSBOC and prepare the balance sheet.
30 days outRenew online or by mail with every required document and the fee ($400 commercial, $100 residential).
Expiration dateMissed it? Renew late, well before day 180 ($450 commercial, $110 residential). After 180 days, a new application is required.

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:

The general liability policy whose certificate (with MSBOC as certificate holder) goes with every renewal
Residential: each qualifier's 2 hours of CE, due every year
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 Mississippi contractor license?

Every 12 months: residential licenses and commercial certificates of responsibility must be renewed every 12 months. Go by the expiration date printed on your certificate.

How much does it cost to renew a Mississippi contractor license?

$400 for a commercial license, $100 for a residential license. After expiration it's $450 commercial and $110 residential.

Do Mississippi contractors need continuing education to renew?

Residential licenses do: each qualifying party completes 2 credit hours a year from a board-approved provider. It applies to residential licenses issued on or after July 1, 2015, and you can't renew without it.

What happens if my Mississippi contractor license expires?

It can be renewed late for up to 180 days after the expiration date printed on the certificate. Expired more than 180 days, it can't be renewed and needs a new application.

Official sources

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

Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC)

This guide is general information, not legal advice.

General contractor 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 general contractors

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Mississippi Contractor License Renewal (MSBOC)

Last reviewed October 2026 · 5 min read

At a glance

Renews every: 12 months: residential licenses and commercial certificates of responsibility must be renewed every 12 months. Go by the expiration date printed on your certificate
Renewal notice: MSBOC emails a renewal notice about 60 days before the expiration date, to the email address on file. It's the license holder's responsibility to renew, and to tell MSBOC about a change of address
Renew: Online by uploading the required documents and paying, or by mailing the renewal form with the documents and a check or money order before the expiration date. Pick one method: paying online but mailing documents separately delays or gets the renewal rejected
Fee: $400 for a commercial license, $100 for a residential license. After expiration it's $450 commercial and $110 residential. Fees are non-refundable
Late renewal: A commercial or residential license can be renewed late for up to 180 days after the expiration date printed on the certificate. Expired more than 180 days, it can't be renewed and needs a new application
Commercial renewals: Send a general liability insurance certificate (insured name matching the license, MSBOC listed as certificate holder), proof of good standing with the Mississippi Secretary of State (not for individuals or sole proprietors), a workers' comp certificate if required by law, and a balance sheet showing $50,000 net worth for a major classification or $20,000 for a specialty classification. A renewal missing any of these is returned
Commercial insurance: MSBOC's rules (Rule 1.1) and FAQ say commercial certificates of insurance must show at least $300,000 per occurrence and $600,000 aggregate
Residential renewals: Send a general liability insurance certificate (insured name matching the license, MSBOC listed as certificate holder), proof of Secretary of State good standing (not for individuals or sole proprietors), a workers' comp certificate if required by law, and proof of each qualifier's 2 hours of continuing education. MSBOC's FAQ says there's no minimum coverage for residential license holders
Continuing education: Residential licenses only: each qualifying party completes 2 credit hours a year from a board-approved provider or instructor (a credit hour is 50 minutes). It applies to residential licenses issued on or after July 1, 2015, and not while inactive. Hours don't carry over, and you can't renew without them
Inactive status: An inactive license still renews every year with the fee, without the liability insurance proof (or, for commercial, the balance sheet), but you can't bid, contract or work while inactive. Switching status takes a written request and a $25 fee
Trades: On any residential project, a subcontractor doing electrical, plumbing, mechanical or HVAC work needs a residential license, no matter the dollar amount. Commercial major classifications include mechanical and electrical work

How to renew

Check the expiration date printed on your certificate, and make sure MSBOC has your current email address: the renewal notice comes by email about 60 days ahead.
Residential: have each qualifier finish 2 credit hours of CE with a board-approved provider (licenses issued on or after July 1, 2015).
Commercial: get a current general liability certificate naming MSBOC as certificate holder, and a balance sheet showing the net worth your classification needs ($50,000 major, $20,000 specialty).
Print proof of good standing from the Secretary of State (companies only) and a workers' comp certificate if you're required to carry it.
Renew online or by mail, not both, and pay the fee ($400 commercial, $100 residential) before the expiration date.
Missed it? You can still renew late for up to 180 days at the higher fee; after that it's a new application.

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 outCheck the expiration date on your certificate and your email on file with MSBOC. Residential: book each qualifier's 2 CE hours.
60 days outWatch for MSBOC's renewal email (check spam). Commercial: order the liability certificate naming MSBOC and prepare the balance sheet.
30 days outRenew online or by mail with every required document and the fee ($400 commercial, $100 residential).
Expiration dateMissed it? Renew late, well before day 180 ($450 commercial, $110 residential). After 180 days, a new application is required.

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:

The general liability policy whose certificate (with MSBOC as certificate holder) goes with every renewal
Residential: each qualifier's 2 hours of CE, due every year
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 Mississippi contractor license?

Every 12 months: residential licenses and commercial certificates of responsibility must be renewed every 12 months. Go by the expiration date printed on your certificate.

How much does it cost to renew a Mississippi contractor license?

$400 for a commercial license, $100 for a residential license. After expiration it's $450 commercial and $110 residential.

Do Mississippi contractors need continuing education to renew?

What happens if my Mississippi contractor license expires?

It can be renewed late for up to 180 days after the expiration date printed on the certificate. Expired more than 180 days, it can't be renewed and needs a new application.

Official sources

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

Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC)

This guide is general information, not legal advice.

General contractor 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 general contractors

Not ready to sign up? Get the free tracking spreadsheet