Montana Construction Contractor License Renewal

Last reviewed October 2026 · 4 min read

Since January 1, 2026, Montana construction contractors are licensed by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry instead of registered: registrations active on December 31, 2025 were converted to the new Construction Contractor License (CCL). The license renews every two years on the anniversary date of the license. Renewal opens 60 days before the expiration date, is done online, and costs $70, with no continuing education. Renew late and a $70 late fee is added to the renewal fee.

At a glance

Renews every: Two years, on the anniversary date of your license. Check the expiration date on yours
New since 2026: Effective January 1, 2026, construction contractors in Montana must be licensed with the Department of Labor & Industry. Contractors with an active Montana registration on December 31, 2025 were converted to the new license
Who needs one: The program's FAQ says the license is aimed at contractors with employees, and at corporations and manager-managed LLCs whatever their employee count. The law exempts an independent contractor who has no employees (who may still choose to register), and an electrician or plumber licensed in Montana working within the scope of that license
Fee: $70 to renew, the same as the application fee
Continuing education: None required
Renewal opens: 60 days before the expiration date
How to renew: Online only: the department says applications and renewals must be completed online
Deadline: Renew on or before the renewal date: online, before 11:59 p.m. Mountain time on that day
Late fee: $70, on top of the renewal fee, for each renewal period the license wasn't renewed on time
Lapsed license: Montana law lets you reactivate a lapsed license within 45 days after the renewal date, with the renewal form, the late fee and the renewal fee. Working with a lapsed license isn't treated as working without a license
Expired license: An expired license can be reactivated the same way within 2 years after the renewal date, but working after a license has expired counts as working without a license
Not renewed within 2 years: Under Montana's general licensing law, a license not renewed within 2 years of its renewal date terminates and can't be reactivated: you need a new original license
Report changes: Tell the department within 30 days of any change in ownership or business name, or in the business officers, members or partners reported to the Secretary of State
Workers' comp: Your license must include proof of compliance with workers' compensation laws

An electrician or plumber licensed in Montana and working within that license doesn't need a construction contractor license for that work: see the Montana electrician and plumber guides.

If your license wasn't renewed on time, ask the department where it stands: working with a lapsed license isn't treated as working without a license, working after it has expired is, and after 2 years it terminates.

How to renew

Find the expiration date on your Construction Contractor License: it renews every two years on the anniversary date of the license.
Log in to the department's online licensing portal once you're within 60 days of that date: renewals are done online only.
Submit the completed renewal and the $70 fee online before 11:59 p.m. Mountain time on the renewal date, so no $70 late fee is added.
Report any change in ownership or business name, or in officers, members or partners reported to the Secretary of State, to the department within 30 days.

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

60 days outRenewal opens. Log in to the online licensing portal and renew for $70.
Renewal dateLast day to submit a completed renewal and the fee without the $70 late fee: online, before 11:59 p.m. Mountain time.
45 days afterEnd of the 45 days the law gives to reactivate a lapsed license, with the renewal form, the $70 late fee and the renewal 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

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 Montana electrician or plumber license, if you hold one
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 does a Montana construction contractor license renew?

Every two years, on the anniversary date of the license. Renewal opens 60 days before the expiration date, is done online, and costs $70.

Do Montana construction contractors need continuing education?

No. The department lists continuing education as not required for the Construction Contractor License.

Is my old Montana contractor registration still valid?

Effective January 1, 2026, construction contractors in Montana must be licensed with the Department of Labor & Industry. Contractors with an active Montana registration on December 31, 2025 were converted to the new license.

What if I miss my Montana contractor license renewal?

Renewing after the renewal date adds a $70 late fee to the renewal fee. Montana law lets you reactivate a lapsed license within 45 days after the renewal date, and working with a lapsed license isn't treated as working without a license. An expired license can be reactivated within 2 years after the renewal date, but working after a license has expired counts as working without a license. Not renewed within 2 years, the license terminates and you need a new original license.

Official sources

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

Montana Department of Labor & Industry, Construction Contractor License Information

This guide is general information, not legal advice.

Other Montana guides

All Montana guides on one page

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

Montana Construction Contractor License Renewal

Last reviewed October 2026 · 4 min read

At a glance

Renews every: Two years, on the anniversary date of your license. Check the expiration date on yours
New since 2026: Effective January 1, 2026, construction contractors in Montana must be licensed with the Department of Labor & Industry. Contractors with an active Montana registration on December 31, 2025 were converted to the new license
Who needs one: The program's FAQ says the license is aimed at contractors with employees, and at corporations and manager-managed LLCs whatever their employee count. The law exempts an independent contractor who has no employees (who may still choose to register), and an electrician or plumber licensed in Montana working within the scope of that license
Fee: $70 to renew, the same as the application fee
Continuing education: None required
Renewal opens: 60 days before the expiration date
How to renew: Online only: the department says applications and renewals must be completed online
Deadline: Renew on or before the renewal date: online, before 11:59 p.m. Mountain time on that day
Late fee: $70, on top of the renewal fee, for each renewal period the license wasn't renewed on time
Lapsed license: Montana law lets you reactivate a lapsed license within 45 days after the renewal date, with the renewal form, the late fee and the renewal fee. Working with a lapsed license isn't treated as working without a license
Expired license: An expired license can be reactivated the same way within 2 years after the renewal date, but working after a license has expired counts as working without a license
Not renewed within 2 years: Under Montana's general licensing law, a license not renewed within 2 years of its renewal date terminates and can't be reactivated: you need a new original license
Report changes: Tell the department within 30 days of any change in ownership or business name, or in the business officers, members or partners reported to the Secretary of State
Workers' comp: Your license must include proof of compliance with workers' compensation laws

An electrician or plumber licensed in Montana and working within that license doesn't need a construction contractor license for that work: see the Montana electrician and plumber guides.

How to renew

Find the expiration date on your Construction Contractor License: it renews every two years on the anniversary date of the license.
Log in to the department's online licensing portal once you're within 60 days of that date: renewals are done online only.
Submit the completed renewal and the $70 fee online before 11:59 p.m. Mountain time on the renewal date, so no $70 late fee is added.
Report any change in ownership or business name, or in officers, members or partners reported to the Secretary of State, to the department within 30 days.

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

60 days outRenewal opens. Log in to the online licensing portal and renew for $70.
Renewal dateLast day to submit a completed renewal and the fee without the $70 late fee: online, before 11:59 p.m. Mountain time.
45 days afterEnd of the 45 days the law gives to reactivate a lapsed license, with the renewal form, the $70 late fee and the renewal fee.

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 Montana electrician or plumber license, if you hold one
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 does a Montana construction contractor license renew?

Every two years, on the anniversary date of the license. Renewal opens 60 days before the expiration date, is done online, and costs $70.

Do Montana construction contractors need continuing education?

No. The department lists continuing education as not required for the Construction Contractor License.

Is my old Montana contractor registration still valid?

What if I miss my Montana contractor license renewal?

Official sources

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

Montana Department of Labor & Industry, Construction Contractor License Information

This guide is general information, not legal advice.

Other Montana guides

All Montana guides on one page

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