Missouri renewal guide
Kansas City General Contractor License
If this license is up for renewal, this page gives you the fee, the timeline, and the items that usually hold the filing up.
See this alongside the other 8 Missouri license pages we track.
Start here
What matters before you file.
Check the fee, the renewal window, and the documents or insurance records that can slow approval down.
Issuing authority
Renewal period
Every 48 months
Renewal fee
$181.00
Bond requirement
Yes
Insurance requirement
Yes — General Liability, Workers' Compensation
Before you renew
Get the filing straight.
- 1
Make sure the bond still clears
Keep the required bond active through the renewal cycle.
- 2
Check the insurance certificates
Make sure the required policies are current and match what the board or agency expects before you file.
- 3
File with the board
File through Kansas City City Planning & Development Department (Permits Division) and pay the $181.00 renewal fee once the supporting proof is ready.
Renew online - 4
Leave room for processing
Typical processing time is 21 days, so do not wait until the last minute.
Detailed notes
The fine print is here.
Kansas City General Contractor License
Missouri has no statewide general contractor license. Kansas City requires contractors performing construction work inside city limits to hold a local license issued by the City Planning & Development Department — Permits Division before starting work.
Insurance: $1M GL with City as Additional Insured, Bond Required
Applicants must carry $1,000,000 general liability insurance per occurrence with the City of Kansas City listed as additional insured, plus workers' compensation coverage. A surety bond is required; the amount varies by trade class — confirm the specific requirement with the Permits Division at cdlicensing@kcmo.org before applying. The application fee is $60 per the KCMO fee schedule.
4-Year License Cycle, $181 Renewal Fee
Kansas City contractor licenses run on a 4-year cycle with a $181 renewal fee. Late renewals do not carry a flat penalty — the Kansas City Building and Rehabilitation Code assesses a prorated monthly charge for each month the license remained dormant beyond the 4-year term. Licenses dormant for more than 2 years require a full new application rather than renewal.
Permits Required Per Project — Stop-Work Orders for Unlicensed Work
The contractor license covers general construction within city limits. Each project requires its own building permit under the Kansas City Building and Rehabilitation Code; your license number must appear on each application. Working without a valid contractor license exposes contractors to stop-work orders and permit denials.
Kansas City, Kansas Requires Separate Credentials
The Kansas City metro straddles two states. Work performed in Kansas City, Kansas (Wyandotte County) is subject to separate Kansas licensing requirements independent of this Missouri city license.
Official links
Check the board or agency directly.
Required documents
- Proof of Insurance
- surety_bond
- Experience Documentation
- government_issued_id
Source notes
Kansas City Building and Rehabilitation Code (Art . XII, Ch. 18) via Municode: confirmed 4-year cycle, $181 quadrennial fee, prorated dormancy charge. KCMO official page (kcmo.gov/city-hall/departments/city-planning-development/contractor-licensing): confirmed $1M GL insurance + additional insured requirement. URL corrected June 2026 (was /planning-development/residential-services/). Bond amount for general contractors not confirmed in accessible sources — bondAmountCents set to null. Late penalty not a flat fee — latePenaltyCents and lateGracePeriodDays set to null.
Rules move. Check Kansas City City Planning & Development Department (Permits Division) again before you pay, renew, or schedule work around this requirement.
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Next steps
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Printable checklist
Missouri checklist
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