Missouri Lead Abatement Contractor License

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) issues lead abatement contractor licenses under 19 CSR 30-70.180. A valid license is required before any employees begin lead abatement work — employing unlicensed abatement workers is a class A misdemeanor under RSMo 701.320.

$250 Application Fee — Firm License Covers All Employees

The application fee is $250 (nonrefundable). Required materials: the completed DHSS application form, the $250 fee, and proof of business registration with the Missouri Secretary of State for corporate applicants. RSMo 701.312 requires contractors to maintain liability and errors and omissions insurance as a condition of licensure. Government agencies, federally recognized Indian tribes, and nonprofits are exempt from the $250 fee.

Individual workers and supervisors on your crew must hold separate DHSS occupational licenses — the contractor entity license covers the firm, not individual employees.

2-Year License Cycle, $250 Renewal — Submit 60 Days Early

Licenses run on a 2-year cycle. The renewal fee is $250. Submit your renewal application at least 60 days before the expiration date per 19 CSR 30-70.180(5) to avoid a lapse. No continuing education is required for the contractor entity license; individual supervisor and worker licensees must complete DHSS-approved refresher training for their own renewals.

Class A Misdemeanor for Unlicensed Work — Class E Felony While Suspended

Working without a valid license is a class A misdemeanor. Operating while suspended or revoked is a class E felony under RSMo 701.312. Under 19 CSR 30-70.650, the first identified acute violation results in a notice with no monetary penalty; fines begin at $250 for the second offense, escalate to $500 for the third, and reach $1,000 or more for each additional offense within the calendar year. The EPA enforces the federal Lead RRP Rule in parallel under the Toxic Substances Control Act — federal civil penalties for lead violations can be substantial.

DHSS Abatement License vs. EPA RRP Firm Certification

The DHSS contractor license covers lead abatement — full removal, encapsulation, or enclosure of lead-based paint and lead-contaminated materials. Work in pre-1978 residential or child-occupied facilities that disturbs but does not fully abate lead paint may instead qualify as renovation under the EPA RRP Rule, which requires separate EPA RRP firm certification rather than a DHSS abatement contractor license.