Construction Contractor Registration

Montana Construction Contractor Registration

Every Montana construction contractor with employees — and every corporation or manager-managed LLC doing construction work — must register with the Department of Labor & Industry before taking on projects with a total value exceeding $2,500.

Corporations and Contractors with Employees Must Register

The CR applies if any of the following describes your business:

• You have employees performing construction work (including if those employees are officers of a corporation or managers of a manager-managed LLC)
• Your business is organized as a corporation engaged in construction
• Your business is a manager-managed LLC performing construction work

Sole proprietors and member-managed LLCs with no employees are generally not required to register.

Workers' Compensation Is the Core Requirement

To register, you must show proof of Montana workers' compensation coverage for your employees. Montana does not accept out-of-state workers' comp for construction work — coverage must be through the Montana State Fund, a licensed Montana carrier, or by qualifying as a self-insured employer. No surety bond is required.

Registration Fee: $70

The application fee is $70 (non-refundable). The renewal fee is the same $70. DLI mails a renewal application to your address on file approximately 60 days before your registration expires. You can renew online through the DLI Montana Contractor Portal.

Penalties for Unregistered Work

DLI can fine unregistered contractors up to $500 per incident for: performing construction work without a valid CR, working with a suspended CR, or transferring your CR to another person. Inadvertent paperwork errors may be exempt from fines.