By Oussama Chicha, EditorUpdated Checked against primary sources · not yet reviewed by a licensed professionalFact-checked
Quick answer
The Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board issues a commercial license for commercial project work of $50,000 or more and a residential builders license for building a single-family residence costing more than $2,000, unless an exception applies. Both call for a business and law test. As of January 1, 2025, the residential builders new application filing fee, non-refundable, is $100 per application.
Arkansas · Contractor licenseVerified 2026-10-07
State license
Commercial license; residential builders license (residential and commercial)
The Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board's page says a commercial license is needed if a contractor performs work of $50,000 or more, including, but not limited to, labor and materials, on a commercial project, and a residential builders license is needed to build a single-family residence if the cost of the project is more than $2,000, including, but not limited to, labor and material, unless an exception applies. The page also describes a residential remodelers license, a home improvement license, a residential roofer registration, and a registration certificate for subcontractors of properly licensed contractors.
Commercial license; residential builders license (residential and commercial). The Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board's page says a commercial license is needed if a contractor performs work of $50,000 or more, including, but not limited to, labor and materials, on a commercial project, and a residential builders license is needed to build a single-family residence if the cost of the project is more than $2,000, including, but not limited to, labor and material, unless an exception applies. The page also describes a residential remodelers license, a home improvement license, a residential roofer registration, and a registration certificate for subcontractors of properly licensed contractors.
Threshold. Commercial: work of $50,000 or more, including, but not limited to, labor and materials, on a commercial project; any project that is not a single-family residence is a commercial project. Residential builder: the cost of the project is more than $2,000, including, but not limited to, labor and material, unless an exception applies. Residential remodeler and home improvement: the project is more than $2,000, including, but not limited to, labor and material. Residential roofer registration: roofing, roof decks and roofing sheet metal projects more than $2,000; the page says contractors who have a residential builders or residential remodelers license do not need the registration.
A commercial license is needed if a contractor performs work of $50,000 or more, including, but not limited to, labor and materials, on a commercial project. Any project that is not a single-family residence is a commercial project. A business and law test is required,
A residential builders license is needed to build a single-family residence, if the cost of the project is more than $2,000, including, but not limited to, labor and material, unless an exception applies. A Residential Builders License also allows you to perform remodeling on a single-family residence. A business and law test is required,
A residential remodelers license is needed to make major structural changes to a single-family residence or to add on to an existing single-family residence, if the project is more than $2,000, including, but not limited to, labor and material. A business and law test is required,
A home improvement license is needed to do specialty work on a single-family residence, if the project is more than $2,000, including, but not limited to, labor and material. This license is for a contractor who is only responsible for certain types of work (painting, windows, flooring, etc.).
A Residential Roofer Registration is need to perform “Roofing, Roof Decks, Roofing Sheet Metal” projects more than $2,000, including but not limited to, labor and material.
Build a single-family residence if the cost of the project is more than $2,000, unless an exception applies; also allows remodeling on a single-family residence
Specialty work on a single-family residence, if the project is more than $2,000; for a contractor only responsible for certain types of work (painting, windows, flooring, etc.)
Roofing, roof decks and roofing sheet metal projects more than $2,000; contractors who have a residential builders or residential remodelers license do not need the registration
The references must show four (4) years appropriate experience in construction. The experience must justify the issuance of a Residential Home Builder’s license.
On the commercial side, the board ties the commercial license to work of $50,000 or more on a commercial project, counting labor and materials among other costs [1]. The board treats every project other than a single-family residence as commercial [1]. On the residential side, building a single-family residence calls for the residential builders license once the project cost passes $2,000, again counting labor and material among other costs, unless an exception applies [1].
How the residential credentials divide the work
The board also describes other residential credentials, each tied to projects above $2,000 [1]. The residential remodelers license covers major structural changes and additions to an existing home. The home improvement license is aimed at a contractor responsible only for certain specialty work, and the board gives painting, windows and flooring as examples [1]. The Residential Roofer Registration reaches roofing, roof decks and roofing sheet metal work above that same $2,000 mark [1].
These credentials overlap in places. A residential builders license also allows remodeling on a single-family residence [1], and the board states that holders of a residential builders or residential remodelers license do not need the registration [1]. A separate path exists for subcontractors working for properly licensed contractors, who can work with a registration certificate in place of a full license [1].
What an applicant puts together
The business and law test appears in the board's description of three credentials: the commercial license, the residential builders license and the residential remodelers license [1].
The residential builders application lists further items. References there have to show four years of appropriate construction experience, and that experience has to justify issuing the license [2]. The applicant also supplies a current compiled balance sheet under one year old [2], and the application states that balance sheet statements must show a positive net worth [2]. An applicant with one or more employees needs workers' compensation insurance coverage [2].
Cost of a residential builders application
As of January 1, 2025, the residential builders new application filing fee, non-refundable, is $100 per application [2]. The same application also charges a separate business and law examination fee.
