Moving to Utah as a residential contractor: every state's rule

Utah licenses contractors statewide through the Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL) under the Utah Construction Trades Licensing Act, Utah Code 58-55, and Rule R156-55a, and the homes tier is the R100 Residential and Small Commercial Contractor classification. Utah Code 58-55-102(42) defines it as the construction of single-family residences, multifamily residences up to four units, and commercial construction of not more than three stories above ground and not more than 20,000 square feet, together with any component of that construction except plumbing, electrical, mechanical and manufactured housing work, for which an R100 must employ a contractor licensed in the specialty; on single-family and multifamily residences up to four units the R100 may perform the mechanical work and employ a licensed plumber or electrician. Anything larger needs B100 General Building Contractor, and fixed works needing specialized engineering knowledge need E100 General Engineering Contractor. Smaller jobs can instead be taken under the specialty classifications, which need no experience and no examination: R101 Residential and Small Commercial Non-Structural Remodel and Repair (which may not be combined with any other specialty), R200 Factory Built Housing, B200 Modular Unit Installation and the S-series such as S220 Carpentry and Flooring, S270 Drywall, Paint and Plastering and S280 Roofing. The license belongs to the business, not the person: the entity applies and names a qualifier, an owner of at least 20 per cent or a W-2 employee in a management position paid for at least 12 hours a week, and that qualifier is the one who satisfies the course, experience and examination requirements. There is no Utah trade examination for R100; the only DOPL examination is the Utah Contractor Business and Law exam. Licenses expire on 30 November of each odd-numbered year and renewal takes six hours of continuing education.