How to Check a Michigan Contractor License Before a Window Job in Grand Rapids, MI
Checking a contractor's license takes about five minutes and is one of the most useful things you can do before signing for new windows in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The state publishes license records online, the rules are clear about when a license is required, and Michigan law gives licensed contractors rights that unlicensed ones do not have. This guide walks through what license applies to window work, how to use LARA's lookup, and what else to confirm while you are at it.
Does a window contractor need a license in Michigan?
In Michigan, a contractor replacing windows on your home generally needs a state residential builder or maintenance & alteration license from the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA). Michigan's Occupational Code defines both in terms of repair, alteration and improvement of a residential structure for compensation, and window replacement on a house fits that description. In 2019, LARA issued cease-and-desist orders to an unlicensed glass business over a residential window installation and noted fines of up to $25,000 per violation.
A maintenance & alteration license is issued for specific trades. Which trade LARA expects for a particular window job is a detail for the contractor and LARA to sort out. If you are unsure whether a license covers your job, call LARA's Bureau of Construction Codes licensing line at 517-241-9316 and ask.
The $600 threshold and other exemptions
State law exempts a few situations from the licensing requirement:
- Small jobs. Projects with a total contract price under $600 are exempt. A job cannot be split into smaller contracts to stay under the line, so a whole-house window order is not a "small job."
- Your own home. An owner-occupant doing work on their own house does not need a license.
- Your own rental. An owner maintaining their own rental property is exempt for that work.
- Subcontractors. A subcontractor working under a licensed contractor is covered by that contractor.
For nearly any window replacement you would hire out, at least one window plus labor will clear $600. Assume a license applies and check it.
How to look up a contractor's license on LARA
Ask for the license number and legal name
Get the license number, the business name exactly as it appears on the contract, and the name of the qualifying officer if it is a company. A legitimate contractor will give these without fuss.
Open LARA's license lookup
From LARA's Bureau of Construction Codes pages on michigan.gov, choose "Find / Verify a BCC Licensed Professional or Business." Search by license number first; it is more precise than a name search.
Match the details
Confirm that the name matches the contract, the license type is residential builder or maintenance & alteration, the status is active and the expiration date is in the future. Licenses run for three years.
Call if anything is off
If you cannot find the record, the names do not match or the status looks wrong, call 517-241-9316 before signing anything.
If a salesperson rather than the owner comes to your home, it is fair to ask whose license the contract will be under and to check that one. Michigan's Occupational Code also defines a residential builder salesperson, so asking about the salesperson's own license is reasonable too.
Why it matters: MCL 339.2412 and your protection
Michigan's Occupational Code says an unlicensed contractor cannot bring a lawsuit to collect payment for work that required a license, and cannot file a construction lien on your home for that work (MCL 339.2412). That rule exists to push contractors to get licensed. For a homeowner, it is a reason to check, not a loophole to rely on. Hiring an unlicensed contractor means:
- You lose LARA's complaint process. Licensees can be disciplined for abandoning a job, diverting funds, willfully violating building laws or failing to give you the entire written agreement, including finance charges. Complaints must be filed within 18 months of completion.
- Permits get harder. In Grand Rapids, a residential permit must be pulled by the owner-occupant or a licensed residential builder, or with written authorization from a license holder. Landlords need a licensed, registered contractor.
- You may have less recourse if the windows leak, the work is never finished or the company disappears.
Licensed contractors also take on obligations to you that unlicensed ones avoid, which is the point of checking.
What else to check besides the license
| Check | Where to look | What good looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan license | LARA lookup or 517-241-9316 | Active residential builder or maintenance & alteration license in the contracting company's name |
| Lead-safe certification (pre-1978 homes) | Ask for the EPA firm certificate; EPA runs the program in Michigan | EPA Lead-Safe Certified Firm, with a certified renovator on the job |
| Insurance | Certificate of insurance from the contractor's agent | Current liability coverage; ask about workers' compensation for the crew |
| Permits and historic review | Grand Rapids Development Center (616-456-4100) or your local building department | Who pulls the permit, and a Certificate of Appropriateness first if you are in a local historic district |
| Written contract | The contract itself | Full scope, window specs, price, payment schedule, warranty terms and the 3-day cancellation notice for home sales |
About 76% of Grand Rapids homes were built before 1980, so the lead-safe line applies to most of the city. If your home was built before 1978, federal law requires the installer to be an EPA Lead-Safe Certified Firm. If you live in Heritage Hill or another local historic district, exterior window work needs a Certificate of Appropriateness before it starts; our historic window repair and storm windows page explains the steps.
We do not verify licenses. We are a free matching service that connects homeowners with independent local window companies; we are not a contractor and do not license, inspect or vouch for anyone. Check every company yourself on LARA before you sign, whether you found them here or anywhere else.
Paying a contractor safely
LARA's consumer tips for home improvement projects are short and worth following: get written estimates from at least three contractors, do not pay the entire job up front, and do not pay with cash. LARA notes that a common arrangement is a third in advance, a third partway through and a third on completion. Window jobs often need a deposit because units are custom-made, so ask what the deposit covers and when the balance is due.
If you sign a contract at home, Michigan law lets you cancel until midnight of the third business day (MCL 445.112). The contract should include a cancellation notice near your signature.
For the rest of the comparison, see how to compare window replacement quotes, the step-by-step window replacement process and the Grand Rapids window replacement cost guide. When you are ready, the free quote form sends your project to local installers, with no obligation.
Questions people ask
How do I check a contractor's license in Michigan?
Ask the contractor for their license number and exact business name, then search LARA's "Find / Verify a BCC Licensed Professional or Business" lookup on michigan.gov. Confirm the name matches your contract, the license is residential builder or maintenance and alteration, and the status is active. LARA's licensing line is 517-241-9316.
What license does a window installer need in Michigan?
A contractor replacing windows on your home generally needs a Michigan residential builder or maintenance and alteration license from LARA, for jobs of $600 or more. Maintenance and alteration licenses are issued by trade, so if you are unsure a license covers window work, call LARA's Bureau of Construction Codes at 517-241-9316.
Can an unlicensed contractor put a lien on my house in Michigan?
Under MCL 339.2412, a contractor who needed a license but did not have one cannot sue to collect payment or file a lien for that work. That rule is meant to discourage unlicensed work, not to protect a homeowner who hires one. You also lose LARA's complaint process, so check the license before you sign.
Do I need a licensed contractor for a job under $600?
Michigan exempts projects with a total contract price under $600 from the licensing requirement, and a job cannot be split up to stay under that amount. Most window replacements, even one window with labor, exceed $600. Owner-occupants working on their own home are also exempt.