Utah Handyman License Requirements
Utah's small-job figure is $7,000. The exact wording below decides whether a job fits.
Utah Code 58-55-305(1)(h)(i): exempt if 'contracted or agreed value of less than $7,000, including both labor and materials, and including all changes or additions' (strictly under $7,000). Second tier: under 305(1)(h)(ii)(H), 'if the total value of the project is greater than $3,000' the person must file a one-time (periodically reaffirmed) affirmation with DOPL of liability insurance and, if applicable, workers comp. So: $3,000 or less = no filing; over $3,000 and under $7,000 = Affirmation of Exemption (handyman) required; $7,000 or more = license.
What counts toward it: labor+materials
"a person engaged in the alteration, repair, remodeling, or addition to or improvement of a building with a contracted or agreed value of less than $7,000, including both labor and materials, and including all changes or additions to the contracted or agreed upon work"
Source: le.utah.gov · checked November 2, 2026
Who regulates this
Utah Department of Commerce - Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL); Construction Services Commission
Source: le.utah.gov · dopl.utah.gov · checked November 2, 2026
When a permit changes the answer
No building-permit condition appears in 58-55-305(1)(h); the exemption is value-based. However, plumbing/electrical system work must be by licensed electrical/plumbing contractors (component swaps like faucet, toilet, fixture, outlet, switch may be done by licensed journeyman), and gas appliance, fire suppression, alarm, HVAC and radon work require the respective licensees/certification, even on exempt projects.
Source: le.utah.gov · checked November 2, 2026
Registration
DOPL Affirmation of Exemption from Contractor Licensure (handyman) required for projects over $3,000 and under $7,000; $45 non-refundable application fee; must be renewed before expiration and show maintained insurance (form v.20261001). Handyman may not use words like contractor, builder, plumber, electrician in name/advertising.
Source: le.utah.gov · dopl.utah.gov · checked November 2, 2026
Trade work
State-level via DOPL: electrical and plumbing contractors/journeymen/masters, HVAC contractor classification, gas appliance certification (58-55-308(2)), fire suppression, alarm businesses/agents, radon. Handyman carve-out: components 'such as a faucet, toilet, fixture, device, outlet, or electrical switch' may be done by a licensed journeyman electrician/plumber (not by an unlicensed handyman) per 305(1)(h)(ii)(A)(II).
Source: le.utah.gov · checked November 2, 2026
Insurance and bond
Handyman affirmation: general liability with DOPL as certificate holder; current DOPL form states 'Minimum coverage is $1,000,000 for each incident and $2,000,000 in total' per Utah Admin. Rule R156-55a-302d; workers comp if employees.
Source: dopl.utah.gov · checked November 2, 2026
What a handyman should charge in Utah
Statewide planning estimate: $75 to $103 an hour. It's an estimate from public data, not the market rate. City pages use local wages when we can match them.
| Step | Low end | High end |
|---|---|---|
| Your pay (employee wage for this work in Utah) | $50,450 median | $63,090 top quarter starts here |
| Overhead ($33,148 national, adjusted to local prices at 98.9) | $32,772 | $32,772 |
| Profit 15% + PTO 10% + warranty 3% + business taxes 12% | +40% | +40% |
| Yearly total to cover | $116,510 | $134,206 |
| Billed hours a year (hours on the job × 52) | 30 × 52 = 1,560 | 25 × 52 = 1,300 |
| Hourly rate | $75 | $103 |
- Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, occupation 49-9071 Maintenance and Repair Workers, General, Utah (statewide figure, because we could not match a metro for this place). The top-quarter figure is in the BLS data file.
- Local prices: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024, Utah, all items index 98.9 (US = 100).
- Overhead, hours and percentages: median answers from members using our hourly rate calculator, the same formula that tool uses. National, not local.
Utah places we cover (20)
Rules change. This page shows what official sources said on the dates above. It is not legal advice.