Do you need a license to work as a handyman in Louisville, KY?

Q: Do you need a license to work as a handyman in Louisville, KY?

Kentucky has no statewide general contractor license for this work, so local and trade rules decide. Anyone doing business in Louisville/Jefferson County registers with LMRC (EMINTS portal) and pays occupational tax (2.2% resident / 1.45% non-resident). Contractors pulling building permits need a Louisville Metro Contractor License from Construction Review ((502) 574-3321): Building Type A $125/yr or Type B $50 for one permit; Some small cities within Jefferson County levy their own occupational license fees.

Handyman License Requirements in Louisville, KY

By Ray Duke, Founder of Bulletproof Handyman · Kentucky rules checked November 2, 2026 · Louisville local rules checked November 2, 2026

Anyone doing business in Louisville/Jefferson County registers with LMRC (EMINTS portal) and pays occupational tax (2.2% resident / 1.45% non-resident). Contractors pulling building permits need a Louisville Metro Contractor License from Construction Review ((502) 574-3321): Building Type A $125/yr or Type B $50 for one permit; Some small cities within Jefferson County levy their own occupational license fees.

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Louisville requirements

Source link: louisvilleky.gov · louisvilleky.gov · louisvilleky.gov · checked November 2, 2026

Local business license

Required

Name: Louisville Metro Occupational License Tax registration (tax account number via EMINTS portal); net profits return Form OL-3
Office: Louisville Metro Revenue Commission (LMRC), (502) 574-4860
Fee: No flat license fee found; occupational tax 2.2% resident / 1.45% non-resident rate on net profits/wages

"Everyone subject to the Louisville Metro Occupational License Tax must complete and submit this editable, application to the Louisville Metro Revenue Commission to be assigned a tax account number. ... Form OL-3 is a tax form used by any entity with a business nexus in Louisville/Jefferson County"

Source: louisvilleky.gov · checked November 2, 2026

Local contractor or handyman license

Required

Name: Louisville Metro Contractor License, Division of Construction Review (Develop Louisville): Building Type A $125/yr (multiple permits; 6 hrs CE for 1-2 family/multi-family permit holders), Building Type B $50 (one permit/yr); HVAC $200 (needs KY Master HVAC); other trade-specific types
Trigger: Required to obtain building permits in Louisville/Jefferson County (applies by work location); occupational license number from Revenue Commission required to apply

"In order to receive a contractor license with Louisville Metro, a contractor shall contact the Division of Construction Review to make an application for that specific type of work, be approved, and maintain the identification annually. ... Building Type A ... Fee: $125 ... Building Type B ... Fee: $50"

Source: louisvilleky.gov · checked November 2, 2026

County: Jefferson County

The Kentucky rule

Regulator: None for general contracting (local). Trades: Kentucky Public Protection Cabinet, Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction (HBC) - Electrical Division, Division of Plumbing, Division of HVAC.

No statewide general license

Kentucky

No state licensing threshold for general/handyman work. Trade licensing has no dollar floor (none verified).

What counts toward it: other: no state threshold

"Domestic Limited Liability Company (Profit, Non-Profit or Professional Service) Articles of Organization: $40.00"

Source: sos.ky.gov · checked November 2, 2026

State registration

No state GC registration. Electrical contractors, master HVAC contractors, and master plumbers are licensed by HBC.

Source: apps.legislature.ky.gov · dhbc.ky.gov · dhbc.ky.gov · checked November 2, 2026

Forming an LLC in Kentucky

State filing fee: $40.