Do you need a license to work as a handyman in Oakland, MI?

Q: Do you need a license to work as a handyman in Oakland, MI?

Michigan's small-job figure is $600. The exact wording below decides whether a job fits. Oakland is Oakland Charter Township, Oakland County (oaklandtwpmi.gov). Township Building Department issues permits; contractors must register a BS&A Online account linked by the township to pull permits and must meet state residential licensing; homeowners may pull permits via homeowner affidavit. No general township business license confirmed. County: no county business license.

Handyman License Requirements in Oakland, MI

By Ray Duke, Founder of Bulletproof Handyman · Michigan rules checked November 2, 2026 · Oakland local rules checked November 2, 2026

Oakland is Oakland Charter Township, Oakland County (oaklandtwpmi.gov). Township Building Department issues permits; contractors must register a BS&A Online account linked by the township to pull permits and must meet state residential licensing; homeowners may pull permits via homeowner affidavit. No general township business license confirmed. County: no county business license.

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Oakland requirements

Source link: oaklandtwpmi.gov · oaklandtwpmi.gov · bsaonline.com · checked November 2, 2026

Local business license

Our check could not confirm this from an official page, so we don't state it. Ask the city or county office.

Local contractor or handyman license

Depends

Name: Oakland Charter Township Building Department contractor record / BS&A Online registration for permits
Applies when: CONDITIONAL
Trigger: Any building permit pulled by a contractor

"CONTRACTORS: Contractors MUST REGISTER for a BS&A Online Account. If you are creating a new account or having an existing one, the Township of Oakland MUST LINK your Contractor name record or provide you with a Web Pin."

Source: bsaonline.com · checked November 2, 2026

County: Oakland County

The Michigan rule

Regulator: Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Bureau of Construction Codes - Residential Builders' and Maintenance & Alteration Contractors' licensing (Article 24, Occupational Code). Trades: LARA Bureau of Construction Codes under the Skilled Trades Regulation Act (2016 PA 407).

$600

Michigan job-size figure

MCL 339.2403(f): no license needed for 'A person that is working on 1 undertaking or project by 1 or more contracts, if the aggregate contract price for the labor, material, and any other items for the undertaking or project is less than $600.00.' Strictly LESS THAN $600 (so $600.00 exactly requires a license). Exemption void if the work is part of a larger operation or split into contracts under $600 to evade the act. Other exemptions: owner for own use/occupancy; rental-property owner for maintenance/alteration of own rental; subs working solely under contract with a licensed builder/M&A contractor; licensed electrical/plumbing/mechanical contractors within their trade.

What counts toward it: labor+materials

"A person that is working on 1 undertaking or project by 1 or more contracts, if the aggregate contract price for the labor, material, and any other items for the undertaking or project is less than $600.00."

Source: legislature.mi.gov · checked November 2, 2026

State registration

Individual Residential Builder or Individual M&A Contractor license application $195 per LARA form BCC-2000 (relicensure $185); 60-hour LARA-approved prelicensure course required (waivable in some cases) plus state exam. No separate state registration tier found.

Source: michigan.gov · checked November 2, 2026

Forming an LLC in Michigan

State filing fee: $50.