Do you need a license to be a carpenter in Kansas?
No. Kansas doesn't license carpenters as a trade. There is no statewide contractor license; cities and counties set their own rules.
Local only · By ChiselJobs Team · Updated
In short
Kansas has no state carpenter or contractor license, so counties and cities handle licensing. Johnson County, Sedgwick County and Kansas City each run their own programs. In Johnson County, a license costs a $100 application fee plus $225 for the license. In Kansas City, contractors need an occupational tax license, which is a business license rather than a competency test. Roofers are the exception: they register with the Kansas Attorney General. Because requirements change at county lines, check with the county or city before bidding work. Kansas has a state apprenticeship agency for those entering the trade through a registered apprenticeship.
Key facts
| Carpenter license | No |
| Licensing level | Local only |
| General contractor license | Local (Johnson County, Sedgwick County, KC) |
| Home improvement registration | No |
| Carpentry classification | None |
| Fees | Johnson County: $100 application + $225 license |
| Local license | Varies by city |
Local licenses in Kansas
Kansas City
Unified governmentOccupational tax (business) license only
Unified Government Business License
General contractors need a city occupational tax license when working in Wyandotte County; no competency license stated.
- Source: wycokck.org · checked November 5, 2026
Apprenticeship
| Registering agency | State Apprenticeship Agency |
- Source: apprenticeship.gov · checked November 6, 2026