Contractor examining blueprints for a framing project.

Required Documents for Contractor Registration

Application

All contractors are required to fill out an application or apply online for a new registration and at the time of the annual renewal.

Certificate of Insurance

A contractor with employees must send a Certificate of Insurance from the workers' compensation insurance company showing the effective date of coverage and listing the "Iowa Division of Labor" as the certificate holder or a copy of a Certificate of Relief issued by the Iowa Insurance Division, if self-insured.

Registration Fee

Most contractors must send a non-refundable check or money order in the amount of $50 to pay the registration fee. 

Exemptions

Self-employed contractors who meet the criteria may send a completed fee exemption form instead of payment.  To qualify for registering without payment, the following must be met:

  • A self-employed contractor must not work with or for other contractors in the same phases of construction.
  • Must not pay more than $2,000 per year to employ other people in the business.
  • Business must not be classified as an LLC, Corporation or Partnership.

Out-of-State Contractors

Out-of-state contractors must file a $25,000 surety bond at the time of registration.  The bond must meet three criteria in order to be valid:

  • The bond must be executed ​by a surety company licensed to do business in Iowa .
  • The bond must be issued on the Out-of-State Bond form with the bonding company's seal and two original signatures
  • The bonding company must attach their Power of Attorney (POA) to the form.  Once we have accepted a valid bond, we consider it continuous until we receive a bond cancellation from the bonding company.  

If an out-of-state contractor is pre-qualified to bid on projects for the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT), they may submit their DOT-issued pre-qualification letter in lieu of a bond.