Checking a Montana deck contractor

Montana changed how it oversees contractors at the start of 2026. Advice written before then, including advice that says the state only "registers" contractors, is out of date. The current rules and questions below apply to any deck contractor, including one who receives a request from this site.

What changed on January 1, 2026

Montana now issues a Construction Contractor License through the Department of Labor & Industry, under Title 37, Chapter 45 of the Montana Code Annotated. It replaced the old contractor registration. The department converted registrations that were active on December 31, 2025 to the new license.

The core rule is in MCA 37-45-201(1): "An individual or business entity may not engage in business as a construction contractor without a current license from the department." The application requires proof of workers' compensation compliance. That section does not require a bond or general liability insurance, so a license number says nothing about liability coverage.

The department's program FAQ says the license "specifically targets contractors with employees, as well as corporations and manager-managed LLCs, regardless of employee count." The application and renewal fee is $70.

Who is exempt

MCA 37-45-104 lists exemptions. Two matter most for a deck:

• An independent contractor who has no employees. An independent contractor with no employees is exempt (MCA 37-45-104(24)) and may register voluntarily, though the department's FAQ says corporations and manager-managed LLCs need the license regardless of employee count. Their name not showing up in the lookup does not by itself mean something is wrong.
• An owner working on the owner's property. If you build your own deck, the license rule doesn't apply to you. The exemption has a limit: it does not cover an owner who builds an improvement for a prompt sale, unless the owner has lived there as a primary residence for at least the last 12 months.

How to look up a license

The department's Licensee Lookup System is linked from the Construction Contractor License page. Search by name or license number, and check that:

• the name on the license matches the business name on the estimate and contract,
• the license is current, and
• the license type is the construction contractor license.

What the license protects

The FAQ points to a protection in MCA 37-45-202: a homeowner who hires a licensed contractor is not liable as an employer for that contractor's workers' compensation, unemployment insurance, or wages. If you hire someone who should hold a license and doesn't, ask a lawyer how that protection applies.

Electrical work is separate

Deck lighting, heaters, and a hot tub circuit are electrical work. Outside the local jurisdictions that run their own electrical program, Montana requires a state electrical permit. A homeowner may wire their own home under a homeowner's permit. Otherwise, a Montana-licensed electrical contractor pulls the permit, and a licensed electrician does the work. A deck contractor who is not an electrician may bring one in, so ask who that is.

Questions to ask any deck contractor

1. What is your Montana Construction Contractor License number? If they say they're exempt, ask which exemption applies.
2. What insurance do you carry? Ask for proof of liability insurance and, if they have employees, proof of workers' compensation coverage. Ask to be named as a certificate holder.
3. Who sets the snow load and footing depth on the plans? On a Big Sky lot, the answer should involve the ASCE 7 Hazard Tool or a design professional. Snow load and footing depth explains why.
4. Who handles the approvals? Land Use Permit, committee review, floodplain, electrical: get it in writing who files what. See who approves a deck around Big Sky.
5. What does the written contract include? Scope, materials by product name, payment schedule, change-order process, and cleanup.
6. What warranty covers the work? Get the contractor's workmanship warranty in writing, separate from the manufacturer's product warranty.

Comparing estimates

Before you compare totals, line up the same items on each one:

• footing type and count, and who sets the depth
• framing lumber or steel, and how the ledger attaches
• decking and railing by product name and color
• stairs, landings, and any covered area
• electrical work and who performs it
• approvals each contractor will file, and which ones you file

If one estimate leaves an item out, ask whether it is excluded or included under another line. A lower total that skips the soils question or the committee drawings can cost more by the end of the season.

Red flags

• A large deposit before any approvals are in hand
• No written contract, or a contract that names no products
• Reluctance to give a license number or explain an exemption
• An answer of "no permits needed" with no mention of zoning, covenants, or electrical

A note on this site

Big Sky Decks passes requests to an independent local contractor. It does not license, vet, or supervise that contractor. Run the same checks on anyone you hear from, including a contractor who contacts you after you send a deck request.