STATE LICENSE
RequiredUtah Division of Professional Licensing (…
Utah folded the former S300 General Painting classification into S270 Drywall, Paint, and Plastering in 2019. S270 covers paints, varnishes, stains, and other coatings, along with drywall, ceiling grid, insulation, stucco, and plaster. DOPL rule lists wallpaper hanging and interior decorating among activities that need no contractor license.
S270 is a specialty: no exam or experience, but a 25-hour pre-licensure course, $1M/$2M general liability, and workers' compensation or a waiver. Paint jobs under $7,000 total fall within the handyman exemption. Work disturbing paint in pre-1978 housing is also subject to the federal EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting rule.
The state sets the license floor; the county or city permit office controls filing, inspections, and local rules wherever the job site sits.
State licensing preempts local contractor licenses (§ 58-55-301(1)(c)); painting rarely needs a building permit, but local codes decide.
The local offices section below names the exact permit desk for every Utah county on file.
Each row names the issuing authority, cost, timeline, citation, and status behind the requirement — verified against the official source.
Published fees from the issuing authorities, as of October 2026. Local permit fees vary by project and jurisdiction — the basis is stated where a flat number does not exist.
Unlike many states, Utah licenses painting — as part of S270 Drywall, Paint, and Plastering.
DOPL rule exempts wallpaper hanging and interior decorating from contractor licensing.
Disturbing painted surfaces in pre-1978 housing triggers federal lead-safe work practice and certification rules.
A practical sequence for a new painting contractor in Utah. Actual agency processing times are noted in the ledger above.
Each item names the issuing authority, cycle, and citation.
Statutory consequences with their citations — not estimates, not “commonly cited” guesses.
Engaging in a construction trade or acting as a contractor without the appropriate license (or an exemption) is unlawful conduct; DOPL may cite instead of prosecuting, and citations escalate.
A contractor may not sue in a Utah court to collect compensation for licensed work without alleging and proving it was licensed when the contract was made and when the claim arose.
Inside city limits, the city office listed here issues the permit; the county office serves unincorporated areas. Every office links to its official page.
Every fact in this file was checked against these official sources on October 2026.
Pending verification: Current text of the R156-55a-301 scope of practice for this classification (adminrules.utah.gov renders client-side and could not be retrieved); scope wording here comes from the 2019 consolidation rulemaking (DAR File No. 43747), and the classification name from DOPL's 2026 application · That wallpaper hanging and interior decorating remain on the current R156-55a-301 exempt-activities list (confirmed in the 2019 rule text only) · Whether Utah administers the lead-based paint renovation (RRP) program at the state level or EPA administers it directly
General information, not legal advice. Always confirm requirements, deadlines, and forms with the issuing authority before filing or contracting.
Store licenses, permits, policies, and renewal dates in one place.