Contact Columbia General Contractor

Send the form to reach a general contractor through Columbia General Contractor

Name the town and ZIP code, and say what you want built or changed. Describe the job in the details box. The contractor may ask for photos or plans when it calls.

What happens after you send the form

1. You send the form. Give your name, number, ZIP code and the project, such as "new vanity, tile and shower in a hall bath in Ashland."
2. A person gets back to you within one business day, says again that Columbia General Contractor is a referral service and, with your OK, passes the request to one independent local contractor.
3. The contractor calls you and quotes the project. Ask for the quote in writing. Your agreement is with the contractor, not with Columbia General Contractor.

Service area: Columbia and nearby towns

Send the form about a home in Columbia (ZIP codes 65201, 65202, 65203 and 65211) or in one of these towns: Ashland, Hallsville, Centralia, Fulton, Boonville, California, Holts Summit and Fayette. If your house is somewhere else, say so in the form.

What to have ready when you contact a general contractor

These details help the contractor understand the job before anyone visits. You do not need all of them to send the form.

The rooms and the scope

Say which rooms are involved and whether you want a refresh or a gut job. A kitchen remodel: say whether you want to keep the layout or move walls or plumbing. For a bathroom remodel, say whether you want to keep the tub or switch to a shower.

New space or changed space

If you want more floor area, such as a bedroom, a primary suite or a sunroom, say so. For home additions, say whether the project adds floor area or stays inside the existing walls. Mention any lot limits you know about, such as a fence line. Columbia's zoning code sets minimum setbacks, for example a 25 ft front and 6 ft side yard in the R-1 district (City of Columbia Code, Sec. 29-4.1, read October 27, 2026). If you know your lot's zoning district, say so.

Timing and storm damage

Give the month you hope to start and any hard date, such as a move-in or a family event. If the project follows storm damage, say that. An EF-1 tornado with an estimated peak wind of 110 mph crossed Boone County through Columbia on April 20, 2025, with widespread tree damage (National Weather Service, St. Louis). Tell the contractor if you also have an insurance claim open.

Your budget and other quotes

A budget range helps the contractor suggest the right scope. Mention other bids you hold so the contractor can explain how its scope differs. The Missouri Attorney General advises getting at least two or three bids (published June 17, 2025). The page on hiring a general contractor explains how to compare them.

Plans and details

Describe the job in the details box. The contractor may ask for photos or plans when it calls. If you have no plans, say that.

Questions about getting a quote

Is it free to send the quote form?

Yes. You pay Columbia General Contractor nothing for the request. The contractor you are connected with prices the project itself.

Who agrees the price for my Columbia project?

The contractor you are connected with. Ask for the quote in writing, with the work it covers listed line by line.

When will someone get back to me?

A person gets back to you within one business day of your form. Put your town and ZIP code in the form so the callback starts with the right place.

What should I have ready before I send the form?

Five things: the rooms involved, whether the project adds space, your hoped-for start month, a budget range if you have one, and any plans you have.

Does Columbia General Contractor do the work?

No. Columbia General Contractor is a referral service. An independent local contractor does the work and holds the contract with you.

Does a general contractor in Missouri need a state license?

A Procore trade guide (updated June 18, 2024) says Missouri does not require a state-issued contractor license. The same guide says Columbia requires a city business license. It is a third-party source, so ask the City of Columbia to confirm, and ask the contractor to show its city license.

What must a contractor give me before I pay?

On a residential job, Missouri law (RSMo 429.012) requires an original contractor to give you a written "NOTICE TO OWNER" before it receives any payment. It warns about mechanic's liens and lien waivers. Ask for it before you pay anything.

Can I cancel a contract I signed at home?

Missouri's home solicitation law (RSMo 407.710) gives a buyer 3 business days to cancel in writing for a sale solicited at the buyer's residence, and the agreement must carry a "NOTICE OF CANCELLATION." It does not apply to every sale, and an emergency request for work without delay is an exception. Read the contract and ask the contractor which case applies.

How much should I pay up front?

The Missouri Attorney General says not to prepay for work and never to pay in cash. Ask the contractor for a payment schedule tied to finished steps, and put it in the written contract.

Do I need a permit, and who pulls it?

Ask each contractor which permits your project needs and who pulls them. Inside Columbia, the city code lets the general contractor pull the permits on behalf of the trade contractors for alterations and additions to one- and two-family homes. The city charges $2.25 per $1,000 of value, with a $35 minimum, and work started before the permit is pulled costs double the permit fees (City of Columbia Code, Chapter 6, read October 27, 2026). This page does not say which jobs need a permit, because the city's permit pages have not been read. Ask the contractor which office issues the permit at your address, and ask that office to confirm.

Who does the work

Columbia General Contractor is a referral service operated by R&S. We pass your request to an independent local company, which does the work.