2024 Membership Requirements 

Thank you for your interest in joining our association. The Metropolitan Builders Association consists of two membership classifications; the Builder member and the Associate member. Both are integral to the success of our association and the housing industry. The following defines Builder Members, Interim Builder Members and Associate Members. Please be prepared to provide the appropriate information with your completed application.

 

Builder Member

Builder member shall be any individual, entity, or employee of a firm, (corporation, partnership, or limited liability company) who has been in the business of: (I) building or remodeling homes, apartments, schools, commercial, industrial, or other structures normally related and appurtenant to a community with three homes built and sold; or (II) land development within the jurisdiction of this Association.

Annual Membership Fee for Builders: $995

 

Membership Requirements for Builder Members:
  • Three satisfactory Customer References.(Projects, Customers, Sub-contractors)
  • Disclose all financial partners in company.
  • Applicant authorizes the MBA to conduct inquiries as may be necessary for the MBA’s determination of the applicant’s financial and technical ability to meet obligations to subcontractors and suppliers.
  • Agree to utilize arbitration and mediation services when requested by a homeowner or another member.
  • Agree to abide by the By-Laws, Code of Ethics, and approved actions of the Board of Directors. Agree to complete the mandatory education requirement of a full-morning orientation program and one educational program on the Uniform Dwelling Code within one year of acceptance.

 

Interim Builder Member

Any contractor who has not met the minimum requirement for Builder membership. Such members are not permitted to vote, to use the MBA logo, or participate in MBA promotions (Home Builders Expo, Spring Tour, Parade of Homes) until attaining Builder membership status. Upon meeting all membership requirements, the Interim Builder shall be considered for full Builder membership.

Annual Membership Fee for Interim Builders: $995

 

Membership Requirements for Interim Builder Members:
  • Three satisfactory Customer References (Projects, Customers, Sub-contractors)
  • Disclose all financial partners in company.
  • Applicant authorizes the MBA to conduct inquiries as may be necessary for the MBA’s determination of the applicant’s financial and technical ability to meet obligations to subcontractors and suppliers.
  • Agree to utilize arbitration and mediation services when requested by a homeowner or another member.
  • Agree to abide by the By-Laws, Code of Ethics, and approved actions of the Board of Directors. Agree to complete the mandatory education requirement of a full-morning orientation program and one educational program on the Uniform Dwelling Code within one year of acceptance.

Note: The MBA desires to have Interim Builder Members reach Builder Member status as soon as possible. Once three homes have been built and sold please contact the MBA so we can obtain three customer references and upgrade your membership status.

 

Associate Members

Associate member shall be any person, firm, corporation engaged in a trade, business, industry or profession related to the home building industry. The greater part of business activity should consist of the performance of work or labor and the furnishing of materials used in or about the erection, construction, repair of buildings or the financing of the buildings.

Annual Membership Fee for Associate Members: $705

 

Membership Requirements for Associate Members:
  • Disclose all financial partners in company.
  • Applicant authorizes the MBA to conduct inquiries as may be necessary for its determination of the applicant’s financial and technical ability to meets its obligations.
  • Agree to utilize arbitration and mediation services when requested by a homeowner or another member.
  • Agree to abide by the By-Laws, Code of Ethics, and approved actions of the Board of Directors.

 

How to determine if you are a Builder or an Associate Member? 

From time to time it is difficult to classify whether a company should be an associate member or a remodeler (builder member). To help define what it means to be an associate or a builder, please review your company’s business model and ask the following questions:

  1. Is your primary business to build, rehabilitate or remodel space or replace via some new construction?
  2. Does any of your work that your business performs require a dwelling contractor certification?
  3. Are you required to pull construction building permits for your projects (this does not include permits for activities such as electrical or plumbing work)?

If the business can answer YES to any of the questions above, you should be classified as a Builder Member. If the business can answer no to each of these questions then they should be classified as an Associate Member. Over time, if a member’s business model changes that would require a change in membership status, that change will happen at the member company’s next membership renewal.

 

How to determine if your project meets the builder member requirement?

The MBA is looking for customer and subcontractor references for projects that are new home constructions or remodels that closely resembles the full construction process.

 

Projects should include:

  • Contract written in applicant company’s name to a customer (if for client*)
  • Building permit was issued from the local municipality in applicant company’s name
  • Project is substantially completed AND occupancy permit has been issued within the last two years

*Note: if a project has no owner (i.e. model or spec home) additional information for a subcontract may be given in lieu of an owner.

The MBA understands that developers and remodels may have projects that do not meet the criteria above. Developers may need to submit information regarding size and scope of developments for consideration as projects. Remodelers may have projects that will meet this requirement (i.e. additions, kitchens remodels and basement buildouts, etc.) but must have a minimum of three trades in each project.

The main scope of all reference projects, whether a builder or remodeler, must also be that of the primary business focus for the applicant company. For example, if the applicant is a home builder, the three projects should be new home construction and if the applicant is a remodeler and specializes in basements, the three projects must be basement build-outs or renovations.

If you have questions or need clarification to any of these requirements, or to find out if your project meets the intent of the information above, please contact the Metropolitan Builders Association office at 262-436-1122.