Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs

What Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs does

The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) is a state government department within the executive branch of Michigan state government, headquartered at 611 W Ottawa St., Lansing, MI. Founded in 2001, the department functions as Michigan's central regulatory authority overseeing professional licensing, occupational licensing, business registration, corporations and securities, cannabis regulation, and consumer protection. LARA serves licensed businesses and regulated professionals as well as Michigan residents, delivering licensing issuance, regulatory compliance monitoring, consumer protection enforcement, and professional regulation services.

LARA operates a portfolio of citizen-facing digital products, including the State License Search portal for verifying professional and business licenses, FOIA request processing for public records, Language Access Coordinator services for individuals with limited English proficiency, and ADA Title II complaint handling for disability-related accommodations. The department delivers services through two primary channels: walk-in services at state offices and online self-service portals supporting license applications, renewals, and regulatory filings. Citizen outreach occurs via the centralized Michigan.gov portal and department-specific websites. Reported headcount falls in the 1,001–5,000 range.

As a public sector entity, LARA does not generate commercial revenue. The department is funded through state appropriations and licensing-related fees, with no parent company or private ownership structure. LARA is accountable to Michigan residents through the executive branch governance structure. No AI/ML capabilities, M&A activity, partnerships, external funding events, patents, certifications, or named commercial customers are disclosed in the source data.

Name

Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs

Legal name

Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs

Website

https://michigan.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs is a state government department headquartered in Lansing that oversees professional licensing, business registration, regulatory compliance, and consumer protection for Michigan residents and licensed professionals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Lansing

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Michigan LARA is a state government department that issues professional and occupational licenses, registers businesses, enforces regulatory compliance, and provides consumer protection oversight across Michigan. It operates citizen-facing digital services such as the State License Search portal, FOIA request processing, language access coordination, and ADA complaint handling, while exercising statutory regulatory authority over licensed professions, corporations and securities, cannabis, and other regulated industries.

Product overview

The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) is a state regulatory agency that operates a portfolio of citizen-facing digital services including the State License Search portal for verifying professional and business licenses, FOIA request processing for public records, language access coordinator services for limited English proficiency individuals, and ADA complaint handling for disability-related accommodations. LARA functions as the state's central regulatory authority overseeing occupational licensing, business registration, and regulatory compliance across Michigan.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• State License Search An online portal allowing the public to search and verify professional licenses, permits, and registrations issued by the State of Michigan. Used by employers, consumers, and licensees to confirm credentials.
• FOIA Request Services Freedom of Information Act request processing system enabling citizens to request public records from LARA. Aimed at journalists, residents, and organizations seeking public records.
• Language Access Coordinator Services Language assistance services providing translation and interpretation support for individuals with limited English proficiency seeking LARA services. Coordinated by L. Peter Clark III.
• ADA Complaint Processing Americans with Disabilities Act Title II complaint handling and accommodation request processing for individuals accessing LARA programs and services. Coordinated by ADA Coordinator Nicholas Gobbo.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights1 record

Direct peers

• Massachusetts Division of Professional Licensure: Massachusetts's state division overseeing licensing boards for trades and professions. Comparable to LARA in delivering state-level professional licensing and regulatory compliance services to licensees and consumers.
• Pennsylvania Department of State: Pennsylvania's state department responsible for professional licensure, business filings, and elections oversight. Comparable to LARA as a state-level licensing authority handling professional boards and corporate registrations.
• Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation: Florida's primary state regulator for businesses and licensed professionals, with online licensing portal at myfloridalicense.com. Directly comparable to LARA in delivering professional licensing, regulatory compliance, and consumer protection services.
• Ohio Department of Commerce: Ohio's state regulatory department overseeing professional licensing across multiple industries including real estate, fire safety, and securities. Comparable to LARA in administering occupational licensing and regulatory enforcement functions.
• Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation: Illinois's combined financial and professional licensing regulator overseeing banking, real estate, medical, and various professional licenses. Directly comparable to LARA in administering professional licensure and enforcing regulatory compliance.
• New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs: New Jersey's state division handling professional licensing boards and consumer protection enforcement. Comparable to LARA in combining professional licensure with consumer-facing regulatory oversight within a state government structure.
• New York Department of State: New York's state department handling licensing, business registration, and regulatory oversight of professions. Comparable to LARA as an executive-branch state agency providing licensing, business filings, and consumer protection functions.
• Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation: Texas's centralized state licensing agency overseeing more than 200 license types and 800,000+ licensees. Comparable to LARA as a state government department issuing occupational licenses, enforcing regulations, and providing online license verification.
• Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation: Virginia's dedicated state agency for professional and occupational regulation, administering 19 boards covering more than 30 license types. Directly comparable to LARA as a state licensing authority focused on occupational regulation.
• California Department of Consumer Affairs: California's state-level licensing and consumer protection agency covering more than 3.4 million licensees across professional boards. Directly comparable to LARA in scope, mandate, and structure as a centralized state regulatory authority for occupational licensing.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/michiganLARA
• Facebookfacebook.com/michiganLARA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/michiganlara

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs