How do you check an Oregon contractor's license?

Why it matters in Oregon

In Oregon, anyone who is paid to repair, improve or build a home must be licensed with the Construction Contractors Board, or CCB. The CCB's own tagline is a good reason to check: anyone can pretend to be a contractor. A license means the contractor has met training requirements and carries a bond and insurance that can protect you if something goes wrong.

How to search

The CCB's consumer guidance walks through it: go to the license search at search.ccb.state.or.us, enter the license number or the business name, and select the matching license. Then confirm three things: the license status is active, the contractor has the endorsement for your kind of work, and the name and details match the company you are talking to.

The record also shows up to 10 years of license history, including complaints. For help, the CCB lists 503-378-4621.

Endorsements: residential, commercial or both

CCB licenses carry endorsements. Residential endorsements include general, specialty, limited and others; commercial endorsements include general and specialty contractors at Level 1 and Level 2. The CCB says contractors working on both residential and commercial structures must hold both endorsements and both bond types. If you are a business owner hiring for a commercial site, make sure the commercial endorsement is there.

What the license requires

According to the CCB's license page, applicants must be at least 18, complete at least 16 hours of pre-license training from an approved provider, and pass an 80 question exam with a score of at least 70 percent.

Bonds and insurance scale with the endorsement. A residential general contractor carries a $25,000 surety bond and $500,000 per occurrence in general liability insurance. On the commercial side, a Level 1 general contractor carries an $80,000 bond and $2,000,000 aggregate insurance, and a Level 2 general contractor a $25,000 bond and $1,000,000 aggregate. Contractors with employees must also carry workers' compensation, per the CCB's consumer release.

If something goes wrong

The CCB offers mediation between contractors and homeowners, and an online complaint form. Bond and insurance requirements exist for exactly this reason: they cover property damage and injuries caused by the contractor or its employees. That protection only exists when the contractor is licensed and active.

Other questions to ask

A license check is a starting point. Also ask for a written bid that lists what is and is not included, who pulls permits, how changes are priced, and what the schedule looks like. For concrete work, ask about base preparation, thickness, reinforcement and the mix; our guide to concrete cost drivers lists what to compare. For work in the City of Bend right of way, ask whether the contractor holds a Qualified Right-of-Way License; see sidewalk repair in Bend.

Red flags

Watch for a business that cannot give you a CCB number, a license that is not active, a name on the license that does not match the business name on the bid, an endorsement that does not match the job, or pressure to pay large amounts in cash before work starts. Any of those is a reason to slow down and check again.

Other Oregon licenses that may matter

Some work needs more than a CCB license. Electrical and plumbing work have their own licensing, and in Bend, work in the public right of way such as sidewalk repair must be done by a contractor holding the city's Qualified Right-of-Way License. When you get a bid, ask which parts of the job the contractor does with its own crews and which go to licensed subcontractors.

Keep a record

Once you hire someone, keep a copy of the license search result with the bid and contract. If a dispute ever comes up, the CCB will ask for the license number, the written contract and a record of payments. It takes a minute to save, and it is much harder to piece together months later.

Save the bond and insurance details shown on the record as well. They are the protection the license is meant to give you, and the record can change over time.

RCC's license

Ronan Construction Company lists Oregon CCB# 209341 on its website. You can verify it yourself on the CCB search, and we encourage it. More about RCC.