Who Licenses Contractors in Ohio? How to Check Before You Hire

Ohio does not license general contractors or home improvement contractors at the state level. The state's Construction Industry Licensing Board licenses five trades, and many cities add their own license or registration rules. To check a contractor, ask your city or county building department what it requires, then ask the contractor for proof of licenses, insurance and bonding.

What the state licenses

The Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board licenses electrical, HVAC, plumbing, hydronics and refrigeration contractors. State law ties these licenses to construction projects other than one-, two- and three-family homes. No one may claim to be one of these contractor types without holding the license.

How cities add their own rules

• Columbus: every contractor needs the right license or registration before applying for permits. A home improvement contractor license covers work on existing one- to three-family homes. Electrical, HVAC, refrigeration, hydronics and plumbing contractors must hold a State of Ohio license.
• Cleveland: electrical, plumbing and HVAC contractors must be licensed by the state before they can register with the city.
• Akron: every contractor whose work needs a permit must register with the city, with state licenses where they apply.

Permits are local too

What needs a permit depends on the city. Cleveland requires a residential permit to reroof, apply siding, install gutters, doors and windows, build decks and porches, finish basements and attics, and do electrical, plumbing and HVAC work. Toledo does not require a building permit for paint, tile, carpet, new cabinets, new faucets or minor plumbing repairs to leaks or clogs.

How to check a contractor in Ohio

1. Call your city or county building department and ask whether it licenses or registers contractors for your type of work.
2. Ask the contractor for the license or registration number and for proof of insurance and bonding, as the Ohio Attorney General advises.
3. For electrical, HVAC, plumbing, hydronics or refrigeration work, ask for the state trade license as well.
4. Ask who will pull the permits. In Columbus, the contractor must be licensed or registered before applying.
5. If the home was built before 1978, ask whether the firm is EPA-certified for lead-safe work. Paid work that disturbs paint in those homes requires it.