How to Check a Contractor's License in Oregon

Oregon requires every contractor working on projects valued at $1,000 or more to hold a license from the Construction Contractors Board (CCB). That includes general contractors, subcontractors, specialty trades, and even home inspectors. The good news is that the CCB runs a solid online search tool that makes verification straightforward once you know where to look.

This guide covers the full process for checking a contractor's license in Oregon, what the different license categories mean, and how to use the CCB's complaint and dispute resolution system if something goes wrong.

Does Oregon require contractors to be licensed?

Yes. Oregon requires every contractor performing work valued at $1,000 or more to hold an active license from the Construction Contractors Board (CCB). This applies to general contractors, subcontractors, specialty tradespeople, and home inspectors alike. Working without a CCB license is illegal, and hiring an unlicensed contractor leaves you without access to Oregon's consumer protection system.

What information do I need to look up a contractor's Oregon license?

To search the CCB database, you need at least one of: the contractor's CCB license number (fastest), their business name, or the owner or operator's personal name. The CCB search is forgiving with partial name matches, so a name from a yard sign or business card is usually enough to find them. Having the license number eliminates all guesswork.

To look up a contractor on the CCB website, you'll want at least one of these:

• CCB license number (fastest and most reliable)
• Business name (how most people search)
• Owner or operator name(works when the business name doesn't match)

If all you have is a name from a yard sign or a business card, that will usually work. The CCB search is more forgiving than some other state databases, but having the license number eliminates any guesswork.

How do I search the Oregon CCB license database?

Go to search.ccb.state.or.us — the official CCB license verification tool. Enter the license number, business name, or owner name in the search fields. For business name searches, use the first significant word rather than the full legal name (search "Pacific" instead of "Pacific Northwest Roofing LLC"). Results show license status, category, expiration date, bond and insurance status, and complaint history.

Head to the Oregon CCB's online search at search.ccb.state.or.us. This is the official license verification tool maintained by the Construction Contractors Board.

You'll see fields for license number, business name, and owner/operator name. Fill in whatever you have. If you're searching by business name, try the first significant word or two rather than the full legal name. For example, search "Pacific" instead of "Pacific Northwest Roofing LLC."

What does an Oregon contractor license search result show?

An Oregon CCB license search result shows five key data points: license status (Active, Expired, Suspended, or Revoked), license category defining what work they can legally perform, expiration date (licenses renew every two years), whether the required surety bond and liability insurance are current, and any complaint history filed with the CCB. All five matter before you hire.

Once you find the contractor, the results page will show several key pieces of information:

• License status:This should say "Active." If it says "Expired," "Suspended," or "Revoked," that contractor is not currently authorized to work in Oregon.
• License category:The type of work they're authorized to perform (more on this below).
• Expiration date:Oregon licenses are renewed every two years. Make sure the license won't expire in the middle of your project.
• Insurance and bond status: Whether the contractor currently has the required surety bond and liability insurance on file.
• Complaint history: Any complaints filed with the CCB against the contractor.

What are the different Oregon contractor license categories and what do they mean?

Oregon has six CCB license categories. Residential General Contractor covers full home projects and is what most homeowners need. Commercial General Contractor covers commercial work and also authorizes residential. Residential and Commercial Specialty Contractor licenses cover a single trade (plumbing, electrical, roofing) within their respective property types. Residential Limited Contractor is for projects under $40,000. Developer is for building homes for sale rather than for a specific client.

Oregon uses specific license categories that define what type of work a contractor can legally perform. This is important because hiring a contractor to do work outside their license category can leave you without recourse if something goes wrong.

• Residential General Contractor: Can perform or supervise residential construction, remodeling, and repair. This is what most homeowners should look for when hiring someone for a home project.
• Commercial General Contractor: Authorized for commercial, industrial, and institutional projects. These contractors can also do residential work.
• Residential Specialty Contractor: Licensed for a specific trade (plumbing, electrical, HVAC, roofing, etc.) on residential projects. They can only perform work within their declared specialty.
• Commercial Specialty Contractor: Same as residential specialty but authorized for commercial projects as well.
• Residential Limited Contractor: Can do residential work on projects valued at $40,000 or less. This category has lower bond and insurance requirements.
• Developer: Builds or improves residential structures for sale or lease, rather than for a specific customer.

When you check a license, make sure the category matches the type of work you need done. A residential specialty contractor licensed for painting cannot legally take on a full kitchen remodel.

What bond and insurance amounts does Oregon require for contractors?

Oregon surety bond requirements vary by license category: residential general contractors must carry a $20,000 bond; commercial general contractors $75,000; residential specialty contractors $15,000; commercial specialty contractors $20,000; and residential limited contractors $10,000. The CCB search shows whether a contractor's bond and insurance are currently active — if either is lapsed, do not hire them even if the license shows active.

Oregon requires all licensed contractors to carry a surety bond. The bond amount varies by license category:

• Residential general contractors: $20,000 bond
• Commercial general contractors: $75,000 bond
• Residential specialty contractors: $15,000 bond
• Commercial specialty contractors: $20,000 bond
• Residential limited contractors: $10,000 bond

The bond protects you as a consumer. If a contractor fails to complete work, does substandard work, or violates the contract, you can file a claim against the bond through the CCB. Contractors are also required to carry general liability insurance, though the minimum coverage amounts vary by category.

When you pull up a contractor's license, the CCB search shows whether the bond and insurance are current. If either shows as lapsed or expired, that's a serious red flag even if the license itself says active.

Do specialty trades like plumbers and electricians need a separate Oregon license?

Yes, but the CCB handles nearly all of it. Unlike many states that split trade licensing across multiple agencies, Oregon licenses plumbing, electrical, HVAC, roofing, concrete, masonry, landscaping, and home inspection contractors all through the CCB. Individual electricians and plumbers also need separate personal certifications from the Oregon Building Codes Division, but the CCB license is always the baseline requirement for the business.

Unlike some states that split licensing across multiple agencies, Oregon handles almost all contractor licensing through the CCB. That includes trades like:

• Plumbing contractors
• Electrical contractors
• HVAC contractors
• Roofing contractors
• Concrete and masonry contractors
• Landscaping contractors
• Home inspectors

Some specialty trades also require separate certifications or permits from other state agencies. For example, electricians need individual licenses from the Oregon Building Codes Division in addition to the contractor's CCB license. Plumbers similarly need journeyman or master plumber licenses. But the CCB license is always the baseline requirement for the business performing the work.

How do I file a complaint against a contractor with the Oregon CCB?

File online at oregon.gov/ccb or by mail. Include your contract, photos, and a description of the problem. A CCB investigator will review the complaint and may inspect the work. Disputes often go through mediation first; unresolved cases proceed to an administrative law judge. If the CCB finds in your favor, you may recover damages from the contractor's surety bond. File within one year of work completion or defect discovery, with a two-year outer limit.

If you have a dispute with a licensed contractor, the CCB offers a formal complaint and resolution process. Here's how it works:

1. File a complaint online or by mail. You can submit a complaint through the CCB complaint page. Include your contract, any correspondence, photos of the work, and a description of the problem.
2. The CCB investigates.A CCB investigator will review your complaint and may inspect the work. They'll determine whether the contractor violated Oregon construction law.
3. Mediation or hearing.Many disputes go through mediation first. If mediation doesn't resolve it, the case can proceed to a formal hearing before an administrative law judge.
4. Bond claim.If the CCB finds in your favor, you may be able to recover damages from the contractor's surety bond. This is one of the main reasons you want to hire licensed contractors in the first place.

There are time limits for filing complaints. In most cases, you need to file within one year of the completion of the work (or one year from when you discovered the defect, up to two years from completion). Don't sit on it if you find problems.

What should I check before hiring an Oregon contractor?

Run through six checks before signing any contract: confirm the license is active in the CCB database; verify the license category matches your project type; confirm both bond and insurance are current (not just the license); review the complaint history for recent unresolved issues; check that the license won't expire mid-project; and verify the CCB number the contractor gives you matches what's in the database, since some unlicensed operators provide other contractors' numbers.

Here's a quick checklist you can run through before signing a contract:

1. License is active. Search the CCB database and confirm the license status says active, not expired, suspended, or revoked.
2. Category matches your project. A residential specialty contractor licensed for painting cannot take on structural work. Make sure their license category covers what you need.
3. Bond and insurance are current. Both should show as active in the CCB search results. If either is lapsed, walk away.
4. No unresolved complaints. Check the complaint history on their license record. A single resolved complaint from years ago is less concerning than multiple recent unresolved ones.
5. License won't expire mid-project.Check the expiration date. If it's coming up soon, ask the contractor whether they plan to renew.
6. The license number matches.Ask the contractor for their CCB number and verify it matches what's in the database. Some unlicensed operators give out other contractors' numbers.

The bottom line

Oregon makes it relatively easy to verify a contractor's license through the CCB. The search tool is straightforward, and the results give you everything you need: license status, category, bond and insurance status, and complaint history. The whole process takes about two minutes.

The most important things to confirm are that the license is active, the category matches your project, and the bond and insurance are current. If any of those three are missing, don't hire that contractor. The CCB's complaint and bond claim process only protects you when you're working with a properly licensed contractor, so doing this check upfront is one of the best ways to protect yourself on any Oregon construction project.