Oregon contractors license lookup
922 contractor profiles · 590 with an active license on file.
HomeProFax lists 922 contractor profiles with Oregon business addresses; 590 show an active license on file. We have not yet integrated Oregon's own licensing sources, so these profiles come from other states' board records, the local license sources we hold, or our research sources — a profile without a license here is not evidence the contractor is unlicensed in Oregon.
Before you hire, read how to check a contractor before you hire and confirm the license with the issuing agency.
On this page: Who must be licensed in Oregon · Residential and commercial endorsements, with bond and insurance · How to run the CCB lookup, step by step · Checking complaints and discipline · Red flags before you sign · If the contractor is unlicensed or you have a dispute · Permits in Portland and elsewhere · HomeProFax data · FAQ · Sources
Who must be licensed in Oregon
Oregon licenses construction businesses through the Construction Contractors Board (CCB). Anyone paid to do construction work generally needs a CCB license, and licensed contractors must put their CCB number on their advertising, including brochures, websites and business cards (CCB).
The narrow exception is work that is "casual, minor or inconsequential": the total for labor, materials and other charges on the project is under $1,000, no building permit is required, the work does not affect the health or safety of occupants, and it is not subcontracted to a licensed contractor. The exemption does not apply to someone who advertises as a contractor (OAR 812-002-0120).
Residential and commercial endorsements, with bond and insurance
Every CCB license carries one or more endorsements. A residential endorsement covers residential and small commercial structures; a commercial endorsement covers large and small commercial projects. A contractor working on both residential and large commercial structures needs both endorsements and two bonds (CCB endorsement chart). Bond minimums rose by $5,000 on January 1, 2024 under House Bill 2922 (CCB licensing).
| Endorsement | What it allows | Bond | Liability insurance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential General Contractor (RGC) | Any number of unrelated building trades on residential or small commercial projects | $25,000 | $500,000 per occurrence |
| Residential Specialty Contractor (RSC) | One or two unrelated trades; three or more on one property only if the contract is $2,500 or less | $20,000 | $300,000 per occurrence |
| Residential Limited Contractor (RLC) | Part-time work: under $40,000 gross a year, no contract over $5,000, no more than $5,000 per job site per year | $15,000 | $100,000 per occurrence |
| Residential Developer | Residential development | $25,000 | $500,000 per occurrence |
| Commercial General Contractor Level 1 | Commercial | $80,000 | $2,000,000 aggregate |
| Commercial General Contractor Level 2 | Commercial | $25,000 | $1,000,000 aggregate |
| Commercial Specialty Contractor Level 1 | Commercial | $55,000 | $1,000,000 aggregate |
| Commercial Specialty Contractor Level 2 | Commercial | $25,000 | $500,000 per occurrence |
Sources: CCB license requirements and endorsement chart. The CCB notes that general liability insurance does not reimburse a third party for poor work or construction defects, though it may cover damage caused by faulty work.
How to run the CCB lookup, step by step
- Ask for the CCB license number. The CCB says the number is the most accurate way to search.
- Open the CCB license search and enter the number. You can also enter part of the business name, the owner's last name, or in some cases the business phone number (digits only).
- Select the matching license and confirm it is active and that the name matches your bid or contract.
- Check the endorsement against the job: a residential endorsement for work on your home, and an RLC only if the contract is $5,000 or less.
- Read the bond and insurance entries and their dates. Each can run on its own date, separate from the license.
- Open the complaint history (see below).
If a name search finds nothing, the CCB warns not to assume the contractor is unlicensed: spelling and punctuation (Andy's vs Andys, S&F vs S & F) can block a match. Search a shorter part of the name or ask for the number.
Checking complaints and discipline
Open the license in the CCB search and read the complaint and disciplinary entries it lists. Read them as a record of what was filed and how it was resolved, not as a verdict on any one job. A complaint filed promptly matters: the CCB says the money available through a bond is limited and several people may be seeking restitution from the same bond.
Red flags before you sign
- No CCB number on the bid, website or business card, even though the law requires it in advertising.
- The CCB name does not match the business name on your contract.
- A residential limited contractor bidding a job over $5,000.
- A bond or insurance entry with an end date before your project will finish.
- Repeated complaints or discipline on the CCB record.
- A permit-required job offered by someone claiming the under-$1,000 exemption.
If the contractor is unlicensed or you have a dispute
The CCB takes complaints only against licensed contractors, and you must first give the contractor 30 days' pre-complaint notice by certified mail to the address on record with the board. Deadlines for complaints about negligent or improper work or breach of contract (CCB consumer protection):
- New structure: within one year of first occupancy or two years of substantial completion, whichever is earlier.
- Existing structure: within one year of the date the work was substantially completed or the date work ceased.
The CCB says the only way to reach a contractor's bond is through a signed court judgment, so file a complaint promptly if you think you have a dispute. Because the CCB cannot take complaints against unlicensed contractors, a dispute with an unlicensed worker generally goes to court.
Permits in Portland and elsewhere
Building permits are issued locally. In Portland, permits and inspections run through Portland Permitting & Development. Other cities and counties run their own building departments; ask your contractor who will pull the permit before work starts.
What HomeProFax shows for Oregon
HomeProFax lists 922 contractor profiles here, 590 with an active license on file. We have not imported Oregon CCB license data yet; the CCB publishes open license data that we have not loaded. The profiles below come from other states’ board records, local license sources and research sources, so a profile without a license here is not evidence the contractor is unlicensed in Oregon. Use the CCB search for every license, bond and complaint check.
Cities with the most profiles: Portland (190), Medford (44), Bend (39), Klamath Falls (31), Salem (31), Beaverton (30), Eugene (30), Brookings (29).
Profiles show public-record facts with their source; they are not a rating of workmanship. HomeProFax is a free contractor license, permit and complaint check from public records.
Frequently asked questions
How do I look up an Oregon contractor license?
Use the Oregon Construction Contractors Board (CCB) license search at search.ccb.state.or.us. Searching by CCB license number is the most accurate; you can also search by business name, owner last name or, in some cases, business phone number.
Does a handyman need a CCB license in Oregon?
Generally yes for paid construction work. The exemption covers only casual, minor or inconsequential work: under $1,000 total for the project, no permit required, no effect on occupants’ health or safety, not subcontracted to a licensed contractor, and not advertised as contracting (OAR 812-002-0120).
What bond does an Oregon residential contractor need?
Since January 1, 2024: $25,000 for a Residential General Contractor, $20,000 for a Residential Specialty Contractor and $15,000 for a Residential Limited Contractor.
How much liability insurance must an Oregon contractor carry?
Residential General Contractor $500,000 per occurrence, Residential Specialty Contractor $300,000 per occurrence, Residential Limited Contractor $100,000 per occurrence. Commercial minimums run from $500,000 per occurrence to $2,000,000 aggregate.
What is a Residential Limited Contractor?
A part-time endorsement: the contractor expects under $40,000 in gross construction sales a year, does not contract for work over $5,000, and does not exceed $5,000 of work per job site per year.
Can I claim against an Oregon contractor’s bond?
The CCB says the only path to a contractor’s bond is a signed court judgment, and the bond amount is limited, so file a complaint promptly.
How do I file a complaint with the Oregon CCB?
Send the contractor 30 days’ pre-complaint notice by certified mail, then file with the CCB. For an existing structure, file within one year of substantial completion or the date work ceased.
Does HomeProFax show Oregon CCB data?
Not yet. A missing license on a HomeProFax Oregon profile is not evidence the contractor is unlicensed. Confirm with the CCB.
Sources, last checked 2026-10-29
- CCB license search
- CCB license requirements (bond, insurance)
- CCB endorsement chart (PDF)
- CCB licensing: 2024 bond increase
- CCB consumer protection and complaints
- OAR 812-002-0120 (casual, minor or inconsequential)
- Portland Permitting & Development