The Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB) requires only the following trades to hold a state-level Ohio contractor license: electricians, HVAC contractors, hydronic technicians, plumbers, and refrigeration installers. For other contractors, and especially general contractors, an Ohio contractor license and/or registration must be applied for and issued at the local level.
Each city has specific requirements in order to be issued an Ohio contractor license for hiring and supervising other contractors (for either new or home improvement work). However, a business license to supplement your contracting business will be managed at the state level, and most municipalities also require a certificate of insurance before you can be licensed or begin work, so it is necessary to research local liability insurance providers when pursuing a license. Becoming a general contractor in Ohio doesn’t need to be tricky icityf you have the correct information. The following sections detail the requirements and procedures for obtaining the relevant general contractor license in Ohio.
General Contractor License Columbus, Ohio
The Columbus Department of Building and Zoning Services will conduct the contractor licensing process for Columbus, Ohio. This department issues two types of licenses for building contractors: home improvement contractors and general contractors. The primary difference between the two licenses is the type of work that can be performed and the number of families occupying the dwelling.
Home Improvement Contractors Columbus, Ohio
The Columbus City Code requires home improvement contractors to be licensed by the Department of Building and Zoning Services. They must be licensed and registered before permits may be issued and before any work can be done.
“Home improvement” refers to repairing, remodeling, replacing, altering, converting, modernizing, or adding to any existing building or to any portion of such. This applies to a private residence used by a dwelling for not more than three separate families. It also includes the addition of accessory structures, such as garages, for homes up to three families. However, home improvement does not include the building of a new house.
Basic Requirements for a Home Improvement Contractor License in Columbus
The following are basic requirements for applicants for a home improvement contractor license. The applicant must:
- Be at least 18 years of age.
- Be a US citizen or national, a lawful permanent resident, or an alien authorized to work in the US.
- Have at least
- Three full years of firsthand work experience in the construction trades for one-, two-, or three-family dwellings for an unrestricted license, -OR-
- One full year of firsthand experience for a limited license.
- Pass an ICC accredited exam.
Exceptions to the work experience requirement may be made for the following cases:
- The applicant is a registered engineer in Ohio specifically in the field of construction.
- The applicant is an engineering graduate with one full year of experience working specifically in the home construction industry.
The application fee for a home improvement license is $185 annually.
Steps for Submitting a Home Improvement Contractor License Application in Columbus
Your home improvement contractor application will ask you to verify that you are in accordance with the above requirements and to specify your scope of work. Completing the application will also include paying your registration and licensure fee:
- Download and fill out the printable home improvement contractor application.
- Have the application notarized. Non-notarized applications cannot be processed.
- Write a check for $185 made payable to “Columbus City Treasurer.”
- Either mail or deliver in person the completed and notarized application and the application fee to:
The Department of Building & Zoning Services
757 Carolyn Ave.
Columbus, OH 43224
The application must be received no later than seven days before the next Home Improvement Board meeting, which is the first Wednesday of each month.
If the Board approves the application, it will send the applicant a certified letter detailing the next steps in completing the application process.
Only after receiving the notification, the applicant should be prepared to produce the following documents:
- Obtain a bond in the amount of $25,000. An official bond form will be included in the application packet. This bond is intended to protect both you and the client for any project, so a given client or project may require you to obtain a larger bond for complete coverage, increasing the overall cost of a project.
- A certificate of liability insurance for the following coverages:
- Minimum of $300,000 for damages to a single person.
- Minimum of $500,000 for a single occurrence.
General Contractors License Columbus, Ohio
Unlike home improvement contractors, general contractors in Columbus may oversee the construction of new homes. Also, the dwellings are not limited to only one-, two-, or three-family homes.
Basic Requirements for a General Contractors License in Columbus
The basic requirements for applicants for a general contractor license are the same as those for a home improvement contractor license. These are that the applicant must:
- Be at least 18 years of age.
- Be a US citizen or national, a lawful permanent resident, or an alien authorized to work in the US.
- Have at least
- Three full years of firsthand work experience in the construction trades for one-, two-, or three-family dwellings for an unrestricted license, -OR-
- One full year of firsthand experience for a limited license.
- 4. Pass an ICC accredited exam.
The application fee for a general contractor license is $350 annually.
Steps for Submitting a General Contractor License Application in Columbus
Your general contractor application will ask you to verify that you are in accordance with the above requirements and to specify your scope of work. Completing the application will also include paying your registration and licensure fee.
- Download and fill out the printable general contractor application here.
- Have the application notarized. Non-notarized applications cannot be processed.
- Write a check for $350 made payable to “Columbus City Treasurer.”
- Either mail or deliver in person the completed and notarized application and the application fee to:
The Department of Building & Zoning Services
757 Carolyn Ave.
Columbus, OH 43224
Just as with the home improvement contractor procedure, the application must be received no later than seven days before the next Home Improvement Board meeting. The Board meets the first Wednesday of each month.
If the Board approves the application, it will send the applicant a certified letter detailing the next steps in completing the application process.
Only after receiving the notification, the applicant should be prepared to produce the following documents:
- A bond in the amount of $25,000. An official bond form will be included in the application packet.
- A certificate of liability insurance for the following coverages:
- Minimum of $300,000 for damages to a single person.
- Minimum of $500,000 for a single occurrence.
General Contractors License Cleveland, Ohio
General Contractors aspiring to perform work in Cleveland must be registered through the City of Cleveland Department of Building and Housing. The department offers a variety of contractors licenses including:
- Plumbing
- Electrical
- HVAC
- Demo
- General Contractor
General contractors in Cleveland must be bonded by a bonding company, insured, and registered before performing any work. The requirements to become a registered contractor in Cleveland are not extensive, however, they are worth examining to submit a complete registration application.
Basic Requirements for a Cleveland Contractor Registration
To register to become a general contractor in Cleveland, you must attach the following documents (or copies) with your notarized registration application during submission:
- Bond Form:
- Minimum coverage of $25,000. Multiple bonds must begin and end with the same date.
- Power-of-Attorney Form:
- Must be attached to the contractor bond.
- Certificate of Insurance: the City of Cleveland must be listed as “additional insured” and “certificate holder.”
- Minimum coverage of $200,000.
- Bodily Injury – $50,00 – $100,000.
- Property Damage – $50,000.
- Corporations must submit a copy of the Articles of Incorporation, including the State Seal of Ohio.
- Authorized Agents:
- Must provide names and signatures of authorized persons to secure permits.
Steps to Register as a Contractor in the City of Cleveland
You will need to provide additional information on your Cleveland general contractor registration application other than the requirements above. Your registration will ask you to disclose information including:
- If you are registered under a different company name.
- If you currently hold a Cleveland license.
- The officers of your company.
- Experience, training, qualifications, and certificates.
- If you are 18 years of age or older.
- Questions of misconduct, convictions, and/or fraud.
The registration fee for new applicants is $150, while a renewal will cost $120.
General Contractors License Cincinnati, Ohio
The City of Cincinnati Department of Buildings and Inspections requires contractors to register under one of two categories: home improvement contractor or building construction contractor.
A home improvement contractor is responsible for supervising any job in the remodeling, repairing, altering, or adding on to any existing structure used as a private residence for up to three families. This category does not include new construction.
A building construction contractor may engage in the building of new structures intended for private residences for up to three families.
There is no difference in application procedures or fees between these two designations.
Basic Requirements for a Cincinnati Contractor Registration
The following general documents must be submitted to successfully complete the contractor registration process for the City of Cincinnati:
- Certificate of liability insurance: An Ohio state-licensed insurance company must write the policy. The coverages must be as follows:
- $100,000 for damages done to an individual.
- $300,000 for a single occurrence of a contract.
- Proof of coverage of workers’ compensation insurance.
- If registering as a business entity, a signed Contractor Registration Assignment form is required. All other documents — insurance, for example — must be in the name of the business entity.
- If registering as an individual, that registrant’s social security number must be provided. If registering as a business entity, the business must provide its Federal Tax ID number.
Steps to Register as a Contractor in the City of Cincinnati
Your Cincinnati general contractor registration application will prompt you, among providing other information, to specify your scope of work, verify that you have fulfilled the requirements, and pay the contractor registration fee. To do so:
- Download and fill out the application.
- Gather all required documentation:
- Certificate of liability insurance
- Proof of Ohio workers’ compensation insurance
- Check or money order for $125 made out to “City of Cincinnati.”
- Place all materials into a single envelope and mail to:
Buildings and Inspections Department
Contractor Registration
805 Central Avenue, Suite 500
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Ohio Business Registration
Businesses operating in Ohio will need to register with the Ohio Secretary of State. Here, you can find all information on starting a business in Ohio, including obtaining employer identification numbers, banking information, and more.
Ohio State Tax ID Number Application
Businesses that operate within Ohio are required to register for one or more tax-specific identification numbers, licenses, or permits, including income tax withholding, sales and use tax (seller’s permit), and unemployment insurance tax. Contact the Ohio Department of Taxation for more information about business registration and your tax obligations.
Ohio Workers’ Compensation
Businesses with employees are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance coverage through a commercial carrier, on a self-insured basis, or through the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation.
Ohio Contractor License Search
Visit the Ohio Department of Commerce website for their search database. Here you can look up information and verify the license of contractors in Ohio.
See general contractor licensing information in nearby states
- Michigan contractors license
- Indiana contractor license
- Kentucky contractors license
- WV contractors license
- PA contractor license
For More License and Career Guides
To find out how to become a General Contractor in another state, start here.
For information on other trades in Ohio, click on a link below to learn more about the licensing requirements: