Ohio Contractor License Search

Who Is a Contractor in Ohio?

Contractors are individuals or businesses that offer services based on a written or oral agreement. Ohio contractors must obtain the appropriate state licenses from the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB) or local licensing authorities where a state license is not required. The OCILB licenses five specialty trades, including electrical, plumbing, HVAC work, Hydronics, and refrigeration contractors. Contractors who do not specialize in any of the abovementioned specialties should contact the licensing agencies in their area of residence.

Contractors in Ohio are generally grouped into two main categories:

• General Contractors: coordinate and supervise construction and home improvement projects from start to finish. These include hiring and ensuring that specialty contractors do their job satisfactorily, verifying that the materials for the project are available and properly used, and providing regular updates on the progress made to the home or property owner. Local government authorities issue general contractor licenses in Ohio in their area of residence.
• Specialty Contractors: Specialty contractors are professionals who perform specific construction and home improvement-related tasks like plumbing, HVAC (heating, cooling, ventilation, and air conditioning) work, electrical work, painting, masonry, and roofing. These contractors are also known as subcontractors. In most cases, these contractors are employed by general contractors and are accountable to them, although it is possible to hire them directly. The Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board licenses specifically specialty trades like electrical, plumbing, HVAC work, Hydronics, and refrigeration contractors.

How to Search for a Contractor's License in Ohio

The Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB) licenses five specialty trades, including electrical, plumbing, HVAC work, Hydronics, and refrigeration contractors. You can verify your prospective contractor's license status using the OCILB's lookup licensee information page.

Note that there are no statewide licensing requirements for general contractors. Instead, these contractors obtain their licenses from the local government authorities in their respective areas of residence. You can check a general contractor's license by contacting the appropriate licensing authorities.

Penalty for Hiring a Contractor Without a License in Ohio

Although Ohio does not have a specific liability for hiring an unlicensed contractor, it is advisable to hire a licensed contractor to minimize the risk of experiencing any of the following:

• Poor quality and subpar services.
• Home improvement scam.
• Complications in obtaining the required permits for your project could result in fines from the local permit agency.

Per the requirements of Chapter 4740 of the Ohio Revised Code, it is a misdemeanor to contract without a license in Ohio; violators face penalties of up to $1,000 in fines, six months in jail, or both. (repeat offenders face even steeper penalties). We recommend contacting the relevant licensing authorities to verify your prospective contractor's license status.

How Much Does a Contractor Charge in Ohio?

Ohio specialty contractors charge between $28 and $100 per hour, depending on the complexity and labor intensity of the service they will provide.

The table below provides average hourly rates for commonly requested specialty contractors in Ohio (note that factors like your location and the contractor's local reputation may influence actual costs):

Electricians

$29 - $125

Plumbers

$31 - $125

HVACR Technicians

$26 - $120

Carpenters

$26 - $80

Painters

$23 - $75

Roofers

$26 - $110

Flooring Contractors

$23 - $80

Masons

$20 - $120

Landscapers

$24 - $95

Architects

$23 - $200

Interior Designers

$22 - $185

Excavation Contractors

$26 - $250

Concrete Contractors

$24 - $120

Handymen

$15 - $75

Appliance Repair Technicians

$23 - $100

Exterminators

$21 - $105

Cleaning Services

$19 - $100

Movers

$20 - $150

Generally, when undertaking a residential or commercial project, you need to hire multiple specialty contractors. However, you can simplify the process and avoid dealing with them by hiring a general contractor to oversee the entire project. General contractors typically charge 10 to 20 percent of the total project cost. General contractors in Ohio rely on different pricing methods to help them correctly estimate and calculate project costs. Some pricing methods used by general contractors in Ohio are:

• Fixed Price Method: here, the contractor charges a predetermined fee for the project. This pricing method is ideal for projects with a well-defined scope and a fixed timeline. This method is preferable for projects with a clear scope and fixed timeline.
• Cost Plus Fee Method: here, the contractor charges the cost of the actual work completed on the project and a markup for all services provided. This pricing method is more suitable for large-scale projects with uncertain timelines. Negotiating a guaranteed maximum price is recommended to prevent costs from exceeding expectations.

In Ohio, construction and home remodeling projects usually range from $120 to $450 per square foot. The total expenses depend on various factors, including:

• The nature and scope of the project.
• The cost of required materials.
• Your location.
• Accessibility to the project site and site conditions.
• Contractor charges.
• The reputation and experience of involved contractors.
• The urgency of required services.
• Permit costs, labor fees, and other expenses.

Tips for Hiring a Contractor in Ohio

Construction and home improvement projects can result in loss of money, disputes, and potential court cases, so be sure to take the appropriate steps before choosing a contractor to work with. Below are some helpful tips when hiring a contractor in Ohio:

• Get referrals. You can ask family and friends who have hired the services of your prospective contractor for information regarding their level of expertise and attitude to work.
• Get and compare bids from at least three contractors to determine the fair price for the project.
• Ask each bidder for references and verify them.
• Always hire state-licensed contractors, and if there is no statewide licensing requirement for the type of contractor you need, make sure they are licensed in the city they operate.
• Always ask for a written contract with all project expectations and agreements before work starts. Please do not sign the contract until you have thoroughly read it.
• Confirm the contractor (and all involved subcontractors) are adequately insured and bonded.
• Do not pay the total cost of the project upfront. Instead, ensure the project has been satisfactorily completed before making the final payment.
• Do not make cash payments.
• Keep copies of all documentation (like receipts, invoices, warranties, and contracts) related to the project.

Is Your Contractor Insured and Bonded as Required by Ohio Statutes?

Ohio does not have a statewide insurance requirement for general contractors. However, per the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB) requirements, Electrical, HVAC, Hydronics, Plumbing, and Refrigeration contractors must carry general liability insurance of no less than $500,000 and additional workers' compensation insurance if they have more than one employee.

We recommend you always hire a contractor that is adequately insured and bonded. That way, you'll not be financially and legally liable if unforeseen events, like bodily injuries, accidental property damage, and contractor errors, occur during the project.

Always verify any insurance claim made by your prospective contractor by requesting proof of insurance and bonding from them and contacting the appropriate agency to confirm the coverage.

Top Contractor Scams in Ohio

Contractor scams are not new to citizens of Ohio. Approximately 2 out of every 10,000 homeowners fall victim to these scams annually. Only in 2021, there were at least 644 reported cases in the state, with home and property owners losing $186,678 to fraudulent contractor schemes.

Some common tactics that dishonest contractors use to scam Ohio homeowners include:

• Showing up uninvited in front of your door soliciting for work at a discounted rate.
• Using high-pressure sales and scare tactics to get homeowners to sign up for or overpay for services without doing their due diligence.
• Offering free home inspections and suddenly "discovering" problems that need urgent work.
• Deliberately inflating the cost of required materials for the project.
• Requesting complete or large upfront payments and insisting on cash.
• Downplaying the importance of written contracts.

You can avoid these scams by taking the following actions before committing to contractors:

• Avoid hiring unsolicited contractors.
• Always hire appropriately licensed contractors.
• Get and compare quotes for your project from at least three contractors.
• Insist on written contracts and review these contracts carefully before signing.
• Never sign any documents you do not clearly understand.
• Request lien waivers from your general contractor and all involved subcontractors.
• Avoid making full payment upfront. You can limit the down payment to 10% of the project's total cost.
• Avoid cash payments.