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Are You Licensed to Practice as a Carpenter in Columbus?

It is unlawful to undertake or perform any carpentry-related work without being duly registered or licensed in Columbus. Any carpenter who works on behalf of a registered or licensed carpenter can carry out carpentry work without a license. However, any unlicensed or unregistered carpenter performing carpentry works where licensure or registration is required is guilty of a misdemeanor, which may result in fines of up to $500 or a six-month jail term, or both.

Columbus Department of Building and Zoning Services (BZS) is responsible for general contractor registration, issuing home improvement general contractor licenses, and home improvement limited contractor licenses to interested persons. To be eligible for any of these licenses or registration, interested persons must meet specific requirements including, hands-on experience, passing exams, and paying the requisite fees. Experience requirements vary depending on the license type. For instance, interested applicants applying for a home improvement general contractor license must have a minimum of three full years of hands-on installation experience in the one, two, and three-family home improvement fields.

In contrast, interested applicants for a home improvement limited contractor license are only required to have at least one full year of hands-on experience in just a specific field of interest. Having met the aforementioned requirements, interested persons can submit a completed General Contractor Application Form or Home Improvement Contractor Application Form to the Department or via email and pay the necessary fees. Applicants for a general contractor license must further satisfy bond requirements. Interested persons can contact the BZS Customer Service Center at (614) 645-7433 or via email for additional contractor registration and licensing information.

To verify if your intended carpenter is duly licensed, you can Search for Licenses on the Columbus Citizen Access Portal.

How Much Do You Charge Compared to Other Carpenters in Columbus?

The average hourly pay for a carpenter in Columbus is $24.76. However, charge rates for carpentry works can vary based on the number of hours the job will take and the skill level required to complete the project. Carpentry costs are typically higher when you are requesting an emergency service, special equipment is required to perform the work, and the work spans several days. Nevertheless, it is best to get estimates from multiple carpenters so you can get the price estimate that fits your budget. This multiple estimate process may be time-consuming, but it is always in the homeowner's best interest.

A carpenter in Columbus earns an annual average wage of $51,510. The table below provides a comparison of the mean hourly wage for carpenters in Columbus against those of carpenters in the rest of the State of Ohio as well as across several other major American cities:

Do You Comply with the Columbus Building Code for Carpentry Work?

The Columbus Building Code (CBC) is a set of rules and regulations designed to ensure the safety of the lives and properties of the residents of Columbus by regulating housing construction in the City. When hiring a carpenter, ensure that this individual is conversant with this Code. This is because the Code controls the design, construction, quality of materials, use and occupancy, location and maintenance of all buildings and structures, and the use of certain equipment within the City.

The Building Code contains provisions that pertain to roof assemblies and rooftop structures, interior finishes, wood-related works, accessibility into buildings, means of egress, and other aspects of building and construction that are carpentry-related. Carrying out carpentry-related works in violation of the Building Code attracts punishments like fines and jail terms. Hence, it is essential to do your due diligence before hiring a carpenter in the city. You can contact the Columbus Department of Building and Zoning Services (BZS) at (614) 645-7433 to get information on the city's Building Code before hiring a carpenter.

Will You Get the Home Improvement Permits as Required by the Columbus Code?

Per section 4113.57 of the Columbus City Code, it is mandatory for all carpenters to get the necessary permit before commencing any carpentry-related work in Columbus. However, permits are not needed for carpentry works done on one-story detached accessory structures, provided the floor area does not exceed 200 square feet. Additionally, cabinetry works and decks about 200 square feet in area and not more than 30 inches can be constructed without a permit. Per section 4111.99 of the Columbus City Code, any carpenter who violates this Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree and can be fined a maximum of $1,000 or imprisoned for about 180 days or both.

Columbus Department of Building and Zoning Services (BZS) issues permits to carpenters and homeowners in the city. The permitting process begins with submitting a complete Building Permit Application Form and any accompanying plans and specifications that may be required for approval. A permit will be issued, and work can begin if the application and necessary documents are approved. After permits have been issued, the permittee is required to notify the Building Official when the work is ready for inspection.

A carpentry work must not commence until the permittee has posted an inspection record card in a conspicuous place on the premises, enabling the Building Official to carry out inspections conveniently. Inspections are required at every stage of the carpentry work, and a final inspection must be made after the completion of the work. This is to ensure that the work is done in compliance with the Columbus Building Code (CBC). After the necessary inspections, the Building Official may either approve the work or notify the permittee about any violations of the Code. The permittee is expected to make the necessary corrections in compliance with the City's Building Code in a situation where the work violates the Code.

Inquiries regarding permitting and inspection can be directed to the Department at (614) 645-7433.

What Kind of Carpentry Services Do You Offer?

Carpenters in Columbus offer diverse carpentry services that involve cutting, shaping, joining, and installing wood building materials and wood products. These carpenters may decide to do many different carpentry tasks or specialize in specific tasks or types of buildings. Also, their license classification determines what service they offer. For instance, registered contractors are authorized to perform carpentry works in multi-family dwellings and accessory structures or buildings.

In contrast, home improvement contractors can only do structural additions, alterations, or repairs to existing one, two, and three-family dwellings. Hence, you must do your due diligence to hire only carpenters trained to work on your type of building by checking their licensing classification. Also, ensure you are conversant with the cost of the services these carpenters offer so you can hire only individuals that are willing to work within your budget.

The average costs of carpentry services in Columbus is provided below:

Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Carpenters in Columbus?

Carpenters in Columbus are mandated to maintain liability insurance with a minimum coverage limit of about $500,000 per occurrence. These professionals are also expected to maintain a bond of about $25,000.

There are a lot of hazards that come with performing carpentry works, including injuries, exposure to toxic molds, fungi, and bacteria, risk of eye injury from flying particles, and risks of falling from working at heights. For instance, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 166 fatal work injuries in Ohio in 2019, with about 30 of these fatalities occurring amongst construction-related professionals. Hence, considering carpentry involves many risks, it is always in your best interest to ensure that any carpenter you hire for your project is duly insured. This will prevent you from suffering financially should the carpenter you hired get injured, damage your property, or cause injury to you or others while working on your property.

You can contact the Columbus Department of Building and Zoning Services (BZS) at (614) 645-7433 to make inquiries about the mandatory insurance requirements for contractors in the city.