Search the Oregon CCB Record Before You Sign
Oregon’s official Construction Contractors Board search is free. Use it to match the contractor’s exact business, active license, endorsement, expiration, bond, insurance and recent complaint or disciplinary history.
This guide also helps applicants choose an endorsement, prepare the RMI, training, exam, bond and insurance documents, estimate startup costs, renew online and use the correct complaint route.
The safest Oregon contractor check takes four steps
Search the official CCB database using the license number whenever possible. Confirm the record is active, make sure the licensed business name matches the bid and payment name, verify the endorsement fits the project, then review bond, liability insurance, workers’ compensation, lead-safe status and up to 10 years of complaint or disciplinary history.
I Want To…
Oregon Contractor License Lookup in 60 Seconds
The complete CCB license number is the strongest search input. Oregon contractors are expected to display their CCB number on written bids, contracts, websites, advertising, business cards, site signs and marked business vehicles.
Collect the identifier
Get the complete CCB number from the written bid or contract.
Search the official tool
Use the CCB number first; use the business name or telephone number only when needed.
Open the full record
Do not stop at the search-results list. Open the matching license detail.
Match the project
Confirm active status, exact name, endorsement, expiration, coverage and history.
Search by license number
Enter the complete CCB number exactly as printed. This usually avoids confusion between similarly named contractors.
Search by business or contractor name
Use the licensed business name or contractor’s last name. When a full name returns no record, try a shorter version without punctuation, “LLC,” “Inc.” or extra words.
Search by telephone number
The official tool can also search business telephone information. Enter digits without spaces, parentheses or hyphens.
Tool 1: Choose the Best Search Method
This helper prepares the correct search route. It does not copy or store state licensing records.
How to Read an Oregon CCB License Result
A matching name does not prove the contractor is ready for your project. Open the complete record and review each field below.
| Record field | What it means | What to verify | Stop signal |
|---|---|---|---|
| License status | Whether the license is active, expired, suspended or otherwise inactive. | Check before signing and again before work or a large payment. | Inactive, suspended, expired or no matching record. |
| Licensed business name | The legal entity holding the CCB license. | Match the bid, contract, invoice and payment recipient. | Payment requested to an unrelated person or business. |
| Endorsement | Residential, commercial, general, specialty, limited, developer or restricted authority. | Match the structure type and contractor’s project role. | The endorsement does not cover the proposed work. |
| Expiration | The end of the current two-year license period. | Confirm the license will remain active during the job. | Expiration is near and renewal cannot be confirmed. |
| Bond and liability insurance | The filed surety and insurance records tied to the license. | Review names, required amounts and effective dates. | Expired, cancelled or connected to a different entity. |
| Workers’ compensation | Important when the contractor uses employees. | Ask who will be on site and whether they are employees or subcontractors. | Employees are used but required coverage is unclear. |
| Complaint and discipline history | The search can show up to 10 years of complaint and disciplinary history. | Open the details and read the dates, issue and outcome. | Important history is hidden or misrepresented. |
| Lead-safe information | Additional authorization may be required for applicable pre-1978 renovation work. | Check before painted surfaces in older housing are disturbed. | Required lead-safe authorization is missing. |
Tool 2: CCB Result Safety Checker
Answer each question while viewing the live official record. This provides planning guidance only.
Who Usually Needs an Oregon CCB License?
Oregon generally requires licensing when a person or business advertises, offers, bids, arranges for or performs compensated construction, improvement, alteration, remodeling or repair work involving real property.
Common work requiring a CCB license
- Roofing, siding, painting and floor covering.
- Carpentry, concrete, remodeling and repair.
- Heating and air-conditioning construction work.
- On-site appliance repair tied to real property.
- Home inspection and manufactured-dwelling installation.
- Tree service, land development and many handyman services.
- Electrical and plumbing work, plus separate trade credentials.
Activities that may not need a CCB license
- Gutter cleaning without repair or construction.
- Pressure washing performed only for cleaning.
- Debris cleanup at a yard or construction site.
- Certain qualifying licensed property-management activity.
Before Hiring or Paying an Oregon Contractor
Match the identity
The CCB business name, bid, contract, invoice and payment recipient should identify the same licensed entity.
Compare three bids
Use the same scope, materials, permit responsibility, schedule and payment milestones for each bidder.
Check three references
Ask about inspection results, communication, change orders, completion time and warranty response.
Homeowner verification checklist
- Active CCB license verified on the day of hiring.
- Endorsement fits the structure and project role.
- Bond and liability insurance appear current.
- Separate electrical, plumbing or landscape license checked when needed.
- Written scope identifies materials, exclusions and permit responsibility.
- Payment schedule follows completed milestones rather than vague dates.
- Every change requires a signed written change order.
- Final payment waits for inspection, punch-list and closeout documents.
Oregon Contract, Payment and Cancellation Rules
Construction agreements over $2,000 must be in writing. The CCB recommends written contracts and written change orders for projects of every size.
| Contract item | What the document should answer |
|---|---|
| Licensed identity | Exact business name, address and CCB number. |
| Scope | Work included, excluded and assigned to subcontractors. |
| Materials | Brands, models, grades, colors and substitution rules. |
| Schedule | Start, milestones, completion and delay handling. |
| Payments | Deposit, progress milestones and final-payment conditions. |
| Permits | Who applies, pays, schedules inspections and corrects failures. |
| Changes | Written approval, price difference and added time. |
| Disputes | Mediation, arbitration, attorney-fee and notice provisions. |
One-business-day cancellation right
A property owner can cancel certain initial contracts for construction, improvement or repair of a residential structure by providing written cancellation before midnight of the next business day. Exceptions can apply, including work already substantially begun.
Three-day home-solicitation right
A separate three-day right can apply when a remodeling or repair contract is personally solicited and accepted somewhere other than the seller’s permanent place of business. The contractor should provide the required cancellation notice when that law applies.
How to Get an Oregon CCB License in 2026
Prepare the endorsement, business entity, bond, insurance and application attachments before opening the online portal. Current electronic applications can take approximately four to six weeks; paper applications can take six to eight weeks.
Select the Responsible Managing Individual
The RMI must generally be at least 18, be an owner or employee, and manage or supervise the business’s construction activities.
Complete 16 hours of approved training
The RMI takes approved pre-license education. After completion, the provider sends eligibility information to PSI.
Pass the Oregon contractor exam
The open-book exam has 80 multiple-choice questions. A 70% score, or 56 correct answers, is required within three hours. The current exam fee is $60 per attempt.
Choose the correct endorsement
Select residential, commercial or both, then choose general, specialty, limited, developer or another applicable endorsement.
Register the business entity or assumed name
File the corporation, LLC or assumed business name with the Oregon Secretary of State when required. Keep the name identical across the application, bond and insurance.
Obtain the bond and liability insurance
Purchase the bond required by the endorsement and obtain the required general liability coverage. Upload the company-specific bond, power of attorney and insurance certificate together.
Address workers’ compensation and employer accounts
Businesses using employees generally need workers’ compensation and applicable state and federal employer numbers.
Upload the complete application and pay $400
Prepare the exam proof when required, certification and signatures, bond, power of attorney, liability certificate, ownership chart when applicable and other requested disclosures before entering payment.
Choose the Oregon CCB Endorsement That Fits the Work
The endorsement is based on the structure and the contractor’s role. A business working on residential and large commercial structures normally needs both residential and commercial endorsements, two bonds and one liability policy meeting the higher applicable amount.
Residential General
Best fit for supervising, arranging or performing an unlimited number of unrelated trades on residential and small-commercial work.
Bond: $25,000
Insurance: $500,000 per occurrence
Residential Specialty
Best fit for one or two unrelated trades, with a limited multi-trade option on one property when labor and materials total $2,500 or less.
Bond: $20,000
Insurance: $300,000 per occurrence
Residential Limited
Designed for qualifying part-time, lower-volume or handyman businesses subject to annual sales and job-value limits.
Bond: $15,000
Insurance: $100,000 per occurrence
Commercial endorsement comparison
| Endorsement | Experience | Bond | Liability insurance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial General Level 1 | 8 years | $80,000 | $2 million aggregate |
| Commercial General Level 2 | 4 years | $25,000 | $1 million aggregate |
| Commercial Specialty Level 1 | 8 years | $55,000 | $1 million aggregate |
| Commercial Specialty Level 2 | 4 years | $25,000 | $500,000 per occurrence |
Tool 3: Oregon CCB Startup Cost Planner
The estimate automatically includes the $400 license application and $60 per exam attempt. Enter the quotes you receive for the other items.
Oregon CCB Renewal and Continuing Education
The CCB license renews every two years. Renew through the contractor portal after confirming the business information, bond, insurance, workers’ compensation and education requirements are current.
Residential: licensed six years or more
Complete 3 hours of CCB laws, regulations and business practices plus 5 hours of other approved education during the two-year period.
Residential: licensed less than six years
Complete 3 hours of CCB laws, regulations and business practices plus 13 hours of other approved education during the two-year period.
Before opening the renewal portal
- Confirm all required education is posted or documented.
- Check the bond remains active in the correct amount.
- Check liability insurance meets the endorsement requirement.
- Update owners, officers, RMI, business name or status when required.
- Verify workers’ compensation classification and coverage.
- Prepare the current $400 renewal fee.
Oregon CCB Complaints and Unlicensed Contractor Reports
The route depends on the structure type, filer and whether the contractor was licensed. A telephone call does not preserve the filing deadline.
Residential and some small-commercial disputes
The property owner generally sends a 30-day pre-complaint notice by USPS certified mail to the contractor’s address shown in the CCB record. Keep the notice and mailing proof. The complaint can be filed after 30 days even when the contractor refuses or does not claim the letter.
| Complaint situation | Common deadline or requirement |
|---|---|
| Existing structure | Generally within one year after substantial completion or the date work ceased. |
| New structure | Generally one year after first occupancy or two years after substantial completion, whichever is earlier. |
| Subcontractor nonpayment | Generally within one year after the work was performed. |
| Material supplier nonpayment | Generally within one year after the contractor incurred the debt. |
| Employee wage complaint | Generally within one year after the wages were earned. |
| Most accepted complaints | A $50 statutory processing fee is generally requested after jurisdiction review. |
Large-commercial disputes use a different route
Large-commercial and some small-commercial complainants may need to begin court litigation or binding arbitration before filing with the CCB and surety. Do not use the residential notice sequence without confirming the correct structure classification.
Report active unlicensed work
Enforcement investigates reports of unlicensed or illegal construction activity at active Oregon jobsites. Reporting illegal activity is different from filing a licensed-contractor workmanship complaint.
CCB License vs. Electrical, Plumbing and Landscape Credentials
An active CCB record does not replace every trade license. Search the additional regulator when the work includes a separately regulated activity.
| Work | Additional official check | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical or plumbing | Oregon Building Codes Division license search | The business and individual tradesperson can need separate credentials. |
| Landscape contracting | Oregon Landscape Contractors Board | Landscape construction can route through the LCB rather than ordinary CCB authority. |
| Workers’ compensation | Oregon coverage search | Employers generally must maintain required coverage for employees. |
| Public works bond | Public works bonded contractor search | Public works bond status is separate from ordinary CCB license status. |
| Pre-1978 renovation | CCB Lead Safe contractor search | Applicable work can require lead-safe authorization in addition to an active CCB license. |
Common Oregon CCB Mistakes That Delay or Weaken a Project
Use the CCB number or exact licensed entity to avoid selecting the wrong record.
An active license may still have the wrong residential, commercial or limited authority.
A license close to expiration should be rechecked before the project or major payment.
Written contracts are required over $2,000 and are safer for projects of every value.
Bond, power of attorney, insurance and signatures should be submitted together.
Notice and filing deadlines are strict; a call to the agency does not stop the clock.
Oregon Construction Contractors Board Contact Help
Licensing and general questions
Phone: 503-378-4621
Email: ccb.info@ccb.oregon.gov
Telephone hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. The licensing call center stops accepting new callers at 4:00 p.m. so staff can complete callbacks.
Lobby hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:45 p.m., excluding state closures.
Physical office:
201 High Street SE, Suite 600
Salem, OR 97301
Mailing address:
P.O. Box 14140
Salem, OR 97309-5052
Checklist before calling or leaving home
- Legal business name and assumed business name.
- CCB license number or application confirmation.
- Responsible Managing Individual name.
- Endorsement type and project structure type.
- License status or expiration message.
- Bond company and insurer information.
- Complaint notice date and project completion date when applicable.
- Copies of any form, letter or error message you need explained.
Oregon Contractor License Lookup FAQs
Is the Oregon CCB contractor license search free?
Yes. Oregon’s official Construction Contractors Board license search is free. It can be used to check active and historical records by CCB number, business or contractor name and, in some cases, telephone number.
How do I look up an Oregon contractor license?
Open the official CCB License Search and enter the complete CCB number when available. You can also search all or part of the legal business name, the contractor’s last name or a business telephone number entered as digits only.
What should an active Oregon CCB record show?
Confirm that the status is active and review the licensed business name, endorsement, expiration date, Responsible Managing Individual, bond, liability insurance, workers’ compensation information and complaint or disciplinary history.
Does an Oregon handyman need a CCB license?
Generally yes when the handyman advertises, bids or performs compensated construction, improvement or repair work involving real property. Oregon does not provide a broad exemption merely because the job is small.
How much is an Oregon CCB license in 2026?
The current application or renewal fee is $400 for a two-year license. The Oregon contractor exam costs $60 per attempt. Training, bond premium, insurance and business-registration expenses are separate.
What are the Oregon contractor exam requirements?
The Responsible Managing Individual generally completes 16 hours of approved pre-license training and takes an 80-question multiple-choice exam. A score of 70%, or 56 correct answers, is required within the three-hour testing period.
What bond and insurance does a residential general contractor need?
The current Oregon CCB endorsement chart lists a $25,000 residential contractor bond and at least $500,000 per-occurrence general liability insurance for a Residential General Contractor endorsement.
How often does an Oregon CCB license renew?
An Oregon CCB contractor license generally renews every two years. The contractor portal is used to renew, submit payment and update business information, subject to current bond, insurance and education requirements.
How do I file a complaint against an Oregon contractor?
A property owner generally sends a 30-day certified pre-complaint notice to the contractor’s address on record, then submits the correct CCB form within the applicable deadline. A $50 processing fee applies to most accepted complaints.
Does a CCB license cover electrical, plumbing and landscape work?
Not by itself. Electrical and plumbing work can require Building Codes Division credentials, while landscape contracting may require an Oregon Landscape Contractors Board license. Local permits and other specialty certifications can also apply.
Search First, Then Sign
Homeowners: verify the active license, exact business name, endorsement, expiration, bond, insurance, workers’ compensation, lead-safe information and complaint history before paying a deposit.
Applicants: choose the endorsement first, prepare every attachment together, use matching business names and wait for the official license to become active before bidding or performing work.