Ohio contractor license lookup
It issues state licenses for electrical contractors, plumbing contractors and HVAC contractors. There is no state license for general contractors and roofing contractors; cities and counties handle them. Use the official lookup below to check a contractor. Information as of October 6, 2026.
Look up a license
| Trade | Credential | Board | Official lookup |
|---|---|---|---|
| General contractor | No state license: cities and counties | None at state level (city and county building departments) | Ohio does not license general contractors at the state level. Cities and counties set their own rules. |
| Electrical | State license | Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (Department of Commerce, Division of Industrial Compliance) | Search electrical licenses |
| Plumbing | State license | Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (Department of Commerce, Division of Industrial Compliance) | Search plumbing licenses |
| HVAC | State license | Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (Department of Commerce, Division of Industrial Compliance) | Search HVAC licenses |
| Roofing | No state license: cities and counties | None at state level | Ohio does not license roofing contractors at the state level. Cities and counties set their own rules. |
Where licensing happens locally
| Jurisdiction | Agency | Credentials | Lookup |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus | City of Columbus Department of Building and Zoning Services source | General Contractor, Home Improvement General Contractor, Home Improvement Limited Contractor, Demolition Contractor, OCILB Contractor (Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board) | No online lookup found |
| Cleveland | City of Cleveland Department of Building and Housing source | General Contractor Registration, Electrical Contractor registration, HVAC Contractor registration, Plumbing Contractor registration | Search Cleveland licenses |
| Cincinnati | City of Cincinnati Department of Buildings and Inspections source | Contractor registration (Cincinnati Municipal Code Chapter 1106) | Search Cincinnati licenses |
| Toledo | City of Toledo Division of Building Inspection source | Home Remodeling Contractor, Electrical, HVAC, Plumbing, Hydronics and Refrigeration Contractor registration | Search Toledo licenses |
Verify a contractor
For homeowners hiring in Ohio.
- Ask the city or county building department where the work is done how they license general contractors.
- For electrical work, also check the electrical contractor lookup from Department of Commerce, Division of Industrial Compliance.
- For plumbing work, also check the plumbing contractor lookup from Department of Commerce, Division of Industrial Compliance.
- For HVAC work, also check the HVAC contractor lookup from Department of Commerce, Division of Industrial Compliance.
- The OCILB eLicense lookup searches state licenses for electrical, HVAC, hydronics, plumbing and refrigeration contractors. source Residential contractors are regulated by the local building and health department, so check the city or county registration for home work. source Anyone acting as or claiming to be an electrical, plumbing, hydronics, HVAC or refrigeration contractor must hold or be assigned a state license. source Cincinnati registered contractors can be searched by name and contractor type, including General, Home Improvement, Electrical and state licensed plumbing, on the Hamilton County CAGIS ezTrak lookup. source
- OCILB only investigates signed, written complaints, filed on its Contractor Complaint Form. source Workmanship and code compliance complaints go to the local building department, since OCILB may not have authority over residential contractors. source
Homeowner protections in Ohio
- Every active state licensee must carry at least $500,000 of contractor liability insurance in the company name. source
Get licensed
For a general contractor working in Ohio.
- Our survey found no state-level general contractor license in Ohio. Ask the city or county where you will work.
Other trades
- Electrical: state license, $25 fee. Requirements
- Plumbing: state license, $25 fee. Requirements
- HVAC: state license, $25 fee. Requirements
Requirements by trade
| Exam | Two-part PSI exam: one trade part and one business and law part, 70 percent needed on each part. source |
|---|---|
| Experience | 5 years (Five years as a tradesperson in the trade immediately before applying (or 3 years of construction business experience for an Ohio registered engineer, or other experience the board accepts)). source |
| Bond | Not found on an official source. On an official source. |
| Insurance | Contractor liability insurance with completed operations coverage of at least $500,000. source |
| Renewal | Licenses expire every year on the original license date and renew without a new exam (licensees with a year of clean compliance may join the compliant contractor program and renew every three years). source |
| Reciprocity | License without exam only for holders from a state with a written reciprocity agreement with the Ohio board and substantially equal requirements; other out-of-state license holders must still pass the exam. source |
| Fees |
|
| Exam | Two-part PSI exam: one trade part and one business and law part, 70 percent needed on each part. source |
|---|---|
| Experience | 5 years (Five years as a tradesperson in the trade immediately before applying (or 3 years of construction business experience for an Ohio registered engineer, or other experience the board accepts)). source |
| Bond | Not found on an official source. On an official source. |
| Insurance | Contractor liability insurance with completed operations coverage of at least $500,000. source |
| Renewal | Licenses expire every year on the original license date and renew without a new exam (licensees with a year of clean compliance may join the compliant contractor program and renew every three years). source |
| Reciprocity | License without exam only for holders from a state with a written reciprocity agreement with the Ohio board and substantially equal requirements; other out-of-state license holders must still pass the exam. source |
| Fees |
|
| Exam | Two-part PSI exam: one trade part and one business and law part, 70 percent needed on each part. source |
|---|---|
| Experience | 5 years (Five years as a tradesperson in the trade immediately before applying (or 3 years of construction business experience for an Ohio registered engineer, or other experience the board accepts)). source |
| Bond | Not found on an official source. On an official source. |
| Insurance | Contractor liability insurance with completed operations coverage of at least $500,000. source |
| Renewal | Licenses expire every year on the original license date and renew without a new exam (licensees with a year of clean compliance may join the compliant contractor program and renew every three years). source |
| Reciprocity | License without exam only for holders from a state with a written reciprocity agreement with the Ohio board and substantially equal requirements; other out-of-state license holders must still pass the exam. source |
| Fees |
|
General contractor: Ohio does not license general contractors at the state level. Cities and counties set their own rules. source
Roofing: Ohio does not license roofing contractors at the state level. Cities and counties set their own rules. source
Questions
- Does Ohio require a contractor license?
- It depends on where the work is done. Ohio does not license general contractors at the state level. Cities and counties set their own rules.
- How do I look up a contractor license in Ohio?
- The main local licensing offices are listed under Where licensing happens locally.
- How do I look up an electrician license in Ohio?
- The Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (Department of Commerce, Division of Industrial Compliance) keeps the record for electrical contractors in Ohio. Use the official lookup linked in the Look up a license table, and treat the board's own record as final.
- How do I look up a plumbing license in Ohio?
- The Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (Department of Commerce, Division of Industrial Compliance) keeps the record for plumbing contractors in Ohio.
- Does Ohio have an HVAC license?
- The Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (Department of Commerce, Division of Industrial Compliance) keeps the record for HVAC contractors in Ohio.
- Do roofers need a license in Ohio?
- Ohio does not license roofing contractors at the state level.
Sources
- https://com.ohio.gov/divisions-and-programs/industrial-compliance/boards/ohio-construction-industry-licensing-board/ohio-construction-industry-licensing-board
- https://elicense4.com.ohio.gov/Lookup/LicenseLookup.aspx
- https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-4740.01
- https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-administrative-code/rule-4101:16-2-03
- https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-4740.06
- https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-administrative-code/rule-4101:16-2-09
- https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-4740.08
- https://test-takers.psiexams.com/api/content/bulletin/1734
- https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-4740.13
- https://dam.assets.ohio.gov/image/upload/com.ohio.gov/documents/dico_ContractorComplaintForm.pdf
- https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-4740.07
- https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-4740.12
- https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-4740.05
- https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-administrative-code/rule-4101:16-1-08
- https://cagis.hamilton-co.org/opal/registeredContractors.aspx?entcode=cinc
- https://www.columbus.gov/Business-Development/Business-Licenses-Resources/Contractor-Licenses
- https://www.clevelandohio.gov/city-hall/departments/building-housing/faqs
- https://data.clevelandohio.gov/datasets/ClevelandGIS::active-contractor-registrations
- https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/buildings/building-permit-forms-applications/contractor-registration/
- https://toledo.oh.gov/business/how-to-build-in-the-city/registered-contractors
This is not a government site. The licensing board's own record governs; always confirm on the official lookup. Information as of October 6, 2026.