How to check if a contractor is licensed in Ohio
Edited by John Voll. Last verified .
In Ohio, the state keeps license or registration records for electrical contractors, plumbing contractors and HVAC contractors, and each has an official lookup or board listed below. For general contractors and roofing contractors, our survey found no state-level license, so check with the city or county where the work is done. Check the record before you sign a contract or pay a deposit, and treat the board's own record as final.
Which board covers which trade
| Trade | Who keeps the record | Official lookup |
|---|---|---|
| General contractor | City or county | Ohio does not license general contractors at the state level. Cities and counties set their own rules. |
| Electrical | Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (Department of Commerce, Division of Industrial Compliance) | Search electrical licenses |
| Plumbing | Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (Department of Commerce, Division of Industrial Compliance) | Search plumbing licenses |
| HVAC | Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (Department of Commerce, Division of Industrial Compliance) | Search HVAC licenses |
| Roofing | City or county | Ohio does not license roofing contractors at the state level. Cities and counties set their own rules. |
Local licensing offices
| 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 |
Step by step
- 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
If the contractor is not licensed, or you have a complaint
Homeowner protections in Ohio
- Every active state licensee must carry at least $500,000 of contractor liability insurance in the company name. source
Questions
- How do I check if a contractor is licensed in Ohio?
- Ohio does not license general contractors at the state level. Cities and counties set their own rules. For electrical, plumbing, HVAC or roofing work, use that trade's official lookup in the table on this page where the state keeps one.
- What can I do if a contractor in Ohio is not licensed?
- OCILB only investigates signed, written complaints, filed on its Contractor Complaint Form. Workmanship and code compliance complaints go to the local building department, since OCILB may not have authority over residential contractors.
All Ohio licensing rules by trade
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.