Ohio Contractor & Trade License Requirements

Ohio does NOT have a statewide general contractor license — general contracting is regulated at the city and county level. However, the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB), under the Ohio Department of Commerce, issues statewide commercial contractor licenses for five specialty trades: Electrical, HVAC, Hydronics, Plumbing, and Refrigeration. Roofing has no state license and is handled locally. As of January 1, 2026, Ohio's new Home Improvement Contractor Registration (per HB 614, signed 2024) requires all contractors performing residential remodeling, repair, or renovation on 1-, 2-, or 3-family dwellings to register with the OCILB — the first statewide requirement for residential work. Workers' compensation in Ohio is exclusively state-fund (Ohio BWC) — private carriers cannot write WC coverage in Ohio.