Ohio Contractor License & Permit Hub

Ohio does not have one statewide general contractor license for ordinary residential construction. Cities and counties often control general contractor licensing, while the state verifies certain specialty trades through its own systems. For homeowners, that means where you live in Ohio is as important as what kind of work you are hiring for.

License Summary

Ohio licensing at a glance

Ohio's general contractor rules are largely local. Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and many other jurisdictions maintain their own registration or licensing processes for builders and remodelers, while the state eLicense system is more relevant for specialty contractor categories and trades. A contractor can be properly approved in one Ohio city and not in another. Homeowners should verify local contractor approval first and then separately confirm any state-regulated trade credentials tied to the project.

Official Board Information

eLicense Ohio

Official Lookup

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