Do you need a general contractor license in Oregon?
Yes, a license. In Oregon, anyone who, for pay, undertakes, offers or bids to build, alter, repair or improve a structure for another must hold a current Construction Contractors Board license with the right residential or commercial endorsement. Work on a residential structure requires a residential endorsement (residential general, specialty, limited, developer, locksmith services or restoration contractor, or home inspector services, home services or home energy performance score contractor). The statute exempts work on one project totaling less than $1,000 that is casual, minor or inconsequential, unless the person advertises as a contractor, and a person working on property they own or on their own residence, unless the work is done in an independent business with the intent to sell the structure. Cities and counties can add their own licensing on top of the state’s. This is ORS 701.005, 701.010, 701.021.
| What | Oregon |
|---|---|
| General contractors | Construction Contractors Board license + endorsement |
Source
Read the statute in the Oregon Revised Statutes (Oregon State Legislature): oregonlegislature.gov.
Checked against the statute on November 13, 2026.
This is a summary of a published statute, not legal advice. Rules change, local ordinances can add to them, and the terms of a specific lease may differ. Check the citation and speak to a lawyer before acting.
How Seayora uses this rule
A contractor on Seayora keeps each license with its issuing state, its expiry date and the last four digits of its number, and the business is warned before one lapses — on the website and both phone apps. A customer finding a pro on Seayora sees whether a license is on file.
Guides on this rule
- Contractor License Requirements by State: Every Trade — Which states require a state license for electricians, plumbers, HVAC, general and home improvement contractors, with the statute for each.
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The same question in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho