STATE LICENSE
RequiredOregon Building Codes Division — Electric…
ORS 479.620 makes it illegal to run an electrical installation business without an electrical contractor's license, to supervise installations without a supervising electrician's license, or to make installations without a supervising, journeyman, or limited residential electrician's license. BCD contractor licensees must also keep an active CCB license (OAR 918-030-0015).
The individual licenses are experience-gated: a general journeyman needs four years of apprentice-level experience including at least 1,000 hours wiring dwellings, and a general supervising electrician needs four years as a journeyman before the board exam. Even property owners may not let unlicensed people wire their buildings (ORS 479.620(6)).
The state sets the license floor; the county or city permit office controls filing, inspections, and local rules wherever the job site sits.
Electrical permits and inspections run through the city or county inspection program or BCD where no local program exists. Locals cannot add their own contractor license (ORS 701.325(6)), and a permit issues only to a properly licensed contractor.
The local offices section below names the exact permit desk for every Oregon county on file.
Each row names the issuing authority, cost, timeline, citation, and status behind the requirement — verified against the official source.
Published fees from the issuing authorities, as of October 2026. Local permit fees vary by project and jurisdiction — the basis is stated where a flat number does not exist.
The CCB license is the prerequisite; the BCD electrical contractor license sits on top. Apply to CCB first — the BCD application asks for your CCB number and expiration.
Owners may wire their own residential or farm property not intended for sale, lease, or rent (ORS 479.540) — it never covers work for hire.
BCD civil penalties reach $5,000 per offense, or $1,000 per day for a continuing offense (ORS 455.895(2)).
A practical sequence for a new electrical contractor in Oregon. Actual agency processing times are noted in the ledger above.
Each item names the issuing authority, cycle, and citation.
Statutory consequences with their citations — not estimates, not “commonly cited” guesses.
Violations of the electrical licensing law (ORS 479.510–479.945) are subject to Electrical and Elevator Board civil penalties under ORS 455.895.
Undertaking, offering to undertake, or bidding construction work for compensation without a current CCB license violates ORS 701.021 — a crime, not just a licensing infraction.
A contractor that was not licensed and properly endorsed when it bid or contracted, and continuously while working, may not perfect a construction lien, file a CCB complaint, or sue or arbitrate for payment.
Inside city limits, the city office listed here issues the permit; the county office serves unincorporated areas. Every office links to its official page.
| County · City | Permit office | Portal |
|---|---|---|
| Multnomah County Portland | City of Portland — Portland Permitting & Development ↗ Unincorporated: Multnomah County Land Use Planning (Department of Community Services) ↗ | Development Hub PDX (DevHub) ↗ |
| Lane County Eugene | City of Eugene — Planning and Development, Building and Permit Services ↗ Unincorporated: Lane County Public Works — Land Management Division, Building Program ↗ | eBuild |
| Marion County Salem | City of Salem — Permit Application Center (Building and Safety Division) ↗ Unincorporated: Marion County Public Works — Building Inspection ↗ | Permit Application Center Portal |
| Deschutes County Bend | City of Bend — Community Development, Building Safety Division ↗ Unincorporated: Deschutes County Community Development — Building Safety ↗ | Online Permit Center Portal (CityView) |
| Jackson County Medford | City of Medford — Building Safety Department ↗ Unincorporated: Jackson County Development Services — Building Division ↗ | ProjectDox ↗ |
Every fact in this file was checked against these official sources on October 2026.
Pending verification: BCD contractor fee of $375 is from Form 440-2888 (revision 1/15); a newer fee schedule may apply · Individual electrician license fees, BCD license term, and electrician continuing-education hours (set by OAR chapter 918; not retrieved)
General information, not legal advice. Always confirm requirements, deadlines, and forms with the issuing authority before filing or contracting.
Store licenses, permits, policies, and renewal dates in one place.