STATE LICENSE
RequiredOregon Construction Contractors Board (CCB)
Oregon is a universal-licensing state. Anyone who arranges, undertakes, offers, or bids construction work for another for compensation is a 'contractor' under ORS 701.005 and must hold a CCB license (ORS 701.021). There is no dollar threshold to hide under beyond a narrow exemption for casual, minor work under $1,000 on one project that is never advertised.
The endorsement is driven by the structure, not the trade. A Residential General Contractor works on homes and small commercial structures ($25,000 bond, $500,000 insurance). Large commercial work needs Commercial General Contractor Level 1 ($80,000 bond, $2 million insurance, 8 years of key-employee experience) or Level 2 ($25,000 bond, $1 million insurance, 4 years) — and commercial licensees owe annual key-employee continuing education.
The state sets the license floor; the county or city permit office controls filing, inspections, and local rules wherever the job site sits.
Oregon contractor licensing is exclusive to the state: under ORS 701.325(6), cities and counties may not require or issue their own contractor registrations, licenses, or surety bonds for CCB licensees — though they may charge a general, nondiscriminatory business license fee. No city, county, or state agency may issue a building permit without a current, properly endorsed CCB license (ORS 701.325(1)), and any city or county business license requires a signed statement that you are CCB-licensed (ORS 701.325(5)).
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 raised the two-year license fee from $325 to $400 — renewals from July 1, 2024 and new applications from July 1, 2025. Older guides quote $325 or $250.
Working on both residential and large commercial structures takes both a residential and a commercial endorsement — two bonds, and one liability policy at the higher required amount.
ORS 701.325(6) bars cities and counties from layering their own contractor licenses or bonds on top of the CCB license — only general business license fees and permits.
A practical sequence for a new general contracting 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.
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.
The board may assess a civil penalty for any violation of ORS chapter 701 or CCB rules, in addition to any other sanction.
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: Cost of the 16-hour pre-license training course (set by private CCB-approved providers; not published by the CCB) · CCB processing time of six to eight weeks is as stated on the CCB license page and may vary
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.