Ohio Contractor License Bond

How much does an Ohio contractor bond cost?

Ohio contractor bond costs start at $100 annually for most cities and counties. Your exact bond premium will vary depending on your city or county, license type, and required bond amount. Some cities and counties require their permit bonds expire on the same day annually to match their contractor license expiration, in which case your personal premium will be based on when you purchase your bond.

How do you get an Ohio contractor license bond?

You can purchase your Ohio contractor license bond online 24/7. Choose your city or county license from the dropdown above or the table below. Each city and county determines the information required on its form, but you'll usually provide your contractor or construction company name, physical business address, and license type for filing approval. Once your order is processed, your Ohio construction bond confirmation will be sent to your email. 

How fast can I get a license bond for contractor registration?

Our industry-leading technology and responsive customer service team allow us to deliver your official Ohio contractor bond faster than any other surety provider. SuretyBonds.com offers digital delivery for most Ohio construction contractor bonds. Orders placed by 4 PM CST Monday-Friday are typically processed with same-day emailed bond delivery. If your city or county requires your official bond be physically issued and delivered to you, we'll ship it to your preferred mailing address.

If you have questions about Ohio contractor license bond requirements, call 1(800)308-4358 to speak with a friendly surety expert. We're here to guide you through the contractor bond process so you can get back to running your business.

What is an Ohio contractor license bond?

“Ohio contractor license bond” is a blanket term for the many different surety bonds required by cities and counties for licensing across all contractor classifications. Ohio Revised Code 4740 requires local building and health departments to regulate their own commercial and residential contractors, which includes enforcing contractor license and bond requirements. All Ohio contractor bonds have unique terms, but they generally enforce contractor compliance laws that regulate construction work. The bond amount required varies depending on each city or county's individual codified ordinances.

Why do you need an Ohio contractor bond?

You need to file Ohio contractor bonds to fulfill individual city and county compliance requirements before becoming a licensed contractor. By filing these bonds you agree to follow any applicable state, county, or city laws that regulate contractor licensing. If you fail to do so, your issuing surety company will pay valid claims to those harmed by your noncompliance up to the full bond amount. You would then be required to reimburse your surety company for all damages paid. 

Who regulates licensing for contractors?

The Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB) enforces requirements for commercial contractors licensed to perform electrical; heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC); plumbing; hydronics; and refrigeration work in the state. If you have questions about these state contractor registration requirements, the board advises you call 1(614)644-3493.

Local city and county building and health departments enforce registration requirements for their own commercial permits and residential contractors. If you have questions about your city's construction contractor license and surety bond requirements, contact your local licensing department. If you need a surety bond for a city or county not listed here, call 1(800)308-4358.

Need a surety bond for a construction project in Ohio?

Ohio contractor bonds are required for local licensing compliance at the city or county level. If you need a surety bond before you can begin work on an individual contracted project, you might need a bid bond, payment bond, performance bond, or other type of contract bond. If you work in states other than Ohio, we also offer contractor license bonds nationwide.

How do I update or change my contractor bond form?

If your city or county requires you to make any changes to your Ohio surety bond documentation, contact your surety company. If you purchased your bond from SuretyBonds.com, email [email protected] to explain the needed change. The most common changes requested for these bonds are the contractor or construction company's name or address.

How do I renew my contractor registration surety bond?

You must renew your Ohio construction bond before its current term expires to keep your contractor registration in good standing. Once you pay your SuretyBonds.com renewal invoice, renewal instructions will be emailed to you to keep your bond active for your next license term. You must maintain an active surety bond with each individual city and county as long as you perform construction work there.

How do I become a licensed contractor in Ohio?

Contractor license requirements vary depending on the cities and counties you work in and the type of construction work you do there. The first step in becoming a licensed contractor is determining which license you need for each city and county you work in. For example, you might need a general contractor license for one city or county and a home improvement contractor license for others.

You'll then need to submit the appropriate contractor license application forms as required by the city and county. Some of the most common requirements include a certificate of liability insurance, a state or federal license for your trade classification, worker’s compensation insurance, and government-issued identification. You can find specific requirements for your city or county below in the Additional Resources section.

Additional Resources

Allen County: Plumbing Program

Ashville: Contractor Registration

Aurora: Registering as a Contractor

Avon Lake: Contractor Registration Packet

Bedford: Contractor Registration

Bedford Heights: Contractor Registration Packet

Bexley: Building and Zoning Department

Bratenahl: Contractor Resources

Brecksville: Contractor Registration Packet

Broadview: Applications, Forms & Fees

Brook Park: 2023 Contractor Registration

Brooklyn Heights: Contractor Registration Packet

Brunswick: Application for First Time Contractors

Canton: Building Department Resources

Chagrin Falls: Contractor Registration and Bond Form

Chillicothe: Application for Contractor Registration

Cincinnati: Contractor Registration

Clermont: Plumbing Regulations

Cleveland: Permit Guide - Contractors

Cleveland Heights: Contractor Resources

Columbus: Contractor Licensing/Registration

Cuyahoga Heights: Contractor Registration Form

Cuyahoga County: Contractor Registration Forms

Dayton: Contractors Registration & Bond Form

Dayton and Montgomery County: Plumbing Bond 

Delaware: Licenses, Permits & Forms

East Cleveland: Building & Housing

Eastlake: Application for Contractor Registration

Elyria: Forms & Permits

Erie County: Contractor Registration

Fairfield County: Contractor Registration

Fayette County: Contractor Information

Findlay: Permit & License Information

Franklin County: Plumbing Contractor Information 

Garfield Heights: Contractors Resources

Girard: Zoning Department

Grandview Heights: Contractor Registration

Grove City: Contractor Registration Application

Hamilton County: Plumbing Contractor Registration

Hancock: 2023 Plumbing Registration Packet

Hartville: Building Department

Highland Hills: Contractor Registration Procedures

Hocking County: Plumbing Program

Huron County: Sewage Program Resources 

Independence: 2023 Contractor Registration

Jefferson County: Plumbing Permit

Kirtland: Registration Procedures for Contractors

LaGrange: Contractor and Resident's Required Permits

Lake County: Application Sewer and Water Builder Contractor License

Lancaster: Contractor Information

Lima: Contractor Registration

Lorain County: Sewer Builders License Application

Lyndhurst: 2023 Contractor Registration Packet

Macedonia: Contractor Registration Requirement

Madison County: Building and Zoning Department

Mahoning County: Applications

Maple Heights: Contractor Registration

Marietta

Marion: Contractor Registration

Marion County: Plumbing Contractor Registration 

Marysville: Contractors License Application

Massillon: Business Permits, Forms, Requirements & More

Maumee: Contractor Application

Medina County: Sanitary Engineer Resources 

Mentor: Contractor Registration

Middleburg: Contractor Registration

Middletown: Building Inspections

Moreland Hills: Contractor Registration

Newburgh Heights: Contractor Information

Niles: Building Services Department

North Canton: Contractors Resources

Northfield: Building Department

Norwood: Building Department

North Randall: Contractor Registration

North Ridgeville: New Contractor Registration Form

North Royalton: 2023 Contractor Registration Packet

Oakwood: Building Department

Olmsted: Contractor Registration Requirements

Oregon: Contractor Registration

Painsville: Contractor Info

Parma: Contractor Registration Packet

Perry County: Plumbing Resources

Perrysburg

Pickaway: Building Department

Piqua: Contractor Registration Application

Portage County: Registered Contractors

Portsmouth: Contractor Registration Application

Reminderville: Building Department Applications and Permits

Reynoldsburg: Contractor Registration Application

Rossford: Contractor Registration

Sandusky: Contractor Registration and Licensing

Seven Hills: 2023 Contractor Application

Sidney-Shelby County: 2023 Plumbing Contractor Application Packet

Sheffield Lake: Contractor Registration

Solon: Contractor Registration

South Bloomfield: Building Department

South Euclid: 2023 Contractor Registration Packet

South Russell: Contractor Registration

Southwest Licking Community: Contractor Resources 

Springfield: Contractor Licenses

Stark County: Plumbing Resources

Streetsboro: Building Department

Strongsville: Contractor & Homeowner Registration

St. Mary's: Permits

Sylvania: Permits and Licensing

Trumbull County: Building Inspection

Toledo: Contractor Licensing

Twinsburg: Contractor Registration

Union County: Building Regulation

University Heights: Contractors Registration

Upper Arlington: Contractor Registration

Urbancrest: Zoning Department

Vermillion: Contractor Packet

Walton Hills: Building Department

Warren County: Building & Zoning Department

Warren: Contractor Registration Form

Warrensville

Wayne County: Plumbing Resources

Waterville: Zoning

Wellington: Contractor Building Registration

Westlake: Contractor Registration

Whitehall: Contractor Requirements

Wickliffe: Contractor Registration Packet

Willoughby: Contractor Resources

Willowick: Contractor Information and Forms

Youngstown: Contractor Registration Bond