Construction Contractors Board Sweep Of Portland Area Reveals Unlicensed Contractor Activity -08/19/19
CCB reminds homeowners to check the license before hiring a contractor
A Construction Contractors Board (CCB) sweep of the Portland area revealed contractor violations including 15 instances of working without a license, 15 workers’ compensation-related violations, 10 lead-based paint violations and a variety of other violations. The sweep was conducted August 5th through the 11th. Altogether, 56 violations were discovered and 186 active job sites were checked.
By law, nearly everyone who builds a home or alters a structure must be licensed by the Construction Contractors Board. Contractors who bid and perform work on homes built before 1978 must also have a lead-based paint renovation license.
Why It’s Important to Hire Licensed Contractors
Licensed contractors carry insurance and a surety bond to protect homeowners when construction projects go wrong. For homeowners in dispute with licensed contractors, the Construction Contractors Board provides mediation services. These services can help both parties settle their differences outside court.
Homeowners who hire unlicensed contractors have little recourse when a home improvement goes wrong. Some homeowners choose to go to court at their own expense, but many simply give up and hire a licensed contractor to repair the damage.
Check the License Online
Before signing a contract, the CCB encourages homeowners to check their contractor has an active license at http://search.ccb.state.or.us/search/. This site also provides up to 10 years of history on any contractor’s license.
Reporting Unlicensed Contractor Activity
The CCB regularly investigates tips about unlicensed contractors. Contractors and consumers can report unlicensed contractor activity by sending an email to ccbtips@state.or.us, or by visiting the CCB website at http://search.ccb.state.or.us/online_complaint_enf/.
Anyone with questions can call the Construction Contractors Board at 503-378-4621.
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About the CCB
The CCB is the state agency licensing over 40,000 contractors. Anyone who is paid to repair, improve or build a home must be licensed. Learn more about how to have a successful project at www.oregon.gov/ccb.