Ohio contractor license renewal checklist

HVAC Contractor (commercial) (HVAC)

State license · Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB) - Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Industrial Compliance

Deadline

Annual (or 3-year for Compliant Contractor Program members) renewal on the license's individual expiration date. All of a holder's Ohio construction licenses expire on the same date, the expiration date of the original license (ORC 4740.06(H)). The date is license-specific (no fixed calendar date); look it up in the eLicense Center. The board provides the renewal application at least 90 days before expiry (OAC 4101:16-2-06) and the renewal may be filed no more than 90 calendar days before expiry (ORC 4740.06(H)).

Renewal cycle

Every year

CE hours

10 hours

Renewal fee

About $60. Fees change. Check the official site for the exact amount.

Late fee

Late renewal is allowed within one calendar year after expiration: renewal fee plus a late fee of not more than about $120 per license (OAC 4101:16-2-09(A), effective 5/13/2022; the amount is set by the board and training providers report about $30), plus certification of about $500,000 liability insurance and completion of the required CE hours (OAC 4101:16-2-07(C)). A $30 penalty per license applies to a returned check.

Grace period

No grace period: the license is automatically suspended on expiry if renewal requirements are unmet (OAC 4101:16-2-07(A)). The late renewal window is one calendar year.

Insurance

Contractor's liability insurance of at least $500,000 including complete operations coverage (OAC 4101:16-2-09(D)), in the name of the contracting company, which must be registered with the Ohio Secretary of State. Coverage may be held in only one contracting company name. Not required while the license is inactive. Proof is no longer submitted at renewal but the licensee certifies the coverage (OAC 4101:16-2-07).

Official link

https://elicense4.com.ohio.gov/

Last verified

Oct 17, 2026, confidence high

Count the days to your deadline

Hydronics Contractor (commercial) (HYD)

State license · Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB) - Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Industrial Compliance

Deadline

Annual (or 3-year for Compliant Contractor Program members) renewal on the license's individual expiration date. All of a holder's Ohio construction licenses expire on the same date, the expiration date of the original license (ORC 4740.06(H)). The date is license-specific (no fixed calendar date); look it up in the eLicense Center. The board provides the renewal application at least 90 days before expiry (OAC 4101:16-2-06) and the renewal may be filed no more than 90 calendar days before expiry (ORC 4740.06(H)).

Renewal cycle

Every year

CE hours

10 hours

Renewal fee

About $60. Fees change. Check the official site for the exact amount.

Late fee

Late renewal is allowed within one calendar year after expiration: renewal fee plus a late fee of not more than about $120 per license (OAC 4101:16-2-09(A), effective 5/13/2022; the amount is set by the board and training providers report about $30), plus certification of about $500,000 liability insurance and completion of the required CE hours (OAC 4101:16-2-07(C)). A $30 penalty per license applies to a returned check.

Grace period

No grace period: the license is automatically suspended on expiry if renewal requirements are unmet (OAC 4101:16-2-07(A)). The late renewal window is one calendar year.

Insurance

Contractor's liability insurance of at least $500,000 including complete operations coverage (OAC 4101:16-2-09(D)), in the name of the contracting company, which must be registered with the Ohio Secretary of State. Coverage may be held in only one contracting company name. Not required while the license is inactive. Proof is no longer submitted at renewal but the licensee certifies the coverage (OAC 4101:16-2-07).

Official link

https://elicense4.com.ohio.gov/

Last verified

Oct 17, 2026, confidence high

Count the days to your deadline

Refrigeration Contractor (commercial) (REF)

State license · Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB) - Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Industrial Compliance

Deadline

Annual (or 3-year for Compliant Contractor Program members) renewal on the license's individual expiration date. All of a holder's Ohio construction licenses expire on the same date, the expiration date of the original license (ORC 4740.06(H)). The date is license-specific (no fixed calendar date); look it up in the eLicense Center. The board provides the renewal application at least 90 days before expiry (OAC 4101:16-2-06) and the renewal may be filed no more than 90 calendar days before expiry (ORC 4740.06(H)).

Renewal cycle

Every year

CE hours

10 hours

Renewal fee

About $60. Fees change. Check the official site for the exact amount.

Late fee

Late renewal is allowed within one calendar year after expiration: renewal fee plus a late fee of not more than about $120 per license (OAC 4101:16-2-09(A), effective 5/13/2022; the amount is set by the board and training providers report about $30), plus certification of about $500,000 liability insurance and completion of the required CE hours (OAC 4101:16-2-07(C)). A $30 penalty per license applies to a returned check.

Grace period

No grace period: the license is automatically suspended on expiry if renewal requirements are unmet (OAC 4101:16-2-07(A)). The late renewal window is one calendar year.

Insurance

Contractor's liability insurance of at least $500,000 including complete operations coverage (OAC 4101:16-2-09(D)), in the name of the contracting company, which must be registered with the Ohio Secretary of State. Coverage may be held in only one contracting company name. Not required while the license is inactive. Proof is no longer submitted at renewal but the licensee certifies the coverage (OAC 4101:16-2-07).

Official link

https://elicense4.com.ohio.gov/

Last verified

Oct 17, 2026, confidence high

Count the days to your deadline

Electrical Contractor (commercial) (ELEC)

State license · Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB) - Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Industrial Compliance

Deadline

Annual (or 3-year for Compliant Contractor Program members) renewal on the license's individual expiration date. All of a holder's Ohio construction licenses expire on the same date, the expiration date of the original license (ORC 4740.06(H)). The date is license-specific (no fixed calendar date); look it up in the eLicense Center. The board provides the renewal application at least 90 days before expiry (OAC 4101:16-2-06) and the renewal may be filed no more than 90 calendar days before expiry (ORC 4740.06(H)).

Renewal cycle

Every year

CE hours

10 hours

Renewal fee

About $60. Fees change. Check the official site for the exact amount.

Late fee

Late renewal is allowed within one calendar year after expiration: renewal fee plus a late fee of not more than about $120 per license (OAC 4101:16-2-09(A), effective 5/13/2022; the amount is set by the board and training providers report about $30), plus certification of about $500,000 liability insurance and completion of the required CE hours (OAC 4101:16-2-07(C)). A $30 penalty per license applies to a returned check.

Grace period

No grace period: the license is automatically suspended on expiry if renewal requirements are unmet (OAC 4101:16-2-07(A)). The late renewal window is one calendar year.

Insurance

Contractor's liability insurance of at least $500,000 including complete operations coverage (OAC 4101:16-2-09(D)), in the name of the contracting company, which must be registered with the Ohio Secretary of State. Coverage may be held in only one contracting company name. Not required while the license is inactive. Proof is no longer submitted at renewal but the licensee certifies the coverage (OAC 4101:16-2-07).

Official link

https://elicense4.com.ohio.gov/

Last verified

Oct 17, 2026, confidence high

Count the days to your deadline

Plumbing Contractor (commercial) (PLUMB)

State license · Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB) - Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Industrial Compliance

Deadline

Annual (or 3-year for Compliant Contractor Program members) renewal on the license's individual expiration date. All of a holder's Ohio construction licenses expire on the same date, the expiration date of the original license (ORC 4740.06(H)). The date is license-specific (no fixed calendar date); look it up in the eLicense Center. The board provides the renewal application at least 90 days before expiry (OAC 4101:16-2-06) and the renewal may be filed no more than 90 calendar days before expiry (ORC 4740.06(H)).

Renewal cycle

Every year

CE hours

10 hours

Renewal fee

About $60. Fees change. Check the official site for the exact amount.

Late fee

Late renewal is allowed within one calendar year after expiration: renewal fee plus a late fee of not more than about $120 per license (OAC 4101:16-2-09(A), effective 5/13/2022; the amount is set by the board and training providers report about $30), plus certification of about $500,000 liability insurance and completion of the required CE hours (OAC 4101:16-2-07(C)). A $30 penalty per license applies to a returned check.

Grace period

No grace period: the license is automatically suspended on expiry if renewal requirements are unmet (OAC 4101:16-2-07(A)). The late renewal window is one calendar year.

Insurance

Contractor's liability insurance of at least $500,000 including complete operations coverage (OAC 4101:16-2-09(D)), in the name of the contracting company, which must be registered with the Ohio Secretary of State. Coverage may be held in only one contracting company name. Not required while the license is inactive. Proof is no longer submitted at renewal but the licensee certifies the coverage (OAC 4101:16-2-07).

Official link

https://elicense4.com.ohio.gov/

Last verified

Oct 17, 2026, confidence high

Count the days to your deadline

Roofing (no state license)

No license required

Ohio does not issue a state license for this work. Check with your city or county.

Ohio has no statewide roofing contractor license: the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board covers only electrical, HVAC, hydronics, plumbing and refrigeration contractors (R.C. Chapter 4740). Some cities and counties require local contractor registration or a license (for example Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland Heights); check each jurisdiction. A proposed statewide home improvement contractor registration (HB 614) has been introduced but is not law.

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Commercial Pesticide Applicator License (categories 10a/10b/10c etc.) (COMM-APP)

State license · Ohio Department of Agriculture - Plant Health / Pesticide Regulation

Deadline

Sep 30 every year

Renewal cycle

Every year

CE hours

5 hours

Renewal fee

About $35. Fees change. Check the official site for the exact amount.

Late fee

If the renewal application is not postmarked before the licensing period expires (Sept 30), the fee increases by 50% (about $17.50 late fee, about $52.50 total) (OAC 901:5-11-04(A); ODA renewal site).

Grace period

No grace period: the 50% late fee applies from October 1. Renewal is accepted for a license current or expired less than 12 months.

Official link

https://www.planthealthrenewal.agri.ohio.gov/CommercialApplicator/

Last verified

Oct 17, 2026, confidence medium

Count the days to your deadline

Pesticide Business License (pest control company) (PBL)

State license · Ohio Department of Agriculture - Plant Health / Pesticide Regulation

Deadline

Sep 30 every year

Renewal cycle

Every year

CE hours

Not required

Renewal fee

About $35. Fees change. Check the official site for the exact amount.

Late fee

If the renewal application is not postmarked before the licensing period ends (Sept 30), or acceptable proof of financial responsibility is not provided before October 1, the fee increases by 50% (about $17.50 late fee, about $52.50 total) (OAC 901:5-11-03(A) and (C), effective 12/5/2024).

Grace period

None: late fee applies from October 1.

Insurance

Per OAC 901:5-11-07(B): commercial general liability plus a professional liability policy or endorsement covering property in care, custody and control, per registered location: $300,000 general aggregate, $300,000 per occurrence, $300,000 products/completed operations aggregate. Businesses with the wood-destroying insect (WDI) inspection category need errors and omissions coverage of $100,000 aggregate / $50,000 per occurrence (WDI-only businesses provide that coverage instead of the general liability policy). Aerial applicators: $100K property damage per occurrence, $100K bodily injury per person, $300K bodily injury per occurrence. The insurer must be authorized in Ohio; a certificate of insurance or binder (with the ODA cancellation-notice clause) goes with the application and must be on file before the license issues. Solicitation-only businesses are excluded from the general liability requirement. Certificates of insurance cannot be uploaded to the renewal site; email [email protected].

Official link

https://www.planthealthrenewal.agri.ohio.gov/CompanyRenewals

Last verified

Oct 17, 2026, confidence high

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General Contractor (no state license; local only)

Local / county license

Issued by your city or county: the deadline and fees depend on where you work.

Deadline

Not published, check with the board

Renewal cycle

Not published, check with the board

CE hours

Set by your city or county

Renewal fee

Check the official site for the fee.

Late fee

Not published, check with the board

Grace period

Not published, check with the board

Official link

No official link on file. Check with the board.

Last verified

Oct 17, 2026, confidence medium

Count the days to your deadline