How to verify a contractor's license in Ohio

Ohio doesn't license general contractors statewide — it licenses specific trades through the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB) via eLicense, while general contracting is verified at your city or county building department. Here's how to check either, free.

Ohio licenses five commercial trades statewide through OCILB — plumbing, HVAC, electrical, hydronics, and refrigeration. General and residential contracting is licensed locally by your city or county.

7,447 Ohio contractors on ProFix carry a verified-active OCILB license (as of 2026-06-16) — matched to official public records, with the live lookup linked on every profile.

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Check a Ohio license against our roster

Enter a license number for an instant check against ProFix's verified Ohio roster — a head start, not a replacement for the board. Then confirm current status at the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB) via eLicense, which is always the system of record.

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Exact license number is the safest path.

A name search can only return possible matches. Confirm the exact license number before trusting any candidate.

1. Get the license number + legal business name

Ask the contractor for their Ohio license or registration number and the exact legal name it's held under. A real contractor gives this without hesitation — it's on their truck, estimates, and contract.

2. Look up the trade license — and check locally for a GC

For a licensed trade, use the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB) via eLicense directly. Ohio licenses five commercial trades statewide through OCILB — plumbing, HVAC, electrical, hydronics, and refrigeration. General and residential contracting is licensed locally by your city or county. For a general contractor, Ohio verification happens at your city or county building department.

3. Confirm the status is ACTIVE

Only an active (or current) status means they're licensed today. Expired, suspended, or revoked is a hard stop — and a contractor who let it lapse is telling you something.

4. Check the classification matches your job

Licenses are scoped to specific trades. Confirm the classification covers the work you're hiring for, and that the name on the license matches the name on your contract.

5. Check bond, insurance, and complaints where shown

Many boards also show bond amount, workers' compensation, and complaint or disciplinary history. A bond and active workers' comp protect you; an open complaint is worth a direct conversation before you sign.

Ohio contractor-license FAQ

How do I check if a contractor is licensed in Ohio?

Ohio licenses five commercial trades statewide through OCILB — plumbing, HVAC, electrical, hydronics, and refrigeration. General and residential contracting is licensed locally by your city or county. So: verify a licensed trade at the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB) via eLicense, and verify a general contractor with your city or county building department. Either way, confirm the status is ACTIVE and the name matches your contract.

Who licenses contractors in Ohio?

Ohio licenses five commercial trades statewide through OCILB — plumbing, HVAC, electrical, hydronics, and refrigeration. General and residential contracting is licensed locally by your city or county.

Does ProFix verify Ohio contractor licenses?

Yes. We've matched 7,447 Ohio listings to an official OCILB record from public data — 7,447 with a currently-active license — and we link the official lookup on every profile so you can confirm it at the source.

Couldn't verify them — or want a vetted second option?

The Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB) via eLicense is always the system of record — confirm status there first. If a contractor won't share a license number, the status comes back inactive, or you just want another quote, get matched with license-checked Ohio pros.

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