Quick answer: Oregon is one of the most heavily regulated states for the trades. Nearly anyone who works for compensation on construction, repair or improvement of real property must hold a license from the Construction Contractors Board (CCB) — there is no dollar minimum, so general contractors, roofers, painters, carpenters, HVAC installers and handymen all need one. Plumbers and electricians need a CCB license plus the matching trade license from the Building Codes Division (BCD). Landscapers are licensed by a separate agency, the Landscape Contractors Board (LCB). Only truly non-construction work like house cleaning, janitorial service and gutter/debris cleaning needs no state license.
The table below shows which of the common trades need an Oregon state license and which do not.
Which trades need a license in Oregon?
| Trade | State license required? | Licensing body |
|---|---|---|
| Plumber | Yes | Two licenses: a CCB contractor license for the business plus a BCD plumbing contractor (PB) license, and individuals must hold a BCD plumbing license. Both agencies regulate the trade. |
| Electrician | Yes | Two licenses: a CCB contractor license for the business plus a BCD electrical contractor (C) license, and individuals must hold a BCD electrical license. Both CCB and BCD apply. |
| HVAC | Yes | CCB license required. Heating and air conditioning is a construction activity under the CCB; some low-voltage or limited-energy components can also involve a BCD electrical license. |
| General Contractor | Yes | CCB license required for anyone contracting construction, repair or improvement work for compensation. Residential and commercial endorsements are available; there is no dollar minimum. |
| Roofer | Yes | CCB license required. Roofing is a construction activity under Oregon law with no dollar minimum. |
| Painter | Yes | CCB license required. Painting is a construction activity under the CCB and needs a license regardless of job size. |
| Carpenter | Yes | CCB license required. Carpentry, remodeling and finish work are construction activities under the CCB. |
| Landscaper | Yes | Licensed by the separate Landscape Contractors Board (LCB): an individual landscape contractor (LCP) license plus a landscape contracting business license. Basic maintenance such as mowing and weeding is exempt. |
| Handyman | Yes | CCB license required. Oregon has no handyman exemption and no dollar minimum, so paid repair or improvement work needs a CCB license. |
| Cleaner | No | No CCB license for house cleaning, janitorial work, gutter cleaning, debris removal, or pressure washing done only to clean. A local business license may still apply. |
"Yes" means a state license is required – a CCB license for construction trades, a CCB plus a BCD trade license for plumbing and electrical, or an LCB license for landscaping. Unlicensed trades like cleaning may still need a local business license.
How Oregon licenses construction trades
Oregon takes an unusually broad approach: almost anyone who works for compensation in a construction activity involving improvements to real property must be licensed by the Construction Contractors Board (CCB). Unlike states that only license major trades, Oregon covers roofing, siding, painting, carpentry, concrete, floor covering, HVAC, tree service, home inspection, manufactured-dwelling installation and general handyman work under one CCB license.
There is no dollar minimum — the license is required essentially whenever the work is done for pay, even for small repair or improvement jobs. To get a CCB license a contractor must complete pre-license training (16 hours) and pass the Oregon exam, obtain a surety bond and general liability insurance, carry workers' compensation if they have employees, and register the business. Licenses run on a two-year cycle.
Plumbers and electricians: CCB plus a BCD trade license
Plumbing and electrical work is regulated by a second agency, the Building Codes Division (BCD) of the Department of Consumer & Business Services. Oregon states plainly that “for electrical or plumbing work, contractors are required to have a CCB license and the appropriate BCD electrical or plumbing contractor's license.”
In practice that means two licenses: the business holds a CCB contractor license and a BCD electrical contractor (C) or plumbing contractor (PB) license, while the individuals doing the work must hold the matching BCD individual electrical or plumbing license. BCD also offers combination contractor/business licenses that bundle two or three of these credentials. BCD issues electrical, plumbing, boiler, elevator and manufactured-dwelling licenses.
HVAC, carpentry, roofing, painting and handyman work
For most other building trades — HVAC/heating and air conditioning, carpentry, roofing, painting, floor covering and handyman repair — the CCB license is the core requirement, and no separate trade board applies. Oregon lists heating and air conditioning, roofing, siding, painting and carpentry directly among the construction activities that require a CCB license.
Oregon does not have a “handyman” carve-out the way some states do: because there is no dollar threshold, a person who advertises or performs paid repair and improvement work generally needs a CCB license even for small jobs. Some HVAC work that includes low-voltage or limited-energy wiring can also pull in a BCD electrical requirement.
Landscapers: a separate board (LCB)
Landscaping is regulated by yet another agency, the Landscape Contractors Board (LCB). An LCB license is required for landscape construction work performed for compensation — planning or installing lawns, shrubs, trees and other nursery stock; grading and soil preparation; installing or repairing irrigation and drainage; and building arbors, decks, patios, driveways and fences as part of a landscape.
Most operators need two credentials: an individual landscape contractor (LCP) license (earned by passing an exam) plus a landscape contracting business license. Routine landscape maintenance is not regulated by the state — mowing, edging, weeding, pruning small shrubs, refreshing bark mulch and adjusting sprinkler heads do not require an LCB license.
Trades with no state license, and local rules
Only work that is genuinely not construction escapes state licensing. The CCB confirms that gutter cleaning, debris cleanup, and power/pressure washing done for the purpose of cleaning do not require a CCB license, and routine house cleaning and janitorial service are not construction at all. Basic landscape maintenance is likewise exempt.
Being unlicensed by the state does not mean unregulated: these businesses still commonly need a local business license from their city or county, must carry appropriate insurance, and cannot cross into licensed scopes such as electrical, plumbing or structural work. Because local permit and licensing rules vary, always confirm with your city or county before starting a job.
How to get licensed in Oregon
- Confirm whether your work is a construction activity: if you do construction, repair or improvement work for compensation, you almost certainly need a CCB license (there is no dollar minimum).
- Complete the required pre-license training (16 hours from an approved provider) and pass the Oregon CCB exam, then choose your endorsement (for example residential general contractor).
- Obtain the required surety bond and general liability insurance, carry workers' compensation if you have employees, register your business entity, and submit the CCB application and fee.
- If you do plumbing or electrical work, also apply to the Building Codes Division (BCD) for the electrical contractor (C) or plumbing contractor (PB) license, and make sure the individuals doing the work hold the matching BCD trade license.
- If you do landscape construction, license instead (or additionally) through the Landscape Contractors Board (LCB): pass the LCP exam for the individual license and obtain a landscape contracting business license. Renew all licenses on their two-year cycle.
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Frequently asked questions
Does a handyman need a license in Oregon?
Yes. Oregon does not have a handyman exemption and there is no dollar minimum. Nearly anyone who performs construction, repair or improvement work for compensation must hold a Construction Contractors Board (CCB) license, so handyman repair services generally need one even for small jobs. Truly non-construction tasks like house cleaning or gutter cleaning are the exception.
Do plumbers and electricians need both a CCB and a BCD license in Oregon?
Yes. Oregon requires plumbing and electrical contractors to hold a CCB license for the business and the matching Building Codes Division (BCD) trade license — an electrical contractor (C) or plumbing contractor (PB) license — while the individuals doing the work must hold their own BCD electrical or plumbing license. BCD also offers combination licenses that bundle these credentials.
Who licenses landscapers in Oregon?
Landscapers are licensed by a separate agency, the Landscape Contractors Board (LCB), not the CCB. Landscape construction work for compensation — installing lawns, plants, irrigation, drainage, decks, patios and fences — requires an individual landscape contractor (LCP) license plus a landscape contracting business license. Basic maintenance like mowing and weeding is not regulated by the state.
Does a house cleaner need a state license in Oregon?
No. Residential and commercial cleaning and janitorial work are not construction, so no CCB license is required. The CCB also confirms that gutter cleaning, debris cleanup and pressure washing done only for cleaning do not need a CCB license. These businesses may still need a local business license and cannot perform licensed construction work.
Sources: Oregon CCB – CCB License (who needs a license), Oregon CCB – Licensing, Oregon BCD – Individual and contractor licenses, Oregon BCD – Getting licensed work (CCB plus BCD required), Oregon LCB – License Requirements, Oregon LCB – Maintenance Work FAQ (exempt work), 2025. Licensing rules change — always confirm current requirements with the relevant state board and your local city before you work.