How to Verify a Contractor in Oregon
How to verify a contractor in Oregon takes less than 60 seconds - but most homeowners skip the checks that actually matter. We built CCB Lookup after analyzing 47,000+ Oregon contractor license records. Here's what we learned.
Verify any Oregon contractor free - search by name or CCB number.
What We Found After Reviewing Thousands of Oregon CCB Records
We built CCB Lookup to make Oregon contractor verification faster and easier than the official CCB portal. In the process, we indexed and analyzed over 47,000 license records across all 36 Oregon counties. A few patterns stood out that most homeowners - and even many real estate professionals - are not aware of.
The pattern we see most often: homeowners check that a license exists and assume that's enough. It isn't. A license can be technically Active while the bond or insurance has lapsed - and the official CCB search doesn't make this easy to see at a glance. That's the gap CCB Lookup was built to close.
The 5-Step Verification Checklist
Find the contractor's CCB number
Oregon law requires every licensed contractor to display their CCB license number on all estimates, contracts, invoices, and advertising. Look for "CCB #" followed by a number - typically 5 to 6 digits.
If the contractor has not provided a CCB number, or refuses to give you one, this is a red flag. Ask directly: "What is your CCB license number?" Any legitimate Oregon contractor will have this readily available.
Search the license on CCB Lookup
Enter the CCB number, contractor name, or business name into the search tool. You'll see the full license record, including:
Contractor profiles also show a Trust Score - a 0-100 rating that combines license age, bond amount, and insurance health into a single number. Useful when comparing multiple candidates.
Confirm the license is Active
The most important thing to check is that the license status is Active and the expiration date has not passed. An expired license means the contractor's bond and insurance may no longer be in force.
An active CCB license does not guarantee the insurance is currently valid. The policy can lapse independently of the license. Always check the insurance expiration date - not just whether insurance is listed. Ask the contractor for a Certificate of Insurance (COI) if you want to confirm coverage directly with the insurer.
The insurer listed on a CCB license tells you more than you might expect. See which insurance companies Oregon contractors actually use - and what it means for you →
Verify bond and insurance are current Most missed
This is the step most homeowners skip - and the one that creates the most risk. Even if the license is Active, the bond and insurance have their own separate expiration dates. A contractor can have an Active license with lapsed coverage, and the basic CCB search won't flag this clearly.
Surety Bond
Protects you if the contractor abandons the job, fails to pay subcontractors, or causes damage. Confirm the bond expiration date has not passed. Required minimums range from $20K (RLC) to $75K (CGC1) depending on license type.
Liability Insurance
Covers damage to your property or injuries during the project. Verify both the amount and the expiration date. Required minimums range from $100K (RLC) to $2M aggregate (CGC1) depending on license type. See requirements by type →
If the insurance expiration is within 30 days, ask the contractor for a current Certificate of Insurance directly from their insurer before signing anything.
Check complaint and disciplinary history
The official CCB website shows the contractor's full complaint history, unpaid claims, civil penalties, and any suspensions from the past 10 years. This information is not available on CCB Lookup - CCB Lookup shows license, bond, and insurance data only. For complaint history, you must check the official CCB site directly.
Check Complaint History on CCB.govVerify the business entity at Oregon SOS
Beyond the CCB license, confirm the contractor's business entity is active and in good standing with the Oregon Secretary of State. The SOS registry shows the company's registration date, entity status, name history (including previous business names), and annual report compliance. A contractor with an active CCB license but a dissolved or administratively delinquent business entity is a risk signal worth knowing before you sign.
Search Oregon SOS Business RegistryOfficial CCB Portal vs CCB Lookup: What's Different?
Both tools use the same public data - the difference is how it's presented and what you can find quickly.
| Feature | Official CCB | CCB Lookup |
|---|---|---|
| License status | ||
| Bond & insurance details | ||
| Complaint & disciplinary history | ||
| Search by name or number | ||
| Search by county or license type | ||
| Trust Score overview | ||
| Mobile-friendly interface | ||
| All 47,000+ licenses in one place |
For complaint history and disciplinary records, always use the official CCB search tool. CCB Lookup is a complement, not a replacement.
How to check if a contractor is licensed and insured in Oregon
To verify a contractor is licensed and insured in Oregon: search their name or CCB number at CCB Lookup or search.ccb.oregon.gov. The result shows license status, bond company and expiration, and insurance company and expiration date. Confirm all three are Active and not expired before signing a contract. For complete verification, also request a Certificate of Insurance (COI) directly from the contractor's insurer.
Red Flags to Watch For
- Refuses to provide a CCB license number
- License is expired or suspended
- Bond or insurance has expired
- Business name on the license does not match what they told you
- Asks for full payment upfront in cash
- Does not have a written contract
- Pressures you to decide immediately
- Shows up unsolicited after a storm or disaster
See all warning signs in our contractor scams guide →
Ready to verify your contractor?
Search by name, license number, or county. Takes less than 60 seconds.
Ferran built CCB Lookup to make Oregon contractor license verification faster and more accessible than the official CCB portal. The tool is based on analysis of 47,000+ active and historical Oregon CCB license records across all 36 counties. CCB Lookup is independent and not affiliated with the Oregon Construction Contractors Board or any government agency.
Related Guides
Quick Checklist
- License status is Active
- License is not expired
- Bond is current
- Insurance is current
- Business name matches
- No unpaid complaints
- No civil penalties
- Written contract in hand