Until the first of January 2026, Ohio had no statewide licence for general or flooring contractors at all. HB 614 changed that, and it is new enough that a lot of contractors — and almost every homeowner — are still working out what it covers.
What actually changed
Ohio has always licensed five trades at state level through the Ohio Construction Industry
Licensing Board: HVAC, electrical, plumbing, hydronics and refrigeration. Flooring was never on that
list, and neither was general contracting. If you hired someone to install a floor in Ohio before
2026, there was no state credential to ask for.
As of 1 January 2026, a contractor performing residential remodelling, repair or renovation on a
one-, two- or three-family dwelling registers as a Home Improvement Contractor with the OCILB.
Flooring installation on a private residence falls inside that.
What registration requires
The requirements are the useful part for a homeowner, because they tell you what a registered
contractor has already had to prove:
- A criminal background check.
- A $25,000 surety bond — money that exists to make a customer whole.
- $500,000 in general liability insurance, minimum.
- A workers’ compensation certificate from the Ohio BWC.
None of that guarantees good work. What it does mean is that someone with a bond and half a
million in liability coverage has more to lose from doing bad work than someone without.
Your city probably wants its own registration too
The state requirement sits on top of local rules rather than replacing them. Columbus, Cleveland,
Cincinnati and most other Ohio municipalities run contractor registration through their own building
departments, and the thresholds and fees differ from one jurisdiction to the next. A contractor who
is registered with the state may still not be registered in your city.
What to actually ask
- “Are you registered with the OCILB as a home improvement contractor?” Ask for
the number, not a yes. - “Are you registered with the city as well?” Two different things.
- “Can I see the certificate of insurance?” It should name the contractor, and
the coverage should be current on the date your job runs — not the date they printed it. - “Is the bond current?” A lapsed bond is the same as no bond.
A contractor who is annoyed by these questions in 2026 is telling you something. The rules are
seven months old and every legitimate operator in the state has had to deal with them.
Common questions
Does this apply to a small repair?
The registration covers residential remodelling, repair and renovation work on one- to
three-family homes. Ohio has not published a widely-reported dollar floor for it the way some
states have, so the safe assumption is that it applies to the work you are hiring for. Ask the
contractor how they are treating it.
What if my contractor is not registered?
Then you are hiring outside a system that was created specifically to give you recourse. That is
your decision to make, but make it knowingly rather than by not asking.
Does registration mean the state vouches for their work?
No. It means they cleared a background check and carry a bond and insurance. Workmanship is a
separate question, and references and past jobs are still how you answer it.