- No license needed for casual, minor work under $1,000 on one project, but only if you do not advertise or put up signs.
- Plan for a business and law exam.
- Residential Limited: $15,000 residential bond.
- Every two years. Residential contractors need 8 hours of continuing education per two year period.
Do you need a state license in Oregon?
Oregon licenses some handyman work at the state level and leaves the rest alone. Which side of that line a job falls on decides whether you need the state license.
No license needed for casual, minor work under $1,000 on one project, but only if you do not advertise or put up signs.
Oregon license types for handyman work
Oregon splits the work into 2 licenses. Pick the one that matches the jobs you take, since working outside its scope is the same as working without one.
| License | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Residential Limited Contractor | Any trades on homes, under $40,000 a year in sales and no job over $5,000. Meant for part time contractors and handymen |
| Residential Specialty Contractor | One or two trades, or three or more on one property if the contract is $2,500 or less |
Steps to get licensed in Oregon
- Take the 16 hour pre-license course and pass the Oregon contractor exam.
- Register your business with the Oregon Secretary of State.
- Buy a $15,000 residential bond and $100,000 per occurrence liability policy.
- Apply online with the CCB for the Residential Limited endorsement and pay $400.
- Keep each job at $5,000 or less and yearly sales under $40,000, or upgrade the endorsement.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. The board's pages do not list one.
The license to apply for. CCB Residential Limited Contractor endorsement.
Oregon handyman exams
Trade exam. No trade exam.
Business and law exam. Yes. 16 hours of pre-license training and the Oregon contractor exam, given through PSI.
What it costs in Oregon
The board lists 3 fees along the way. These are the state's own numbers. Insurance, any bond, exam prep and your business registration come on top.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application (from 7/1/2025) | $400 |
| Renewal (every two years) | $400 |
| Oregon contractor exam (paid to PSI) | $60 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. Residential Limited: $100,000 per occurrence general liability. Workers comp if you have non exempt employees.
Bond. Residential Limited: $15,000 residential bond.
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Every two years. Residential contractors need 8 hours of continuing education per two year period.
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in Oregon
- Any advertising, even business cards, removes the under $1,000 exemption.
- If your sales pass $40,000 in a year you must tell the CCB and move to a bigger endorsement.
- Gutter cleaning, cleaning only pressure washing and debris cleanup do not need a license.
After you are licensed
The license lets you take the work. Getting the work is the next job.
- Register the business. If you work under a name other than your own, register it where your state asks (often the Secretary of State, sometimes the county), and keep the name the same on your license, your truck and your invoices.
- Claim your Google Business Profile. It is the listing people see when they search for a handyman near them. Fill in your service area, hours and real photos of your work.
- Put up a website that shows the license. Customers look for it before they call. Koira builds a contractor website for you and keeps it current.
- See where you stand. The free Koira report checks how your business shows up in search and on maps against shops near you.
Where this comes from
Every fact on this page comes from the Oregon Construction Contractors Board (CCB) and the official pages below, checked October 8, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.
More for your trade: how handyman businesses run on Koira.