To check an Oregon contractor’s license, use the license search on the Oregon Construction Contractors Board (CCB) website, enter the contractor’s name or CCB number, and confirm the license is active, the business name matches your contract, and bond and insurance are on file. It takes about five minutes and is the single best safeguard before you hire a siding contractor.
Why it matters
Oregon requires contractors who do this kind of work for pay to be licensed. The CCB’s own site puts it bluntly: “Anyone can pretend to be a contractor. Check licenses.” A license is not a guarantee of good work, but an unlicensed contractor gives you no bond, may have no insurance, and leaves you with far fewer options if something goes wrong.
Step by step
- Go to the CCB. Start at the Oregon CCB site and use its License Search. The CCB’s search tool has lived at more than one address over the years, so reach it from the oregon.gov page rather than a link in an ad or a lookalike site.
- Search the CCB number or the business name. The number should be on the contractor’s estimate, contract and website. Dave’s is #153635.
- Confirm the license is active. Look at the status, not just whether a record exists. Expired, suspended or inactive licenses are a stop sign.
- Match the name. The business on your contract should be the licensed business, spelled the same way. A “doing business as” name with no matching license is a red flag.
- Check the endorsement. Residential work needs the right residential license type. Ask what endorsement the contractor holds.
- Check bond and insurance. The record shows whether the contractor has a surety bond and liability insurance on file, and the expiration dates. They can lapse separately from the license, so look at the dates.
- Look for complaints and history. The record includes information about the license history, which helps when two bids look similar. Read it with some context: one old issue is different from a pattern.
- Save a copy. Take a screenshot or print the page, and check again before work starts.
If you cannot find a contractor, or something looks wrong, call the CCB’s licensing center at 503-378-4621.
What the bond and insurance mean
A license in Oregon comes with financial protections:
- Surety bond. The bond amounts are set by law and depend on the license endorsement. According to Oregon Revised Statutes chapter 701, a residential general contractor carries a $25,000 bond (raised from $20,000 in 2024) and at least $500,000 in general liability insurance; other residential endorsements carry lower amounts. Check the statute or the CCB for the endorsement your contractor holds.
- General liability insurance. This covers damage the contractor causes to your property.
- Workers’ compensation. Contractors with employees are expected to carry it. Ask for proof if there are workers on your property.
The bond is a safety net, not a blank check. Under that same statute, the amount a residential contractor bond pays out on a CCB claim is capped at $5,000 for costs and interest in some cases. Choose a contractor you trust, and use the bond as a backstop.
Check twice
Check once when you get the estimate and again before work starts. Licenses, bonds and insurance renew on their own schedules, and a record that looked fine in August can look different by October. Also confirm that the person who shows up is the person you hired, since a licensed company is accountable for its own crew, not for a stranger a subcontractor brings along.
Red flags
- Asks for a large payment up front before materials arrive
- Cash-only deals or no written contract
- Vague, verbal-only scope, or an estimate with no license number
- The license number does not match the person or business
- Pressure to sign today
- Door-knocking after a storm with out-of-area plates
- Says a permit is not needed without telling you why (see our permits guide)
A written contract is recommended for all home improvement work, and Oregon’s CCB guidance says it is required above a certain dollar amount. Check the CCB’s current threshold when you read yours.
More questions to ask any siding contractor
- Who will be on my house each day? Who is in charge?
- How do you handle the water-resistive barrier, flashing and drainage gap? (See our rainscreen guide.)
- What does your estimate include and exclude: rot repair, trim, haul-away?
- What manufacturer warranty comes with the product?
- Can I see recent work and talk to past customers?
Six-Point Siding
Six-Point Siding, Inc. is owned by Dave Shaffer and has been a licensed business since 2002, Oregon CCB #153635, licensed, bonded and insured. Dave is a second-generation sider with about 40 years of hands-on experience, and he is on every job, start to finish. Look us up at the CCB: that is what the search is for. Then compare us with anyone else you are considering. See also why price varies so much between bids and our FAQ.
Quick answers
- Is the CCB search free? Yes, the license lookup is a public tool.
- Does an active license mean the work is good? No. It means the contractor meets legal requirements. Check references too.
- Can a handyman do siding? If it is paid work on a home that needs a license, ask for the CCB number. Do not assume.
- Where do I complain about a licensed contractor? The CCB takes complaints and offers mediation. Call 503-378-4621 for current steps.
- Where does Six-Point work? Gresham and the Portland metro and East County.
Talk to Dave
Verify us, then call. Call or text Dave: 503-260-7647. Free estimates.