Commercial General Contractors Level 1 in Oregon

The Commercial General Contractor Level 1 (CGC1) license authorizes Oregon contractors to manage commercial construction projects up to a defined size threshold, as set by the Oregon CCB. There are currently 2,356 active CGC1 licenses in Oregon.

The CGC1 sits between the residential RGC license and the unrestricted CGC2 license. It is the appropriate credential for contractors working on smaller commercial projects - tenant improvements, small retail fit-outs, light commercial renovations, and commercial buildings within the CCB's defined size and value limits. Contractors who need to take on larger commercial projects must upgrade to a CGC2 license.

CGC1 holders are subject to commercial-level bond and insurance requirements, which are higher than residential minimums. They must also complete CCB-approved continuing education and comply with Oregon commercial building code requirements, which differ in several important respects from residential codes.

If you are hiring a contractor for a commercial project, verify that their CGC1 license scope covers the type and size of work you need. A contractor with a CGC1 license bidding on a project that requires CGC2 authorization is operating outside their license - a CCB violation that exposes both parties to risk.