How to Report an Unlicensed Contractor in Oregon
Unlicensed contractors put homeowners at risk and undercut legitimate licensed businesses. Oregon's CCB actively investigates reports — here's how to file one and what to expect.
Not sure if a contractor is licensed? Verify any Oregon CCB license in 30 seconds.
Why reporting unlicensed contractors matters
Oregon law requires any person or business paid to perform construction work to hold a valid CCB license. An unlicensed contractor carries no required surety bond or general liability insurance — meaning homeowners have no financial protection if work is abandoned, substandard, or causes damage.
Beyond the individual risk, unlicensed contractors undercut licensed businesses who pay for bonding, insurance, and continuing education. Reporting them protects both consumers and the legitimate construction industry in Oregon.
Before reporting, confirm the contractor is actually unlicensed — search their name or CCB number. A license that appears expired may have been recently renewed. If you can't find them at all, they are very likely operating without a license.
What violations can you report?
The CCB investigates the following types of violations:
- Working without a CCB license — performing any paid construction work in Oregon without a valid license
- Falsely claiming workers' comp exemption — claiming to have no employees while workers are present on site
- Advertising without a CCB number — Oregon law requires all licensed contractors to display their CCB number on all advertising, vehicles, estimates, and contracts
- Working on pre-1978 homes without LBPR certification — federal EPA rules require lead-safe certification for renovation work on older homes
- Hiring unlicensed subcontractors — even a licensed general contractor can be reported for knowingly using unlicensed subs
- Working outside license scope — a residential contractor performing large commercial work, or a specialty contractor performing general contractor work
- Working without required bond or insurance — even a licensed contractor can have their coverage lapse. Always verify bond and insurance separately from the license
Two ways to report — choose based on your situation
Active job site report — for work currently in progress
If you can see unlicensed construction work happening right now at a specific address, use the CCB's online reporting form. A field investigator may follow up directly at the job site.
Use this for: a neighbor's house being worked on, a commercial building under construction, a job site you pass daily.
Report Active Job SiteCCB Tips line — for all other suspected violations
For suspected illegal activity without a current active job site address — such as unlicensed advertising, a contractor you recently used, or someone offering services door-to-door — use the CCB Tips line.
Use this for: unlicensed online ads, Craigslist posts without CCB numbers, door-to-door solicitors, past work you suspect was unlicensed.
ccbtips@ccb.oregon.govWhat information to include in your report
The more detail you provide, the more likely the CCB can act on your report. Include as much of the following as possible:
- Contractor's name and phone number
- Company name as it appears on their truck, website, or business card
- Job site address where work is being performed
- Photos of the work, signage, or vehicles
- Links to advertisements — website, Craigslist listing, Facebook page, Nextdoor post
- Vehicle description and license plate if observed at the job site
- Dates and times when work was observed
What happens after you report?
A CCB field investigator may follow up on active job site reports — particularly when work is visibly in progress and the contractor cannot demonstrate a valid license. The CCB can issue civil penalties, stop-work orders, and refer cases for further enforcement action.
Not every tip results in immediate action. The CCB prioritizes reports where work is currently in progress, where there is clear evidence of a violation, and where the public safety risk is highest.
If the unlicensed contractor has already completed work on your own property and you suffered damages, the CCB's complaint and mediation process may also be available to you — though unlicensed contractors are not subject to the same bond-access pathway as licensed ones. See our guide on how to file a CCB complaint for the full process.
If you were harmed by an unlicensed contractor
The CCB's formal complaint and mediation process is designed for disputes with licensed contractors. If your contractor was unlicensed, the CCB enforcement team may still penalize them, but your primary recourse is likely through the Oregon courts. Contact the Oregon Department of Justice Consumer Protection at 503-378-8986 for additional guidance. This is why verifying the license before hiring is so important — once work is done and money is paid, options are limited.
Frequently Asked Questions
Last updated: February 2026. Information sourced from the Oregon CCB Consumer Protection page.
Report Now
Active job site with unlicensed work in progress:
Report Active Job SiteAll other suspected violations:
ccbtips@ccb.oregon.govVerify Before You Hire
Prevent problems before they start. Check any Oregon CCB license in seconds.
Search CCB LicensesWhat to Include in Your Report
- Contractor name and phone
- Company name
- Job site address
- Photos of work or vehicles
- Links to advertisements
- Vehicle description and plates
- Dates work was observed