General contractor licenses
in Portland, Oregon
Start with the main licenses and permits below. For a checklist based on your own business, tell us what you’re opening and how it will operate.
Researched Sep 2026
About this example
The business is a general contractor operating from a home in Portland, Oregon, serving customers both in person and online. It will have W-2 employees and primarily sells services, with no food or alcohol sales.
Requirement labels below refer to this setup. Conditional items depend on additional details.
Authorities researched
- County
- Multnomah County
- City
- City of Portland
Details to confirm before you apply
- Will employees or customers come to the home?
- What is the current dollar amount of the ORS 307.350 business personal property exemption threshold?
- Are any of the commercial vehicles over 26,000 lbs GVW?
- Will the business perform any renovation, repair, or painting on pre-1978 homes?
- What specific trade work will the business self-perform?
- Is there a need for a Type B Home Occupation Permit based on employee/customer presence?
- Confirm with the responsible agencies whether additional requirements apply in these areas: State unemployment insurance employer account; New-hire reporting; State wage withholding account; Commercial vehicle rules; Individual lead-safe renovator qualification. These areas remain unresolved in this guide.
The main licenses and permits
6 of 11- 01Oregon Construction Contractors Board (CCB) Contractor LicenseOregon Construction Contractors Board (CCB) · Oregon
A general contractor performing construction, improvement, or repair work in Oregon must hold a CCB license; Portland's permitting system requires every contractor to have one.
RequiredEvery two years; continuing education required at renewal (minimum 3 hours of CCB laws/rules/business practices plus additional approved hours; totals depend on commercial level and years licensed) - 02Multnomah County Business Income Tax (MCBIT)Multnomah County Revenue and Taxation; registered, filed, and collected through the City of Portland Revenue Division under an intergovernmental agreement · County
A general contractor operating from a home in Portland has apportionable business income in Multnomah County and meets the county's 'doing business' test (employees, a place of business, and an economic presence).
RequiredAnnual: tax return and payment due when federal and state returns are due (generally April 15 for calendar-year filers) - 03City of Portland Business License Tax — Revenue Division tax accountCity of Portland Revenue Division · Portland
The business is engaged in profit-seeking activity in Portland (home office in Portland, employees, and services performed in the city), which the City presumes to be 'doing business' and requires to register within 60 days.
RequiredAnnual — business tax return and payment due with federal/state returns, generally April 15 - 04Employer Identification Number (EIN)Internal Revenue Service (IRS) · Federal
The business will have W-2 employees and will likely operate as an LLC or corporation, and the IRS requires an EIN to hire employees and operate such an entity.
RequiredNone; one-time, though a new EIN may be required after certain ownership/structure changes. - 05Federal employer payroll tax obligations (income tax withholding, FICA, FUTA)Internal Revenue Service (IRS) · Federal
Hiring W-2 employees creates federal withholding (federal income tax + employee FICA), employer FICA match, and federal unemployment (FUTA) obligations.
RequiredQuarterly deposit/filing cycle with annual reconciliation (per IRS schedules). - 06Oregon Workers' Compensation InsuranceOregon Workers' Compensation Division (WCD) / SAIF or private carrier · Oregon
The business will have W-2 employees, and Oregon requires almost all employers carrying subject workers to maintain workers' compensation coverage; CCB also requires proof of coverage for non-exempt (employee-hiring) contractors before licensing.
RequiredAnnual policy renewal (as set by insurer)
This example includes 5 other potential requirements. A report based on your business explains which apply, how to file, published fees and timing, and what to complete first.
Make the checklist yours
Your location, activities, and business structure can change the list. Get a free preview for your business, then decide whether to unlock the full report for $49.
Questions people ask
What city business licenses or registrations should a general contractor in Portland check?
Our research identifies City of Portland Business License Tax — Revenue Division tax account, issued by City of Portland Revenue Division, as required. The business is engaged in profit-seeking activity in Portland (home office in Portland, employees, and services performed in the city), which the City presumes to be 'doing business' and requires to register within 60 days. Check the other city permits in this guide and confirm the requirements for your premises and activities.
How much do licenses and permits cost for a general contractor in Portland?
Most fees vary by item; see report. Several items have fees that depend on your entity type, square footage, or payroll, so the full report lists each fee as the agency publishes it.
What should I do first?
Review Employer Identification Number (EIN) (Internal Revenue Service (IRS)), then Federal employer payroll tax obligations (income tax withholding, FICA, FUTA) (Internal Revenue Service (IRS)), then Oregon Workers' Compensation Insurance (Oregon Workers' Compensation Division (WCD) / SAIF or private carrier). Confirm each item's applicability and prerequisites before applying; the report provides a suggested order for the full checklist.
Is this legal advice?
No. It is a research summary of public requirements published by government agencies, each linked to its official page. Confirm with the issuing agency before filing.
Related guides
Researched from official government sources on September 2, 2026 for a typical general contractor. Requirements change and depend on your facts; this page is not legal advice. Confirm with the issuing agency before filing.