Portage County, Ohio requires contractors who wish to perform certain classifications of construction in the jurisdiction to register with the Building Department and obtain a contractor license. As part of that licensing process, contractors are required to obtain a $10,000 bond, known as the Portage County contractor license bond.
According to the Portage County official website, the following contractor classifications require licensing and must be bonded with the Building Department:
- General Contractor
- Hydronics
- Electrical
- Mechanical
- Roofing
- Low Voltage
- Fire Alarm
- Sprinkler
- Fireplace Insert
- Refrigeration
To apply to any of the classifications listed above, you must fill out the Contractor Registration Application. For additional forms and resources, visit the Portage County Building Department Permits/Applications page.
Who needs the Portage County Contractor Bond?
Those who wish to work as a contractor in Portage County must obtain a contractor bond. The contractor bond is required for obtaining the Portage County contractor license, which is required for applying for any permit to start construction projects in the county. All general, hydronics, electrical, mechanical, roofing, low voltage, fire alarm, sprinkler, fireplace insert, refrigeration contractors must obtain the contractor bond.
Why does Portage County require a contractor bond?
The contractor bond is required by the Portage County to guarantee two things:
- The first is the guarantee that the contractor will follow the rules and regulations of the county. Since many contractors work on projects that are run by the government, the bond guarantees that the contractor will fulfill its obligations. For example, if a contractor were tasked to fill potholes in Portage County but damaged even more of the roads as they worked, the surety company that sold the contractor bond to the contractor would pay the government the amount of money the damages were worth.
- The second is the guarantee that the contractor will fulfill its professional obligations to its clients. For example, if an electrical contractor could not finish its job, the surety company would either help the client find another contractor who could finish the job or refund the client.
How do I get a Portage County Contractor License Bond?
You can get your Portage county contractor license bond through us here at SuretyNow. The bond can be issued instantly without a credit/background check. Prices for a 1 year Portage county contractor license bond start at $90. The process is simple. You can just pay directly on our website, and then you will receive an email confirmation from us. After that, we’ll mail you a copy of the bond that you can submit along with your licensing application. Multi-year options are also available at a discount, refer to table below for pricing. Give us a call if you have any questions.
Bond TermBond Cost1 Year$902 Years$1583 Years$225
Portage County’s Licensing Procedure
The signed and sealed Contractor Bond as well as Contractor Registration Application must be submitted to the Portage County Building Department:
Portage County
Building Department
449 S. Meridian Street
Raveena, OH 44266
The following requirements must be met in order for the applicant to obtain their desired contractor license:
- Submit your $100 fee to “Portage County Treasurer.”
- Sign your $10,000 bond.
- Provide a Certificate of Insurance with the amount of $100,000 or $300,000 and a minimum of $50,000 for property damages. Indicate Portage County as the certificate holder.
- Provide copy of your state certification (Ohio State License) if you wish to engage in the following contractor qualifications:
- General Contractor
- Hydronics
- Electrical
- Mechanical
- Fire Alarm
- Sprinkler
- Refrigeration
To obtain the Ohio State License, applicants in Portage County must meet the following requirements:
- Age Requirement: Candidates must be at least 18 years old.
- Citizenship or Residency: Applicants must be either citizens of the United States or provide valid proof of residency.
- Construction Experience: There are two options to fulfill the experience requirement: a. Have a minimum of 5 years of licensed experience in the construction industry. b. Be a registered engineer in Ohio and have at least 3 years of experience in the specific construction trade related to the engineer's application.
- Clean Criminal Record: Prospective license holders must not have any prior convictions for criminal offenses as defined in H.B.263.
- Examination: Successful completion of the OCILB exam for the specific trade is mandatory.
- Contractor Liability Coverage: Applicants must maintain a minimum contractor liability coverage of $500,000.
- Fee Payment: The payment of applicable fees is required for consideration.
