The 10 Best Cincinnati, OH General Contractors

The State of Ohio does not license general residential contractors. However, the Cincinnati Department of Buildings and Inspections requires contractors to register as either a home improvement contractor or building construction contractor. Home improvements are required to supervise any job involving the remodel, repair, alteration or additions to existing one to three family dwelling units. A building construction contractor is needed for new construction. All work done on rental properties must be done by a registered contractor.

There is no examination or prior work experience requirement to registered as a home improvement contractor or building construction contractor in Cincinnati. To register, contractors must have liability insurance and proof of workers’ compensation. Individuals must provide a social security number, pay a fee of $125 and renew their registration annually. A contractor can lose their registration if they repeatedly install work in an unworkmanlike manner or not in conformity with issued permits.

Registered contractors must hold workers’ compensation, if applicable, and liability insurance with a minimum coverage of $100,000 for damages to an individual and $300,000 for a single occurrence of a contract. You should verify a contractor’s policies and get copies of each insurance certificate for your records.

Generally, a building permit is required for all construction in Cincinnati unless explicitly exempted in the code. Building permits are usually required for new buildings, additions, alterations, demolition (interior or exterior), and changes of occupancy or use. Common projects that require a permit include the building of most decks, garages, fences, retaining walls, tents, swimming pools, parking lots, carports, and awnings, repairs to buildings, excavation and fill and any developments conducted in a floodplain. Unpermitted construction runs the risk of citation, increased permit fees, the removal of such work. problems selling your home in the future and the risk that homeowners insurance won’t cover issues that occur as a result. If you are unsure if your project requires a permit, consult a registered contractor and/or call the Permit Center at 513-352-3313.

The Department of Buildings and Inspections’ Permit Center issues permits and ensures construction complies with all applicable codes and ordinances. You should confirm with your contractor at the start of your project who will be responsible for acquiring the necessary permits. The Department of Buildings and Inspections provides many services to assist throughout the development process. This includes preliminary review meetings in cooperation with other permitting agencies to identify regulatory conditions and potential problems. The Permit Center also offers various different methods to acquire a permit, including electronic submission and, for some home improvement projects, same day permits. More details are available on the Cincinnati Department of Buildings and Inspections’ website.

The Cincinnati Department of Planning Building & Inspections Division requires contractors to hold a bond in the amount of $10,000. There is no state recovery fund to reimburse homeowners who have suffered financial loss.

The BuildZoom score is based on a number of factors including the contractor's registration information and building permit data, gathered from the Cincinnati Department of Buildings and Inspections; and feedback and behavior we have observed in the BuildZoom marketplace and in other, third-party review sites.

We have analyzed every registered contractor who has worked in Cincinnati, Ohio. Using this information, we’re able to save you time, money and lessen your risk by providing you with a simple and straight-forward way to gather and receive multiple bids from vetted general contractors in Cincinnati. Click here to get started by providing us with a few details about your project.