Chapter 4740 | Construction Industry Licensing Board

Section 4740.01 | Construction industry licensing board definitions.

• Effective: September 17, 2014
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 78 - 130th General Assembly

As used in this chapter:

(A) "License" means a license the Ohio construction industry licensing board issues to an individual as a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning contractor, refrigeration contractor, electrical contractor, plumbing contractor, or hydronics contractor.

(B) "Contractor" means any individual or contracting company that satisfies both of the following:

(1) Has responsibility for the means, method, and manner of construction, improvement, renovation, repair, or maintenance on a construction project with respect to one or more trades and who offers, identifies, advertises, or otherwise holds out or represents that the individual or contracting company is permitted or qualified to perform or have responsibility for the means, method, and manner of construction, improvement, renovation, repair, or maintenance with respect to one or more trades on a construction project;

(2) Does either of the following:

(a) Performs construction, improvement, or renovation on a construction project with respect to the individual's or contracting company's trade;

(b) Employs tradespersons who perform construction, improvement, or renovation on a construction project with respect to the individual's or contracting company's trades.

(C) "Contracting company" means a company in the construction industry working on construction projects.

(D) "Licensed trade" means a trade performed by a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning contractor, a refrigeration contractor, an electrical contractor, a plumbing contractor, or a hydronics contractor.

(E) "Tradesperson" means any individual who is employed by a contractor and who engages in construction, improvement, renovation, repair, or maintenance of buildings or structures without assuming responsibility for the means, method, or manner of that construction, improvement, renovation, repair, or maintenance.

(F) "Construction project" means a construction project involving a building or structure subject to Chapter 3781. of the Revised Code and the rules adopted under that chapter, but not an industrialized unit or a residential building as defined in section 3781.06 of the Revised Code.

(G) "Training agency" means an entity approved by the administrative section of the board to provide continuing education courses.

Section 4740.02 | Ohio construction industry licensing board.

• Effective: September 17, 2014
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 78 - 130th General Assembly

(A) There is hereby created within the department of commerce, the Ohio construction industry licensing board, consisting of seventeen residents of this state. The board shall have an administrative section and three specialty sections: a plumbing and hydronics section, an electrical section, and a heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and refrigeration section. The director of commerce shall appoint all members of the board. The director or the director's designee shall serve as a member of the administrative section and the director shall appoint to the section to represent the public, one member who is not a member of any group certified by any section of the board. Each section, other than the administrative section, shall annually elect a member of its section to serve a one-year term on the administrative section.

(B) The plumbing and hydronics section consists of five members, one of whom is a plumbing inspector employed by the department of commerce, a municipal corporation, or a health district, two of whom are plumbing contractors who have no affiliation with any union representing plumbers, and two of whom are plumbing contractors who are signatories to agreements with unions representing plumbers.

The plumbing and hydronics section has primary responsibility for the licensure of plumbing contractors and hydronics contractors.

(C) The electrical section consists of five members, one of whom is an electrical inspector employed by the department of commerce, a municipal corporation, or a county, two of whom are electrical contractors who have no affiliation with any union representing electricians, and two of whom are electrical contractors who are signatories to agreements with unions representing electricians.

The electrical section has primary responsibility for the licensure of electrical contractors.

(D) The heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and refrigeration section consists of five members, one of whom is a heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and refrigeration inspector employed by either the department of commerce or a municipal corporation; two of whom are heating, ventilating, and air conditioning contractors or refrigeration contractors who have no affiliation with any union representing heating, ventilating, and air conditioning tradespersons or refrigeration tradespersons; and two of whom are heating, ventilating, and air conditioning contractors or refrigeration contractors who are signatories to agreements with unions representing heating, ventilating, and air conditioning tradespersons or refrigeration tradespersons.

The heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and refrigeration section has primary responsibility for the licensure of heating, ventilating, and air conditioning contractors and refrigeration contractors.

(E) Within ninety days after July 31, 1992, initial appointments shall be made to the board. Of the initial appointments to the board, two appointments in each section, other than the administrative section, are for terms ending one year after July 31, 1992, and two are for terms ending two years after July 31, 1992. All other appointments to the board are for terms ending three years after July 31, 1992. Thereafter, terms of office are for three years, each term ending on the same day of the same month of the year as did the term that it succeeds. Each member shall hold office from the date of appointment until the end of the term for which the member was appointed. Members may be reappointed. Vacancies shall be filled in the manner provided for original appointments. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which the member's predecessor was appointed shall hold office as a member for the remainder of that term. A member shall continue in office subsequent to the expiration of a term until a successor takes office or until a period of sixty days has elapsed, whichever occurs first.

(F) Before entering upon the discharge of official duties, each member shall take the oath of office required by Section 7 of Article XV, Ohio Constitution.

(G) Each member, except for the director or the director's designee, shall receive a per diem amount fixed pursuant to section 124.15 of the Revised Code when actually attending to matters of the board and for the time spent in necessary travel, and all actual and necessary expenses incurred in the discharge of official duties.

(H) The director of commerce may remove any member of the board the director appoints for malfeasance, misfeasance, or nonfeasance.

(I) Membership on the board and holding any office of the board does not constitute holding a public office or employment within the meaning of any section of the Revised Code, or an interest, either direct or indirect, in a contract or expenditure of money by the state or any municipal corporation, township, special district, school district, county, or other political subdivision. No member or officer of the board is disqualified from holding any public office or employment nor shall the officer or member forfeit any public office or employment by reason of holding a position as an officer or member of the board.

(J) The board, and each section of the board, shall meet only after adequate advance notice of the meeting has been given to each member of the board or section, as appropriate.

Section 4740.03 | Administrative section of board - organization.

• Effective: September 10, 2012
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 487 - 129th General Assembly

(A) The administrative section of the Ohio construction industry licensing board annually shall elect from among its members a chairperson and other officers as the board, by rule, designates. The chairperson shall preside over meetings of the administrative section or designate another member to preside in the chairperson's absence. The administrative section shall hold at least two regular meetings each year, but may meet at additional times as specified by rule, at the call of the chairperson, or upon the request of two or more members. A majority of the members of the administrative section constitutes a quorum for the transaction of all business. The administrative section may not take any action without the concurrence of at least three of its members.

(B)(1) The administrative section shall employ a secretary, who is not a member of the board, to serve at the pleasure of the administrative section, and shall fix the compensation of the secretary. The secretary shall be in the unclassified civil service of the state.

(2) The secretary shall do all of the following:

(a) Keep or set standards for and delegate to another person the keeping of the minutes, books, and other records and files of the board and each section of the board;

(b) Issue all licenses in the name of the board;

(c) Send out all notices, including advance notices of meetings of the board and each section of the board, and attend to all correspondence of the board and each section of the board, under the direction of the administrative section;

(d) Receive and deposit all fees payable pursuant to this chapter into the industrial compliance operating fund created pursuant to section 121.084 of the Revised Code;

(e) Perform all other duties incidental to the office of the secretary or properly assigned to the secretary by the administrative section of the board.

(3) Before entering upon the discharge of the duties of the secretary, the secretary shall file with the treasurer of state a bond in the sum of five thousand dollars, payable to the state, to ensure the faithful performance of the secretary's duties. The board shall pay the premium of the bond in the same manner as it pays other expenditures of the board.

(C) Upon the request of the administrative section of the board, the director of commerce shall supply the board and its sections with personnel, office space, and supplies, as the director determines appropriate. The administrative section of the board shall employ any additional staff it considers necessary and appropriate.

(D) The chairperson of the board or the secretary, or both, as authorized by the board, shall approve all vouchers of the board.

Section 4740.04 | Administrative section of board - powers and duties.

• Effective: September 17, 2014
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 78 - 130th General Assembly

The administrative section of the Ohio construction industry licensing board is responsible for the administration of this chapter and shall do all of the following:

(A) Schedule the contractor examinations each of the other sections of the board directs. Each type of examination shall be held at least four times per year.

(B) Select and contract with one or more persons to do all of the following relative to the examinations:

(1) Prepare, administer, score, and maintain the confidentiality of the examinations;

(2) Be responsible for all the expenses required to fulfill division (B)(1) of this section;

(3) Charge an applicant a fee in an amount the administrative section of the board authorizes for administering the examination.

(C) Issue and renew licenses as follows:

(1) Issue a license to any individual who the appropriate specialty section of the board determines is qualified pursuant to section 4740.06 of the Revised Code to hold a license and has attained, within the twelve months preceding the individual's application for licensure, a score on the examination that the appropriate specialty section authorizes for the licensed trade.

(a) Each license shall include the contractor's name, license number, expiration date, and the name of the contracting company associated with the individual, as applicable.

(b) Each license issued to an individual who holds more than one valid license shall contain the same license number and expiration date as the original license issued to that individual.

(2) Renew licenses for individuals who meet the renewal requirements of section 4740.06 of the Revised Code.

(D) Make an annual written report to the director of commerce on proceedings had by or before the board for the previous year and make an annual statement of all money received and expended by the board during the year;

(E) Keep a record containing the name, address, the date on which the board issues or renews a license to, and the license number of, every heating, ventilating, and air conditioning contractor, refrigeration contractor, electrical contractor, plumbing contractor, and hydronics contractor issued a license pursuant to this chapter;

(F) Regulate a contractor's use and display of a license issued pursuant to this chapter and of any information contained in that license;

(G) Adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code as necessary to properly discharge the administrative section's duties under this chapter. The rules shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(1) Application procedures for examinations;

(2) Specifications for continuing education requirements for license renewal that address all of the following:

(a) A requirement that an individual who holds any number of valid and unexpired licenses accrue a total of ten hours of continuing education courses per year;

(b) Fees the board charges to persons who provide continuing education courses, in an amount of twenty-five dollars annually for each person approved to provide courses, not more than ten dollars plus one dollar per credit hour for each course submitted to a specialty section of the board for approval according to division (F) of section 4740.05 of the Revised Code, and one dollar per credit hour of instruction per attendee;

(c) A provision limiting approval of continuing education courses to one year.

(3) Requirements for criminal records checks of applicants under section 4776.03 of the Revised Code.

(H) Adopt any continuing education curriculum as the other sections of the board establish or approve pursuant to division (F) of section 4740.05 of the Revised Code;

(I) Keep a record of its proceedings and do all things necessary to carry out this chapter.

Section 4740.05 | Duties of other sections.

• Effective: October 9, 2021
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 263 - 133rd General Assembly

Each specialty section of the Ohio construction industry licensing board, other than the administrative section, shall do all of the following:

(A) Adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code that are limited to the following:

(1) Criteria for the section to use in evaluating the qualifications of an individual;

(2) Criteria for the section to use in deciding whether to issue, renew, suspend, revoke, or refuse to issue or renew a license;

(3) The determinations and approvals the section makes under the reciprocity provision of section 4740.08 of the Revised Code;

(4) Criteria for continuing education courses conducted pursuant to this chapter;

(5) A requirement that any training agency seeking approval to provide continuing education courses submit the required information to the appropriate specialty section of the board at least thirty days, but not more than one year, prior to the date on which the course is proposed to be offered;

(6) A prohibition against any training agency providing a continuing education course unless the administrative section of the board approved that training agency not more than one year prior to the date the course is offered;

(7) A list of disqualifying offenses pursuant to sections 9.79, 4740.06, 4740.10, and 4776.10 of the Revised Code.

(B) Investigate allegations in reference to violations of this chapter and the rules adopted pursuant to it that pertain to the specialty section and determine by rule a procedure to conduct investigations and hearings on these allegations;

(C) Maintain a record of its proceedings;

(D) Grant approval to a training agency to offer continuing education courses pursuant to rules the board adopts;

(E) As required, do all things necessary to carry out this chapter;

(F) Establish or approve a continuing education curriculum for license renewal for each class of contractors for which the section has primary responsibility. No curriculum may require more than five hours per year in specific course requirements. No contractor may be required to take more than ten hours per year in continuing education courses. The ten hours shall be the aggregate of hours of continuing education for all licenses the contractor holds.

(G) Design the examination for the type of contractor the specialty section licenses to determine an applicant's competence to perform that type of contracting.

Last updated September 26, 2023 at 9:33 AM

Section 4740.06 | License application.

• Effective: December 29, 2023
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 131 - 134th General Assembly

(A) Any individual who applies for a license shall file a written application with the appropriate specialty section of the Ohio construction industry licensing board, accompanied with the application fee as determined pursuant to section 4740.09 of the Revised Code. The application shall be on the form the section prescribes and verified by the applicant's oath. The applicant shall provide information satisfactory to the section showing that the applicant meets the requirements of division (B), (C) , or (D) of this section.

(B) To qualify to take an examination, an individual shall:

(1) Be at least eighteen years of age;

(2) Be a United States citizen or legal alien who produces valid documentation to demonstrate the individual is a legal resident of the United States;

(3) Either have been a tradesperson in the type of licensed trade for which the application is filed for not less than five years immediately prior to the date the application is filed, be a currently registered engineer in this state with three years of business experience in the construction industry in the trade for which the engineer is applying to take an examination, or have other experience acceptable to the appropriate specialty section of the board;

(4) Maintain contractor's liability insurance in an amount the appropriate specialty section of the board determines and only in one contracting company name;

(5) Not have done any of the following:

(a) Violated this chapter or any rule adopted pursuant to it;

(b) Obtained or renewed a license issued pursuant to this chapter, or any order, ruling, or authorization of the board or a section of the board by fraud, misrepresentation, or deception;

(c) Engaged in fraud, misrepresentation, or deception in the conduct of business.

(C) For an individual who holds an out-of-state occupational license, as defined in section 4796.01 of the Revised Code, that is substantially similar to the license for which the individual is applying under this chapter, to qualify to take an examination, an individual shall:

(1) Provide proof that the individual was issued at least five authorizations for construction, erection, equipment, alteration, or addition of any building by an authority with responsibility for enforcing building regulations in the jurisdiction where the individual holds the out-of-state occupational license;

(2) Provide at least one tax return that reflects income earned for services provided under the individual's out-of-state occupational license;

(3) Provide proof that the contracting company with whom the individual is employed in the jurisdiction where the individual holds the out-of-state occupational license is either of the following:

(a) Licensed as a foreign corporation under section 1703.04 of the Revised Code and has designated an agent in this state in accordance with section 1703.041 of the Revised Code;

(b) Registered as a foreign limited liability company under section 1706.511 of the Revised Code and has designated an agent in this state in accordance with section 1706.09 of the Revised Code.

(4) Meet the requirements described in divisions (B)(1), (2), (4), and (5) of this section.

(D)(1) For an individual who has been actively engaged in activities in the service of the uniformed services, as defined in section 4796.01 of the Revised Code, that are substantially similar to the activities for which the license the individual is applying under this chapter is required, to qualify to take an examination, an individual shall:

(a) Provide proof that the individual was actively engaged in the activities in the service of the uniformed services for at least three of the five years immediately preceding the date the application is submitted;

(b) Meet the requirements described in divisions (B)(1), (2), (4), and (5) of this section.

(2) Each specialty section of the board may adopt a rule in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to waive the requirement that an applicant under division (D)(1)(a) of this section has been actively engaged in the activity for three of the five years immediately preceding the date the application is submitted.

(E) The board secretary, or the secretary's designee, shall approve an application for examination submitted under division (C) or (D) of this section within thirty days after receiving a complete application that meets the requirements of that division.

(F) When an applicant for licensure as a contractor in a licensed trade meets the qualifications set forth in division (B), (C), or (D) of this section and passes the required examination, the appropriate specialty section of the board, within ninety days after the application was filed, shall authorize the administrative section of the board to license the applicant for the type of contractor's license for which the applicant qualifies. A specialty section of the board may withdraw its authorization to the administrative section for issuance of a license for good cause shown, on the condition that notice of that withdrawal is given prior to the administrative section's issuance of the license.

(G)(1) Except as provided in division (G)(2) of this section, if an applicant does not pass the required examination, the applicant may retake the examination not less than sixty days after the applicant's most recent examination.

(2) An applicant who does not pass the required examination after taking the examination five times under this section shall reapply for a license under division (A) of this section before retaking the required examination any subsequent time.

(H) All licenses a contractor holds pursuant to this chapter shall expire annually on the same date, which shall be the expiration date of the original license the contractor holds. An individual holding a valid, unexpired license may renew the license, without reexamination, by submitting an application to the appropriate specialty section of the board not more than ninety calendar days before the expiration of the license, along with the renewal fee the specialty section requires and proof of compliance with the applicable continuing education requirements. The applicant shall provide information in the renewal application satisfactory to demonstrate to the appropriate specialty section that the applicant continues to meet the requirements of divisions (B)(2), (4), and (5) of this section.

Upon application and within one calendar year after a license has expired, a section may waive any of the requirements for renewal of a license upon finding that an applicant substantially meets the renewal requirements or that failure to timely apply for renewal is due to excusable neglect. A section that waives requirements for renewal of a license may impose conditions upon the licensee and assess a late filing fee of not more than double the usual renewal fee. An applicant shall satisfy any condition the section imposes before a license is reissued.

(I) An individual holding a valid license may request the section of the board that authorized that license to place the license in inactive status under conditions, and for a period of time, as that section determines.

(J) Except for the ninety-day extension provided for a license assigned to a contracting company under division (D) of section 4740.07 of the Revised Code, a license held by an individual immediately terminates upon the death of the individual.

(K) Nothing in any license issued by the Ohio construction industry licensing board shall be construed to limit or eliminate any requirement of or any license issued by the Ohio fire marshal.

(L)(1) Subject to division (L)(3) of this section, no specialty section of the board shall adopt, maintain, renew, or enforce any rule, or otherwise preclude in any way, an individual from renewing a license under this chapter due to any past criminal activity or interpretation of moral character. If the specialty section denies an individual a license renewal, the reasons for such denial shall be put in writing.

(2) The section may refuse to issue a license to an applicant because of a conviction of or plea of guilty to an offense if the refusal is in accordance with section 9.79 of the Revised Code.

(3) In considering a renewal of an individual's license, the section shall not consider any conviction or plea of guilty prior to the initial licensing. However, the board may consider a conviction or plea of guilty if it occurred after the individual was initially licensed, or after the most recent license renewal.

(4) The section may grant an individual a conditional license that lasts for one year. After the one-year period has expired, the license is no longer considered conditional, and the individual shall be considered fully licensed.

(M) Notwithstanding divisions (H) and (L) of this section and sections 4740.04 and 4740.05 of the Revised Code, the board may establish rules that amend the continuing education requirements and license renewal schedule for licensees as provided in or adopted pursuant to those sections for the purpose of establishing a compliance incentive program. These rules may include provisions for the creation of the program and the qualifications, continuing education requirements, and renewal schedule for the program.

Last updated December 29, 2023 at 7:45 AM

Section 4740.061 | License applicant to comply with RC Chapter 4776.

• Effective: October 9, 2021
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 263 - 133rd General Assembly

(A) As used in this section, "license" and "applicant for an initial license" have the same meanings as in section 4776.01 of the Revised Code, except that "license" as used in both of those terms refers to the types of authorizations otherwise issued or conferred under this chapter.

(B) In addition to any other eligibility requirement set forth in this chapter, each applicant for an initial license shall comply with sections 4776.01 to 4776.04 of the Revised Code. The Ohio construction industry licensing board shall not grant a license to an applicant for an initial license unless the applicant complies with sections 4776.01 to 4776.04 of the Revised Code.

Last updated October 9, 2021 at 5:08 AM

Section 4740.07 | Licenses issued to individuals.

• Effective: September 17, 2014
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 78 - 130th General Assembly

(A) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the administrative section of the Ohio construction industry licensing board shall issue and renew all licenses under this chapter in the name of the individual who meets the requirements of section 4740.06 of the Revised Code.

(B) All individuals applying for a license under this chapter shall request, at the time of applying for a license that the individual's license be assigned to a contracting company with whom the individual is employed. If the individual is issued a license and meets the requirements of this section for the assignment of the license to a contracting company, the administrative section shall assign the license to and issue a license in the name of the contracting company. The license assigned and issued to a contracting company under this division shall state the name and position of the individual who assigned the license to the contracting company. If a license is not assigned to a contracting company in accordance with this division, the appropriate specialty section of the board shall place that license in inactive status.

(C) During the period a contracting company holds a license issued under division (B) of this section, the administrative section shall not issue another license to the individual who assigned the license to the contracting company for the same type of contracting for which the contracting company utilizes the assigned license.

(D)(1) If a contractor who assigned a license to a contracting company under division (B) of this section ceases to be associated with the contracting company for any reason, including the death of the contractor, the contractor or contracting company immediately shall notify the appropriate specialty section of the board of the date on which the contractor ceased to be associated with the contracting company. Such a license assignation is invalid according to the following, as applicable:

(a) Ninety calendar days after the death of the contractor;

(b) Ninety calendar days after the contractor completes a change of company form;

(c) At an earlier time to which the contracting company and the contractor agree.

(2) If a license assignation made to a contracting company becomes invalid pursuant to division (D)(1) of this section and another individual has assigned a license to the contracting company for the same type of contracting for which the invalidated license assignation had been made, the contracting company may continue to operate under the other assigned license.

(E) Any work a contracting company conducts under the license assigned under this section or displayed under division (F) of section 4740.04 of the Revised Code is deemed to be conducted under the personal supervision of the individual named in the license and any violation of any term of the license is deemed to have been committed by the individual named in the license.

(F) No individual who assigns a license to a contracting company shall assign a license for the same type of contracting to another contracting company until the original license assignation is invalid pursuant to division (D) of this section.

(G) Any individual who assigns a license to a contracting company under this section shall be actively engaged in business as the type of contractor for which the license is issued and be readily available for consultation with the contracting company to which the license is assigned.

(H) No license assigned under this section shall be assigned to more than one contracting company at a time.

Section 4740.08 | Reciprocity.

• Effective: December 29, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

When a written reciprocity agreement between the states exists, and an individual who is registered, licensed, or certified in another state applies to the appropriate specialty section of the Ohio construction industry licensing board submits a copy of the reciprocity agreement, and pays the licensure fee determined pursuant to section 4740.09 of the Revised Code, the appropriate specialty section of the board shall authorize the administrative section to issue, without examination, a license to that individual if the appropriate specialty section of the board determines, pursuant to rules it adopts, that the requirements for registration, licensure, or certification under the laws of the other state are substantially equal to the requirements for licensure in this state and that the other state extends similar reciprocity to persons licensed under this chapter. The appropriate specialty section of the board may withdraw its authorization to the administrative section for issuance of a license for good cause prior to the administrative section's issuance of the license.

An individual who is issued a license under this section is not required to obtain a license under section 4740.06 of the Revised Code.

Last updated December 29, 2023 at 5:02 AM

Section 4740.09 | Determination of fees.

• Effective: September 17, 2014
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 78 - 130th General Assembly

The fees for licenses and their renewal, including late fees, subject to the approval of the controlling board, shall be determined by each respective specialty section of the Ohio construction industry licensing board. Each respective specialty section of the board may increase these fees, provided that no increase exceeds fifty per cent of the lowest fee determined by that section of the board during the three-year period immediately preceding an increase, and further provided that no increase is made more than once a year.

Section 4740.10 | Disciplinary actions.

• Effective: October 9, 2021
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 263 - 133rd General Assembly

(A) A specialty section of the Ohio construction industry licensing board may impose any of the following, or any combination of the following, disciplinary actions against an applicant or license holder for committing an act listed in division (B) of this section:

(1) Suspend, revoke, or refuse to issue any license;

(2) Require additional continuing education hours;

(3) Issue a fine.

(B)(1) An applicant or licensee shall be subject to disciplinary action as prescribed under division (A) of this section for any of the following:

(a) Having been convicted of or pleading guilty to a crime of moral turpitude or disqualifying offense as those terms are defined in section 4776.10 of the Revised Code;

(b) Violating any provision of this chapter;

(c) Violating any rule adopted pursuant to this chapter;

(d) Obtaining or attempting to obtain a license or a renewal of such license pursuant to this chapter by means of fraud, deception, or misrepresentation;

(e) Obtaining an order, ruling, or authorization from any section of the board by means of fraud or misrepresentation;

(f) Engaging in fraud, misrepresentation, or deception in the conduct of business;

(g) Transferring the person's license to another person without the approval of the appropriate specialty section;

(h)(i) Allowing the person's license to be used by an unlicensed person or entity;

(ii) Division (B)(1)(h)(i) of this section does not apply to a contracting company that has been assigned a license under section 4740.07 of the Revised Code.

(i) Failing to comply with a disciplinary action imposed by the appropriate specialty section;

(j) Failing to maintain insurance throughout the license year, unless the license has properly been placed in inactive status under section 4740.06 of the Revised Code.

(2) The appropriate specialty section of the board may take disciplinary action against an applicant or license holder as prescribed under division (A) of this section upon receiving notice that a municipal corporation or any other governmental agency has suspended or revoked the local contracting license or registration of an individual or contracting company that also holds a license pursuant to this chapter.

(C) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in divisions (A) and (B) of this section, a specialty section shall not refuse to issue a license to an applicant because of a conviction of or plea of guilty to an offense unless the refusal is in accordance with section 9.79 of the Revised Code.

(D) The appropriate specialty sections shall direct the administrative section to refuse to issue any license to an applicant upon a finding by the appropriate specialty section that the applicant has done either of the following:

(1) Had another person take the required examination for the applicant;

(2) Failed to pass the required examination.

(E) If an individual fails to request a hearing within thirty days after the date a specialty section, in accordance with section 119.07 of the Revised Code, notifies the individual of the board's intent to impose a disciplinary action against the individual under division (A) of this section, the specialty section, by a majority vote of a quorum of the section members, may impose the action against the individual without holding an adjudication hearing.

Last updated October 9, 2021 at 5:08 AM

Section 4740.101 | Effect of child support default on certificate.

• Effective: March 30, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 487 - 126th General Assembly

On receipt of a notice pursuant to section 3123.43 of the Revised Code, the construction industry licensing board shall comply with sections 3123.41 to 3123.50 of the Revised Code and any applicable rules adopted under section 3123.63 of the Revised Code with respect to a license issued pursuant to this chapter.

Section 4740.11 | Depositing receipts.

• Effective: September 10, 2012
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 487 - 129th General Assembly

The Ohio construction industry licensing board and its sections shall deposit all receipts and fines collected under this chapter into the state treasury to the credit of the industrial compliance operating fund created in section 121.084 of the Revised Code.

Section 4740.12 | Local regulation - regulation by other state agencies.

• Effective: March 30, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 487 - 126th General Assembly

(A) No political subdivision, district, or agency of the state may adopt an ordinance or rule that requires contractor registration and the assessment of a registration or license fee unless that ordinance or rule also requires any contractor who registers and pays the registration or license fee to be licensed in the contractor's trade pursuant to this chapter.

(B) Except as provided in division (A) of this section, nothing in this chapter shall be construed to limit the operation of any statute or rule of this state or any ordinance or rule of any political subdivision, district, or agency of the state that does either of the following:

(1) Regulates the installation, repair, maintenance, or alteration of plumbing systems, hydronics systems, electrical systems, heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems, or refrigeration systems;

(2) Requires the registration and assessment of a registration or license fee of tradespersons who perform heating, ventilating, and air conditioning, refrigeration, electrical, plumbing, or hydronics construction, improvement, renovation, repair, or maintenance.

Section 4740.13 | Contractor operating without license.

• Effective: September 17, 2014
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 78 - 130th General Assembly

(A) No person shall act as or claim to be a type of contractor that this chapter licenses unless that person holds or has been assigned a license issued pursuant to this chapter for the type of contractor that person is acting as or claiming to be.

(B) Upon the request of the appropriate specialty section of the Ohio construction industry licensing board, the attorney general may bring a civil action for appropriate relief, including but not limited to a temporary restraining order or permanent injunction in the court of common pleas of the county where the unlicensed person resides or is acting as or claiming to be a licensed contractor.

(C) A contractor licensed under this chapter may install, service, and maintain the related or interfaced control wiring for equipment and devices related to their specific license, on the condition that the control wiring is less than twenty-five volts.

(D) A person is not an electrical contractor subject to licensure under this chapter for work that is limited to the construction, improvement, renovation, repair, testing, or maintenance of the following systems using less than fifty volts of electricity: fire alarm or burglar alarm, cabling, tele-data sound, communication, and landscape lighting and irrigation.

Section 4740.131 | Lease of employees.

• Effective: March 24, 2021
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 201 - 133rd General Assembly

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit a contractor from leasing, on a temporary or permanent basis, an employee from a professional employer organization, as defined by section 4125.01 of the Revised Code, from an alternate employer organization, as defined by section 4133.01 of the Revised Code, or from a temporary agency to perform work under the direct supervision of the contractor.

Section 4740.14 | Residential construction advisory committee - recommendation of residential building code.

• Effective: December 19, 2016
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 471 - 131st General Assembly

(A) There is hereby created within the department of commerce the residential construction advisory committee consisting of nine persons the director of commerce appoints. The advisory committee shall be made up of the following members:

(1) Three shall be general contractors who have recognized ability and experience in the construction of residential buildings.

(2) Two shall be building officials who have experience administering and enforcing a residential building code.

(3) One, chosen from a list of three names the Ohio fire chief's association submits, shall be from the fire service certified as a fire safety inspector who has at least ten years of experience enforcing fire or building codes.

(4) One shall be a residential contractor who has recognized ability and experience in the remodeling and construction of residential buildings.

(5) One shall be an architect registered pursuant to Chapter 4703. of the Revised Code, with recognized ability and experience in the architecture of residential buildings.

(6) One, chosen from a list of three names the Ohio municipal league submits to the director, shall be a mayor of a municipal corporation in which the Ohio residential building code is being enforced in the municipal corporation by a certified building department.

(B) Terms of office shall be for three years, with each term ending on the date three years after the date of appointment. Each member shall hold office from the date of appointment until the end of the term for which the member was appointed. Vacancies shall be filled in the manner provided for initial appointments. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy in an unexpired term shall hold office for the remainder of that term.

(C) The advisory committee shall do all of the following:

(1) Recommend to the board of building standards a building code for residential buildings. The committee shall recommend a code that it may model on a residential building code a national model code organization issues, with adaptations necessary to implement the code in this state. If the board of building standards decides not to adopt a code the committee recommends, the committee shall revise the code and resubmit it until the board adopts a code the committee recommends as the state residential building code;

(2) Advise the board regarding the establishment of standards for certification of building officials who enforce the state residential building code;

(3) Assist the board in providing information and guidance to residential contractors and building officials who enforce the state residential building code;

(4) Advise the board regarding the interpretation of the state residential building code;

(5) Provide other assistance the committee considers necessary;

(6) Provide the board with a written report of the committee's findings for each consideration required by division (D) of this section.

(D) The committee shall not make its recommendation to the board pursuant to divisions (C)(1), (2), and (4) of this section until the advisory committee has considered all of the following:

(1) The impact that the state residential building code may have upon the health, safety, and welfare of the public;

(2) The economic reasonableness of the residential building code;

(3) The technical feasibility of the residential building code;

(4) The financial impact that the residential building code may have on the public's ability to purchase affordable housing.

(E) The advisory committee may provide the board with any rule the committee recommends to update or amend the state residential building code or any rule that the committee recommends to update or amend the state residential building code after receiving a petition described in division (A)(2) of section 3781.12 of the Revised Code.

(F) Members of the advisory committee shall receive no salary for the performance of their duties as members, but shall receive their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as members of the advisory committee and shall receive a per diem for each day in attendance at an official meeting of the committee, to be paid from the industrial compliance operating fund in the state treasury, using fees collected in connection with residential buildings pursuant to division (F)(2) of section 3781.102 of the Revised Code and deposited in that fund.

(G) The advisory committee is not subject to sections 101.82 to 101.87 of the Revised Code.

(H) Serving as a member of the residential construction advisory committee does not constitute holding a public office or position of employment under the laws of this state and service on the committee does not constitute grounds for removing a committee member from a public office or position of employment.

Section 4740.15 | Fee payment instrument returned NSF.

• Effective: March 30, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 487 - 126th General Assembly

If a check or other draft instrument used to pay any fee required by this chapter is returned as unpaid for insufficient funds or any other reason, the board secretary shall notify the licensee that the check or other draft instrument was returned and that the licensee's license will be canceled unless the licensee, within fifteen days after the mailing of the notice, submits the fee and a penalty in an amount the board establishes by rules it adopts pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code. If the licensee does not submit the fee and the penalty within the time specified, or if any check or other draft instrument used to pay either the fee or the penalty is returned to the board secretary for insufficient funds or any other reason, the license shall be canceled immediately without a hearing and the licensee shall cease activity as a licensee under this chapter until both the fee and the penalty have been paid.

Section 4740.16 | Investigation of RC 4740.13 violations - civil penalty.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) An investigator appointed by the director of commerce, on behalf of the appropriate specialty section of the Ohio construction industry licensing board may investigate any person who allegedly has violated section 4740.13 of the Revised Code. If, after an investigation pursuant to section 4740.05 of the Revised Code, the appropriate specialty section determines that reasonable evidence exists that a person has violated section 4740.13 of the Revised Code, the appropriate specialty section shall serve a written notice to that person in the same manner as prescribed in sections 119.05 and 119.07 of the Revised Code for licensees.

(B) The appropriate specialty section shall hold a hearing regarding the alleged violation in the same manner prescribed for an adjudication hearing under section 119.09 of the Revised Code. If the appropriate specialty section, after the hearing, determines a violation has occurred, the appropriate specialty section, upon an affirmative vote of a majority of its members, may impose a fine on the person, not exceeding one thousand dollars per violation per day and may file a complaint against the person with the appropriate local prosecutor for criminal prosecution. The appropriate specialty section's determination is an order that the person may appeal in accordance with section 119.12 of the Revised Code.

(C) If the appropriate specialty section assesses a person a civil penalty for a violation of section 4740.13 of the Revised Code and the person fails to pay that civil penalty within the time period prescribed by the appropriate specialty section, the appropriate specialty section shall forward to the attorney general the name of the person and the amount of the civil penalty for the purpose of collecting that civil penalty. In addition to the civil penalty assessed pursuant to this section, the person also shall pay any fee assessed by the attorney general for collection of the civil penalty.

(D) If a person fails to request a hearing within thirty days after the date the appropriate specialty section, in accordance with section 119.07 of the Revised Code, notifies the person of the section's intent to act against the person under division (A) of this section, the section, by majority vote of a quorum of the section members, may take the action against a person without holding an adjudication hearing.

Last updated October 4, 2023 at 11:56 AM

Section 4740.17 | Compliance with law regarding sanctions for human trafficking.

• Effective: March 22, 2013
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 247 - 129th General Assembly

The Ohio construction industry licensing board shall comply with section 4776.20 of the Revised Code.

Section 4740.99 | Penalty for representation as contractor without required license.

• Effective: September 16, 2004
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 179 - 125th General Assembly

Whoever violates division (A) of section 4740.13 of the Revised Code is guilty of a minor misdemeanor on the first violation and a misdemeanor of the fourth degree on subsequent violations.