To hold an Oregon construction contractor license, you must register with the Construction Contractors Board (CCB) and carry a surety bond, general liability insurance at set minimums, and workers compensation if your business has any employees. Workers comp is not required for a solo, no-employee contractor, but it becomes part of keeping your license the moment you hire.
Who this is for: Oregon contractors and tradespeople getting or renewing a CCB license and sorting out the insurance pieces.
The short version
- Three things are required to license. A surety bond, general liability insurance, and workers comp if you have employees.
- The CCB sets the amounts. Bond and liability minimums vary by license type, from residential to commercial.
- Workers comp is employee-triggered. A no-employee contractor can license without it; one subject worker makes it mandatory.
- Landscape work is a separate board. Landscape contractors license through the Landscape Contractors Board, not the CCB.
- A bond is not insurance. The surety bond protects your customers; it does not cover your own workers or your liability.
What an Oregon CCB license requires
The exact bond and liability amounts depend on your license class. These are typical figures, which the CCB adjusts, so confirm the current numbers.
| Requirement | Typical amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Surety bond, residential | About $15,000 to $25,000 | Amount set by license endorsement |
| Surety bond, commercial | About $25,000 to $80,000 | Higher for larger commercial general contractors |
| General liability, residential | $100,000 to $500,000 per occurrence | Varies from limited to general contractor |
| General liability, commercial | $1,000,000 to $2,000,000 aggregate | Level 2 to Level 1 general contractors |
| Workers compensation | Required if you have employees | Not required for a solo, no-employee contractor |
How workers comp fits the license
The CCB will license a genuine no-employee contractor without workers comp, but the exemption is fragile: the day you bring on a subject worker, coverage becomes mandatory and is effectively a condition of keeping your license in good standing. Owners in the trades should also watch the construction owner rules, because a partner or a multi-member LLC member doing construction work is often treated as a covered worker even if owners in other industries would be left out. If you plan to hire, line up workers comp before the first worker starts, not after, so your license and your coverage stay in step.
A Bend example
Illustrative, not a quote. A Bend electrician gets a CCB license as a solo operator with a bond and general liability, and no workers comp, because he has no employees. When he lands a bigger job and hires an apprentice, that apprentice is a subject worker, so he adds workers comp before the apprentice's first day to stay compliant and keep his license clean. We line up the bond, liability, and comp together so nothing lapses. See our workers comp for electricians page.
Real questions Oregon owners ask
What insurance do I need for an Oregon contractor license?
A surety bond, general liability insurance at the CCB's set minimums, and workers compensation if your business has any employees. A solo, no-employee contractor can license without workers comp.
Do I need workers comp for a CCB license in Oregon?
Only if you have employees. The CCB will license a genuine no-employee contractor without it, but one subject worker makes coverage mandatory and effectively a condition of keeping the license.
How much is the contractor bond in Oregon?
It depends on the license class. Residential bonds typically run about $15,000 to $25,000, and commercial bonds run higher, roughly $25,000 to $80,000. Confirm the current amount with the CCB.
How much general liability do I need for an Oregon license?
Residential classes commonly require $100,000 to $500,000 per occurrence, and commercial classes $1,000,000 to $2,000,000 aggregate, depending on the license level. The CCB sets and updates these figures.
Is a surety bond the same as insurance?
No. A surety bond protects your customers if you fail to meet your obligations; it does not cover your own workers or your liability. That is why the CCB also requires general liability and, with employees, workers comp.
Do landscape contractors use the same license in Oregon?
No. Landscape contractors license through the Landscape Contractors Board, a separate board from the CCB, though the pattern of a bond, liability, and workers comp with employees is similar.
Does hiring one worker change my license obligations?
Yes. Once you employ a subject worker, workers comp becomes mandatory, and staying uninsured puts your license and your compliance at risk. Add coverage before the first worker starts.
Why Oregon owners choose Morrow
- We shop the right market for you. Oregon lets you choose: you can buy workers comp from SAIF, the state-chartered fund, or from any of the roughly 450 private insurers licensed here, and we compare them to find your best rate. If your work is hard to place and no insurer will take you, a guaranteed backstop run by the rating bureau NCCI still covers you.
- We catch pricing mistakes. Your price depends heavily on the category your work falls into for pricing (the class code). Put people in the wrong category and you overpay for years. We review your payroll and classifications before you buy.
- Proof of coverage, fast. Need a certificate (proof of coverage) for a general contractor or a landlord before Monday? We turn those around the same business day for most carriers.
- We help lower the score that drives your price. Insurers give you a score based on your past claims that raises or lowers your cost (the experience modification rate). We review it each year, flag errors, and connect you with return-to-work and safety resources that bring it down.
- Real people when a claim happens. When someone gets hurt, we stay involved through the life of the claim, not just at renewal.
Related Oregon guides
Every Oregon business is set up a little differently. These companion guides answer the same question for other situations, plus the national explainers behind the terms used here.
- Business insurance in Oregon (start here)
- Workers comp: the owner's overview
- I own an LLC: do I need workers comp?
- I'm a sole proprietor: do I need workers comp?
- I own a corporation (C-corp or S-corp): do I need it?
- We're a partnership: do we need workers comp?
- We're a nonprofit: do we need workers comp?
- My workers are 1099: do I still need it?
- Only part-time or seasonal staff: do I need it?
- I only employ family: do I need workers comp?
- Remote or out-of-state staff: do I need coverage?
- What happens if I don't carry workers comp?
- How much does workers comp cost?
- How do I get workers comp (even if turned down)?
- Workers compensation insurance, explained
- What workers comp costs (national guide)
- Hiring your first employee: what changes
- What workers comp costs (national guide)
- Oregon electrician workers comp
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Oregon rules and penalty amounts can change, so verify current requirements with the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services or a licensed advisor before you rely on them. Last updated: July 2026.