350 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. Q: What is the minimum age requirement to obtain a home
improvement contractor license in Ohio? ANSWER 18 years old
2. Q: How long is an Ohio home improvement contractor license valid?
ANSWER 3 years
3. Q: What is the minimum experience requirement for a home
improvement contractor license in Ohio? ANSWER 2 years of verifiable
experience in the home improvement contracting business
4. Q: What is the maximum fine for contracting without a license in Ohio?
ANSWER $5,000 per violation
5. Q: Who administers the home improvement contractor licensing
program in Ohio? ANSWER Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of
Industrial Compliance and Labor
6. Q: What is the bond requirement for Ohio home improvement
contractors? ANSWER $25,000 surety bond
7. Q: How many days does a homeowner have to cancel a home
improvement contract in Ohio? ANSWER 3 business days (right of
rescission)
8. Q: What is the minimum insurance coverage required for liability
insurance? ANSWER $100,000 per occurrence
9. Q: Can a home improvement contractor also perform electrical work
without an electrical license? ANSWER No, specialized trades require
separate licensing
10. Q: What constitutes "home improvement" under Ohio law? ANSWER
Any addition, alteration, conversion, modernization, repair, or improvement to
residential property
,11. Q: Who is exempt from home improvement contractor licensing
requirements? ANSWER Licensed architects, engineers, and specialty
contractors working within their license scope
12. Q: What is the penalty for failing to provide required contract
disclosures? ANSWER Civil penalties up to $1,000 per violation
13. Q: How long must contractors maintain project records? ANSWER 3
years after completion
14. Q: What is the minimum contract amount that requires a written
contract? ANSWER $500
15. Q: Can contractors request payment before work begins? ANSWER
Limited advance payments are allowed, but full payment upfront is prohibited
16. Q: What information must be included in every home improvement
contract? ANSWER Contractor license number, total cost, detailed
description of work, start/completion dates
17. Q: Who can file complaints against licensed contractors? ANSWER
Any person, including homeowners, subcontractors, and suppliers
18. Q: What is the time limit for filing a complaint against a contractor?
ANSWER 2 years from the date of completion or abandonment of work
19. Q: Can contractors advertise services they are not licensed to perform?
ANSWER No, this is a violation of licensing law
20. Q: What happens to a contractor's license if they file for bankruptcy?
ANSWER The license may be suspended or revoked depending on
circumstances
21. Q: Are door-to-door sales subject to special regulations? ANSWER
Yes, extended cancellation periods and additional disclosure requirements apply
22. Q: What is the maximum down payment a contractor can request?
ANSWER Generally 10% or $1,000, whichever is less
23. Q: Must contractors provide warranty information in contracts?
ANSWER Yes, warranty terms must be clearly stated in writing
24. Q: Can contractors use mechanic's lien rights in Ohio? ANSWER Yes,
but must follow proper notice and filing procedures
25. Q: What constitutes abandonment of a project? ANSWER Failure to
perform work for 30 consecutive days without justification
, 26. Q: Are there special rules for disaster-related contracting? ANSWER
Yes, enhanced penalties and consumer protections apply during declared
emergencies
27. Q: Can unlicensed individuals work for licensed contractors?
ANSWER Yes, as employees under direct supervision, but not as independent
contractors
28. Q: What is required for license renewal? ANSWER Continuing
education, fee payment, and maintaining insurance and bonding
29. Q: How many hours of continuing education are required for renewal?
ANSWER 6 hours per 3-year license period
30. Q: Can contractors subcontract work to unlicensed entities? ANSWER
Only for work that doesn't require licensing (e.g., material supply)
31. Q: What is the statute of limitations for breach of home improvement
contract? ANSWER 6 years for written contracts, 4 years for oral contracts
32. Q: Are there restrictions on contract modification? ANSWER Yes,
modifications must be in writing and signed by both parties
33. Q: What constitutes consumer fraud in home improvement
contracting? ANSWER Misrepresentation, false advertising, or deceptive
practices
34. Q: Can contractors waive homeowners' legal rights in contracts?
ANSWER No, certain consumer protection rights cannot be waived
35. Q: What is the purpose of the Ohio Home Improvement Contractor
Recovery Fund? ANSWER To compensate consumers for losses due to
contractor violations
36. Q: How is the Recovery Fund financed? ANSWER Through licensing
fees and contractor contributions
37. Q: What is the maximum Recovery Fund claim amount? ANSWER
$50,000 per claimant, $100,000 per contractor license period
38. Q: Can contractors be held liable for subcontractor violations?
ANSWER Yes, general contractors are responsible for ensuring subcontractor
compliance
39. Q: What triggers automatic license suspension? ANSWER Failure to
maintain required insurance or bonding
1. Q: What is the minimum age requirement to obtain a home
improvement contractor license in Ohio? ANSWER 18 years old
2. Q: How long is an Ohio home improvement contractor license valid?
ANSWER 3 years
3. Q: What is the minimum experience requirement for a home
improvement contractor license in Ohio? ANSWER 2 years of verifiable
experience in the home improvement contracting business
4. Q: What is the maximum fine for contracting without a license in Ohio?
ANSWER $5,000 per violation
5. Q: Who administers the home improvement contractor licensing
program in Ohio? ANSWER Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of
Industrial Compliance and Labor
6. Q: What is the bond requirement for Ohio home improvement
contractors? ANSWER $25,000 surety bond
7. Q: How many days does a homeowner have to cancel a home
improvement contract in Ohio? ANSWER 3 business days (right of
rescission)
8. Q: What is the minimum insurance coverage required for liability
insurance? ANSWER $100,000 per occurrence
9. Q: Can a home improvement contractor also perform electrical work
without an electrical license? ANSWER No, specialized trades require
separate licensing
10. Q: What constitutes "home improvement" under Ohio law? ANSWER
Any addition, alteration, conversion, modernization, repair, or improvement to
residential property
,11. Q: Who is exempt from home improvement contractor licensing
requirements? ANSWER Licensed architects, engineers, and specialty
contractors working within their license scope
12. Q: What is the penalty for failing to provide required contract
disclosures? ANSWER Civil penalties up to $1,000 per violation
13. Q: How long must contractors maintain project records? ANSWER 3
years after completion
14. Q: What is the minimum contract amount that requires a written
contract? ANSWER $500
15. Q: Can contractors request payment before work begins? ANSWER
Limited advance payments are allowed, but full payment upfront is prohibited
16. Q: What information must be included in every home improvement
contract? ANSWER Contractor license number, total cost, detailed
description of work, start/completion dates
17. Q: Who can file complaints against licensed contractors? ANSWER
Any person, including homeowners, subcontractors, and suppliers
18. Q: What is the time limit for filing a complaint against a contractor?
ANSWER 2 years from the date of completion or abandonment of work
19. Q: Can contractors advertise services they are not licensed to perform?
ANSWER No, this is a violation of licensing law
20. Q: What happens to a contractor's license if they file for bankruptcy?
ANSWER The license may be suspended or revoked depending on
circumstances
21. Q: Are door-to-door sales subject to special regulations? ANSWER
Yes, extended cancellation periods and additional disclosure requirements apply
22. Q: What is the maximum down payment a contractor can request?
ANSWER Generally 10% or $1,000, whichever is less
23. Q: Must contractors provide warranty information in contracts?
ANSWER Yes, warranty terms must be clearly stated in writing
24. Q: Can contractors use mechanic's lien rights in Ohio? ANSWER Yes,
but must follow proper notice and filing procedures
25. Q: What constitutes abandonment of a project? ANSWER Failure to
perform work for 30 consecutive days without justification
, 26. Q: Are there special rules for disaster-related contracting? ANSWER
Yes, enhanced penalties and consumer protections apply during declared
emergencies
27. Q: Can unlicensed individuals work for licensed contractors?
ANSWER Yes, as employees under direct supervision, but not as independent
contractors
28. Q: What is required for license renewal? ANSWER Continuing
education, fee payment, and maintaining insurance and bonding
29. Q: How many hours of continuing education are required for renewal?
ANSWER 6 hours per 3-year license period
30. Q: Can contractors subcontract work to unlicensed entities? ANSWER
Only for work that doesn't require licensing (e.g., material supply)
31. Q: What is the statute of limitations for breach of home improvement
contract? ANSWER 6 years for written contracts, 4 years for oral contracts
32. Q: Are there restrictions on contract modification? ANSWER Yes,
modifications must be in writing and signed by both parties
33. Q: What constitutes consumer fraud in home improvement
contracting? ANSWER Misrepresentation, false advertising, or deceptive
practices
34. Q: Can contractors waive homeowners' legal rights in contracts?
ANSWER No, certain consumer protection rights cannot be waived
35. Q: What is the purpose of the Ohio Home Improvement Contractor
Recovery Fund? ANSWER To compensate consumers for losses due to
contractor violations
36. Q: How is the Recovery Fund financed? ANSWER Through licensing
fees and contractor contributions
37. Q: What is the maximum Recovery Fund claim amount? ANSWER
$50,000 per claimant, $100,000 per contractor license period
38. Q: Can contractors be held liable for subcontractor violations?
ANSWER Yes, general contractors are responsible for ensuring subcontractor
compliance
39. Q: What triggers automatic license suspension? ANSWER Failure to
maintain required insurance or bonding
