Plumbing Contractor Permit Requirements in Columbus, OH

1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

   Required if you have employees or operate as an LLC/corporation. Free from the IRS.

   Official government source

   Free·Immediate (online application)

   Free

   Immediate (online application)

1. Ohio Plumbing Contractor License (OCILB)

   Ohio does issue a statewide plumbing contractor license: the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB) licenses five trades - plumbing, electrical, HVAC, hydronics and refrigeration (ORC 4740.01) - and no one may act as or hold themselves out to be a plumbing contractor without it (ORC 4740.13). It is a single contractor license, not tiered apprentice/journeyman/master licenses; applicants must show five years as a tradesperson in the trade (or an equivalent qualifying path) and pass the required examination (ORC 4740.06). A municipality may additionally require local registration and charge a fee, but only of contractors who already hold the state license (ORC 4740.12).

   Official government source

   Fees are set by the OCILB plumbing specialty section rather than by statute (ORC 4740.09) - confirm current application, examination and renewal fees with OCILB·4–8 weeks

   Fees are set by the OCILB plumbing specialty section rather than by statute (ORC 4740.09) - confirm current application, examination and renewal fees with OCILB

   4–8 weeks

2. Ohio Business Entity Registration (if applicable)

   LLCs and corporations must register with the Ohio Secretary of State.

   Official government source

   $99 (LLC filing fee)·3–5 business days (online filing)

   $99 (LLC filing fee)

   3–5 business days (online filing)

1. City of Columbus Plumbing Contractor License

   Under Columbus City Code Chapter 4114 the Department of Building and Zoning Services licenses and registers contractors working in the city, and a license is required before you can pull permits. To register as a plumbing contractor you must first hold the State of Ohio (OCILB) license in the plumbing trade — that exam is administered by the state's approved testing vendor, not by Columbus — and then apply to the city. Because of the state licensure requirement, Columbus does not require board approval for OCILB contractors.

   Official government source

   Set by the current BZS Fee Schedule — the city does not publish a flat amount on the contractor licensing page; confirm the current fee on the Combined Development Related Fee Schedule or with Building and Zoning Services·2–4 weeks (includes exam if needed)

   Set by the current BZS Fee Schedule — the city does not publish a flat amount on the contractor licensing page; confirm the current fee on the Combined Development Related Fee Schedule or with Building and Zoning Services

   2–4 weeks (includes exam if needed)

2. Columbus Business License / Vendor's License

   Columbus does not issue a general business license. A contractor who incorporates materials into real property is the consumer of those materials and pays Ohio sales/use tax on the purchase rather than collecting it from the customer, so no vendor's license is needed for that work. A vendor's license (from the county auditor, ORC 5739.17) is required only if you make retail sales or provide services listed as taxable in ORC 5739.01(B)(3). Columbus does separately require trade contractor licensing/registration through Building and Zoning Services (Columbus City Code Ch. 4114).

   Official government source

   $50 (one-time, per fixed place of business)·1–3 days

   $50 (one-time, per fixed place of business)

   1–3 days

Official Sources

• City of Columbus Department of Building and Zoning Services
• Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board

Related Guides