Hiring a Bathroom Contractor in Portland, OR

Hiring a bathroom contractor in Portland follows Oregon rules, which differ from Washington's in vocabulary and in detail. Oregon "licenses" contractors through the Construction Contractors Board, requires specific notices and contract terms on residential jobs, and licenses plumbers and electricians separately. This page walks through the checks in the order you will meet them. It is general information, not legal advice.

The Portland vetting sequence at a glance

Step 1: look up the CCB license

Under ORS 701.021, anyone who bids on or does contractor work in Oregon must hold a current CCB license, and work on a residential structure needs a residential endorsement. Search the CCB's license search by license number, which the CCB calls the most accurate method; the search also shows complaints and disciplinary actions from the past 10 years and whether the contractor carries workers' compensation. If a name search finds nothing, the CCB cautions not to assume the contractor is unlicensed, because spelling varies. Oregon contractors must show their CCB number on bids, contracts and advertising.

The CCB itself points out that licensing "is not a guarantee of the contractor's work", and that Oregon does not require construction training for most trades other than plumbers and electricians. Check references and look at bathrooms the contractor has built.

Step 2: understand the bond and insurance

These are the ORS 701.081 amounts in force as of October 2026. The CCB says the bond provides "a limited amount of financial security" and is "not intended to be a safety net", and that liability insurance covers property damage and bodily injury, not contract disputes or poor workmanship. Neither replaces a good contract.

Step 3: plumbing and electrical licenses

A bathroom remodel almost always involves plumbing, and usually electrical. Oregon's Building Codes Division says that for electrical or plumbing work, contractors need a CCB license and the appropriate BCD electrical or plumbing contractor's license. Under ORS 447.040 a person may not work as a plumbing contractor without that license, and ORS 693.030 requires a journeyman plumber license to work in the trade; ORS 479.620 sets the equivalent rules for electrical contractors and supervising electricians. Ask who will do the plumbing and electrical work and check both the CCB and BCD licenses before work begins.

Step 4: lead-safe licensing for older homes

Under ORS 701.510, a contractor may not perform lead-based paint renovation in Oregon without a certified lead-based paint renovation contractor license. That applies to work in target housing, which generally means homes built before 1978. Contractors must give you EPA's "The Lead-Safe Certified Guide to Renovate Right" before renovating. The CCB license search has a separate "Lead Safe Contractors" search.

Step 5: expect three notices before you sign

When the contract exceeds $2,000, the contractor who contracts with you must deliver three notices on or before the date the contract is entered into:

1. The Consumer Protection Notice (ORS 701.330(1)).
2. The Notice of Procedure, which explains the steps you must take before suing over construction defects (ORS 701.330(2)).
3. The Information Notice to Owner About Construction Liens (ORS 87.093).

A contractor that fails to deliver the lien notice may not claim a lien for that contract, and the CCB can impose a civil penalty of up to $5,000. Keep your signed copies.

Step 6: a written contract with the required terms

Under ORS 701.305, a contractor may not do residential work for an owner without a written contract when the price exceeds $2,000. OAR 812-012-0110 requires the contract or an addendum to include the contractor's name, address, phone and CCB number; your name and address; the job address; a description of the work; the price and payment terms; and an explanation of your rights, including the right to file a CCB complaint. A contract may require mediation or arbitration, but under ORS 701.315 it may not limit your right to complain to the CCB. For a bathroom, also make sure the contract lists the specific materials or allowances, the permits and who obtains them, and how changes are approved. Under ORS 701.310 you may cancel an initial written contract by written notice before midnight at the end of the next business day, with the exceptions noted in the FAQ.

Step 7: pay in step with the work and collect lien releases

Oregon sets no statutory cap on a remodeling deposit, but the CCB can place a contractor on probation if it takes more than 50 percent of the contract price as a deposit and then fails to perform diligently (ORS 701.312). The CCB's advice is plain: never pay in full before the work is complete, and do not pay in cash. Write checks to the business name on the contract. Suppliers and subcontractors hired by your contractor can lien your home if they are not paid, so ask for lien waivers or releases before each progress payment, or use joint checks.

Step 8: settle who pulls the Portland permits

Portland Permitting & Development says you will likely need one or more permits if you move or add plumbing fixtures, move or add outlets, lights or fans, change walls or openings, or change load-bearing framing. A remodel that needs a building permit uses the standard bathroom permit process with floor and structural plans; the Simple Bathroom Program is only for new or legalized bathrooms. The CCB notes that only licensed contractors can get the required building permits, and trade subcontractors must sign their own trade permit applications. Put in the contract who applies for each permit and who pays the fees. The fees themselves are on bathroom remodel cost in Portland.

If something goes wrong

A homeowner may file a CCB complaint against a licensed contractor for negligent work, improper work or breach of contract, generally within one year after the work was substantially completed. Send the contractor 30 days' pre-complaint notice by certified mail first. The CCB tries to mediate, and the residential complaint fee is $50 with a waiver available. If the dispute is not settled, recovery from the bond requires a court judgment, or an arbitration decision that a court has reduced to a final judgment.

How JDI fits in Portland

JDI Construction is a family-owned design-build remodeler based in Vancouver that also works on the Oregon side. Its Oregon CCB number is 176101; look it up on the CCB license search before you sign, as you would for any contractor. JDI handles permits and project management, provides a free in-home consultation and an itemized plan, and backs its work with a 5-year written workmanship warranty. For general questions to ask any bidder, see questions to ask a bathroom contractor and comparing bathroom remodel estimates. Read about bathroom remodeling in Portland and shower remodeling in Portland, or request a consultation.