Hiring a Kitchen Contractor in Portland, OR

Hiring a kitchen contractor in Portland follows the same logic as anywhere else: rule out the companies that cannot legally do the job, then compare the ones that can. What changes across the river is the paperwork. Oregon licenses contractors through the Construction Contractors Board (CCB), sets its own bond and insurance minimums, and requires specific notices before you sign. This page walks through the checks in order. 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 needs a current CCB license, and work on a home needs a residential endorsement (residential general, specialty or limited, among others). A kitchen remodel that combines cabinets, plumbing, electrical and drywall is a job for a residential general contractor.

Use the CCB license search at search.ccb.state.or.us. The CCB says the license number is the most accurate search, and contractors must print it on bids, contracts, websites and business cards. If a name search comes up empty, try a shorter version before you assume the company is unlicensed. The CCB says a license check shows whether the contractor is actively licensed with a surety bond, has filed proof of liability insurance, carries workers' compensation, is licensed for pre-1978 homes, and has had complaints or discipline in the past 10 years.

Unlike Washington, Oregon tests contractors on business practices and law before licensing them. That is still not a test of building skill. The CCB says Oregon does not require construction training except for plumbers, electricians and a few other trades, so references and past work still matter. If you are comparing firms from both states, our guide to Washington contractor registration explains the other system.

Step 2: understand what the bond and insurance cover

ORS 701.081 sets the minimums. As of October 2026:

The bond amounts rose by $5,000 on January 1, 2024. Know the limits of each. The CCB describes its bond as "a limited amount of financial security" that "is not intended to be a safety net for consumer damages." The bond total is shared by every claim against that contractor, and if a dispute does not settle, ORS 701.145 lets you collect from it only with a court judgment or an arbitration decision a court has turned into a judgment. Liability insurance, in the CCB's words, covers property damage and bodily injury caused by the contractor but "does not cover contract disputes, including poor workmanship." For a large kitchen, ask what limits the company actually carries and request a certificate from its insurer.

Step 3: check the lead license on older homes

Many Portland houses were built before 1978. ORS 701.510 and OAR 812-007-0300 bar a contractor from renovation work in that housing without a CCB certified lead-based paint renovation contractor license, which requires at least one certified renovator on staff. The CCB search has a separate "Lead Safe Contractors" lookup. Expect to receive EPA's Renovate Right pamphlet before work starts.

Step 4: expect three notices before you sign

For residential work over $2,000, the contractor you sign with must give you three CCB forms on or before the day you sign (OAR 812-012-0130):

• Consumer Protection Notice. Covers licensing, bond and insurance, contracts and change orders, payment schedules and how to complain.
• Notice of Procedure. Explains that before suing or starting arbitration over defects you must give written notice, allow an inspection and give the contractor a chance to offer a repair or payment.
• Information Notice to Owner About Construction Liens. Required by ORS 87.093. A contractor who fails to deliver it cannot claim a lien on your home for that contract.

Each has signature lines for both of you. A contractor who skips them before asking for a signature is telling you something about how the rest of the job will run.

Step 5: get a written contract with the required terms

ORS 701.305 requires a written contract when the price exceeds $2,000, and OAR 812-012-0110 says it must include the contractor's name, address, phone and CCB number; your name and the job address; a description of the work; price and payment terms; and an explanation of your rights, including your right to complain to the CCB and any mediation or arbitration clause. Under ORS 701.315 the contract cannot limit your right to file a CCB complaint. ORS 701.310 also lets you cancel an initial contract in writing before midnight at the end of the next business day, with exceptions.

Beyond the minimum, the CCB suggests listing specific materials, start and finish dates, allowance items and amounts, required permits and who obtains them, and a rule that changes happen only by signed written change order. Our list of questions to ask a kitchen contractor helps fill those gaps, and comparing estimates line by line shows where bids differ.

Step 6: pay in step with the work and collect lien waivers

We found no fixed legal cap on a deposit in Oregon, but ORS 701.312 treats a deposit of more than 50 percent as a trigger for probation if the contractor then fails to perform. The CCB's advice is simple: stick to the payment schedule, never pay in full before the work is done, and do not pay in cash.

Liens are the reason payment timing matters. If your contractor does not pay a supplier or subcontractor, that company may be able to lien your home even if you paid in full. If you live in the house, it must first have sent you a Notice of Right to Lien. Do not ignore one. The state's lien notice suggests asking the contractor for lien waivers from subcontractors and suppliers before each progress payment, or paying with joint checks. Liens must generally be filed within 75 days of completion or of the claimant's last work, whichever comes first (ORS 87.035).

Step 7: settle who pulls the City of Portland permits

Portland Permitting & Development handles permits for one- and two-family homes. The city lists installing cabinets and replacing wall, floor or ceiling coverings as work that needs no building permit. Moving, removing or adding walls needs a building permit. Adding or moving sinks, dishwashers or piping needs a plumbing permit, new wiring, outlets or light fixtures need an electrical permit, and gas piping to a range needs a mechanical permit. The city notes that permit applications must list the contractor's CCB number and that trade subcontractors sign their own permit applications. Put permit responsibility in the contract, and confirm anything unclear, such as a new range hood, with the city.

Step 8: look at kitchens like yours and call references

A license proves a company is legal, not that it builds kitchens well. Ask for finished projects at your level of change and house age, then ask past clients whether the price held, who answered when problems came up, and whether the company came back after the job. The full method is in how to choose a kitchen remodeler.

How JDI fits in Portland

JDI Construction is a family-owned design-build remodeler based in Vancouver, WA, operating since 2007. We hold Oregon CCB #176101 for work in Oregon and Washington registration #JDICOCN932KZ for work in Washington. Look up our CCB number yourself and read the bond, insurance and lead records there. Design and construction come from one accountable team, we handle permits and project management, and our workmanship warranty is written and runs five years. See our approach to kitchen remodeling in Portland, read more about the company, or book a free in-home consultation and run every check on this page on us.