Hiring a contractor in Yamhill County: start here

Whether it's a new roof in Newberg, a driveway in Dayton or a water heater in McMinnville, the same few steps protect you. Everything here comes from the Construction Contractors Board (CCB), Oregon's Building Codes Division and the permit offices themselves — linked at the bottom.

The five steps

1. 1Find a few licensed businessesSearch this directory by trade and town. Each listing links to the business's state license record, dated the day we last checked it.
2. 2Check each license yourselfThe CCB's own words: verify that the contractor's license is active and check the complaint history at oregon.gov/ccb. Or call the CCB at 503-378-4621.
3. 3Get written bids — three if you canThe CCB's checklist says to get written, detailed bids from three contractors, and to ask for and check references.
4. 4Ask who will get the permitsThe person doing the work is responsible for the permits, whether that's you or the contractor. The table below shows which office handles your town.
5. 5Sign a written contractOregon law requires a written contract for home jobs over $2,000 (ORS 701.305). The CCB says it should describe the work, materials, costs, start and end dates, list the permits and who will get them, and set a payment schedule.

Comparing bids: a checklist

• Is the CCB license active, and what does its complaint history show?
• Is the bid written, and does it describe the same work and materials as the others?
• Does it say who gets the permits — and are they in the price?
• Are the start and end dates written down?
• Is there a payment schedule? The CCB says never pay the full amount up front, and don't pay in cash.
• Did you check references?
• Warning signs the CCB lists: resistance to a written estimate and contract, and a very low estimate.

Who issues permits in your town

Does the job need a permit?

Oregon's Building Codes Division gives these examples for one- and two-family homes. Local zoning comes first, and a job that needs no building permit may still need an electrical, plumbing or mechanical permit.

A new or replacement septic system needs approval from Yamhill County's sanitarian: a site evaluation first, then a permit to install. The county says to allow up to six weeks for the applications before the permit is issued.