Ohiocontractor insurance & bonding requirements
Updated April 2026 · Source: Municipal AHJ (Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati)
Minimum requirements
- General liability
- $500,000
- Workers' comp
- Required for crews
Licensed general contractors in Ohiocarry commercial insurance so that if a crew member gets injured on-site, a homeowner's appliance is damaged during demo, or a neighboring property suffers an impact from construction, the contractor's policy (not the homeowner's) pays the claim. AskBaily does not match homeowners to contractors below these minimums.
No state GC license. Specialty trades (HVAC, electrical, plumbing) licensed by OH CILB.
Common questions
What insurance does a Ohio general contractor need?
A Ohio general contractor needs at minimum $500,000 general liability coverage. Workers' compensation insurance is required for crews. Per Municipal AHJ (Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati).
How much is the surety bond for Ohio contractors?
Ohio does not require a state-level surety bond for general contractors. No state GC license. Specialty trades (HVAC, electrical, plumbing) licensed by OH CILB.
Who is the licensing authority in Ohio?
Municipal AHJ (Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati) is the authority for Ohio contractor oversight. Public license lookup is available at https://www.columbus.gov/bzs.
How does AskBaily verify contractors in Ohio?
Municipal AHJ (Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati) does not expose machine-readable lookup. AskBaily ops manually verifies Ohio applicants within 72 hours of signup using the public portal.
What happens if a contractor doesn't carry the required insurance?
Underinsured contractors are removed from the AskBaily match pool immediately. A homeowner who hires an unlicensed or underinsured contractor in Ohio can lose the right to mechanic's lien protection, may be held liable for on-site injuries, and forfeits protection under Municipal AHJ (Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati). That's why AskBaily's policy is to match only verified pros.
Nearby jurisdictions
AskBaily cities in Ohio
Homeowners in these cities can chat with Baily today; matched pros must meet the requirements above.
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