Require licensure of commercial roofing contractors
Legislative Analysis Report Require licensure of commercial roofing contractors
1. Primary Purpose of the Bill
This bill requires commercial roofing contractors in Ohio to be licensed by the state. It creates a new roofing section within the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board to manage these licenses, set standards, and oversee the industry. The goal is to ensure that commercial roofing work is done by qualified professionals, while exempting smaller projects under $20,000 from the licensing requirement.
Occupational LicensingBusiness and CommerceConstruction
2. Changes to Existing Law
ORC Sec. 715.27 Adds roofing contractors to the list of specialty contractors. This prevents local cities from forcing state-licensed roofers to take local exams, but allows them to require local registration and fees.
ORC Sec. 3781.102 Adds roofing contractors to county building department regulations, aligning county rules with the new state licensing requirements.
ORC Sec. 4740.01 Adds roofing contractors to the official list of licensed trades overseen by the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board.
ORC Sec. 4740.02 Expands the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board from 17 to 22 members to create a new five-member roofing section, which will oversee the licensing of roofing contractors.
ORC Sec. 4740.04 Requires the board's administrative section to keep official records of all licensed roofing contractors.
ORC Sec. 4740.12 Allows local governments to regulate roofing systems and register roofing tradespersons, as long as they do not conflict with state licensing.
ORC Sec. 4740.13 Requires state licensing for commercial roofing projects, but exempts projects estimated to cost less than $20,000. It also bans splitting up projects into smaller parts just to avoid the license requirement.
ORC Sec. 4764.03 Exempts state-licensed roofing contractors from needing a separate home inspector license when they are doing roofing work.
3. Key Information for Citizens
🗳️ What You Need to Know
- Commercial roofing contractors in Ohio must get a state license to work on projects worth $20,000 or more.
- Roofing projects estimated to cost less than $20,000 do not require a state-licensed contractor, but you cannot split a large project into smaller jobs to bypass this rule.
- Experienced roofing contractors who have worked in Ohio for at least three years can get a license without taking the exam if they apply within 12 months of the law taking effect, pay the fee, and show proof of $500,000 in liability insurance.
- Local cities and counties cannot make state-licensed roofing contractors take local technical tests, though they can still charge registration fees.
4. Entities Affected
- Commercial roofing contractors and their businesses
- Roofing tradespersons and workers
- Commercial property owners and developers
- The Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board
- Local municipal and county building departments
5. Regulatory Impact & Enforcement
Agency Authority: The Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board, specifically its newly created five-member Roofing Section, is given the authority to issue, renew, and regulate licenses for commercial roofing contractors, set licensing fees, and approve continuing education courses.
Penalties & Mandates: Mandates state licensing for commercial roofing contractors on projects of $20,000 or more. It prohibits unlicensed individuals from claiming to be licensed roofing contractors. It also prohibits splitting projects to avoid the $20,000 threshold. The Ohio Attorney General is authorized to bring civil lawsuits, including temporary restraining orders or permanent injunctions, against unlicensed contractors.
Implementation Timeline: Initial appointments to the new roofing board section must be made within 90 days of the law's effective date. The board must publish notices of the new rules in major newspapers and trade publications within 90 days, and notify local governments within 120 days. Existing contractors have 12 months from the effective date to apply for a license under the grandfather clause.
6. Estimated Fiscal Impact
State Revenue Impact
Not applicable
Local Government Impact
Not applicable
Implementation Costs
Not applicable
Net Annual Fiscal Effect
Not applicable
Policy doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Meet the representatives and senators who introduced this bill and are pushing it through the chamber. Click on any sponsor to see their district, party affiliation, and what other legislation they’ve championed this session.
Primary Sponsors
Thomas F. Patton
District
24
Chamber
Senate
Party
Republican
Co-Sponsors
Related Topics
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Status Changes
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Referred to committee
Feb 26 2025
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Documents
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