Every contractor says "licensed and insured." Almost none of them tell you how to check. That's backwards — in Oregon, verifying a contractor is free, public, and takes about as long as brewing a cup of coffee. The Construction Contractors Board (CCB) licenses every legitimate contractor in the state and publishes the record: license status, bond, insurance, and complaint history.
We think an informed customer is the best customer, so here's the full walkthrough. And because a guide like this is easy to write and harder to stand behind: our number is CCB #255729 — look us up while you read.
The 2-minute check, step by step
- Go to the CCB license search: search.ccb.state.or.us.
- Search by CCB number or business name. The CCB number is fastest — Oregon law requires contractors to put it on ads, bids, and contracts, so it should be easy to find. If you only have a name, search that (watch for near-identical business names).
- Open the license record and spend ninety seconds on the checklist below.
- Match the paperwork. The business name and CCB number on the record should exactly match the name and number on your estimate and contract. A bid under "Bob's Roofing" backed by a license for a different entity is a problem.
When should you run it? Before the first site visit if you want, but absolutely before you sign a contract or pay a deposit — that's the point of no return. It's also worth re-checking a contractor you last hired years ago; licenses lapse, bonds get cancelled, and businesses change hands. Two minutes, every time, no exceptions — including for us.
What to check in the record
| Field | What you want to see | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| License status | Active | Expired, suspended, or lapsed means the contractor can't legally work — and your protections evaporate. Check the expiration date, too. |
| Surety bond | Bond on file with the CCB | The bond is a pool of money you can claim against if the work goes wrong and the contractor won't make it right. No license, no bond, no recovery. |
| Liability insurance | Current general liability coverage | If a crew member puts a ladder through your picture window — or worse — this is what pays, instead of you. |
| Endorsement | Matches the work (residential endorsement for home projects) | Oregon licenses carry endorsements defining what a contractor may build. Residential roofing needs a residential endorsement. |
| Complaints & discipline | Clean, or old and resolved | A long trail of recent complaints, judgments, or disciplinary actions tells you how disputes with this contractor tend to end. |
Why unlicensed work bites the homeowner
The cheap unlicensed bid is cheap because you're absorbing the risk. When something goes wrong — and roofing is exactly the trade where "wrong" means water in your walls — here's what you've given up:
- No bond to recover from. The CCB bond and dispute process exist for licensed contractors. Hire unlicensed, and your recovery options shrink to suing someone who probably has no assets.
- Permit problems. Unlicensed contractors can't properly pull permits — so your reroof either goes unpermitted (see our Douglas County permit guide for how that resurfaces at sale time) or you get talked into pulling an owner permit and taking on code responsibility yourself.
- Sale-time disclosure. Oregon's seller disclosure asks about unpermitted work. That bargain roof becomes a line item a buyer's agent negotiates against.
- Liability lands on you. Uninsured worker gets hurt on your roof? Your homeowner's policy — and possibly your savings — are suddenly in the conversation.
- No warranty worth the paper. Manufacturer warranties on shingles frequently depend on proper installation; a workmanship warranty from an entity that can vanish is worth exactly nothing.
Beyond the license: four more checks worth making
- A real written contract. Oregon requires written contracts for most residential work over $2,000, and the CCB requires specific consumer notices with them — including information on consumer protection and, where applicable, notices about liens. A contractor who works on a handshake is skipping legal requirements, not paperwork.
- References you actually call. Ask for recent local jobs. A contractor established in Douglas County has neighbors who'll vouch — or warn.
- Manufacturer credentials. Shingle makers certify contractors who meet their installation standards — we're an Owens Corning contractor, which also affects what enhanced warranties can be offered on a roof replacement.
- Local footprint. A physical address you can drive to beats a phone number that goes dark after the season — especially relevant after storms, when out-of-area storm chasers roll through with none of the above.
✓ Now run the check on us
Seriously — do it right now. Go to search.ccb.state.or.us and search 255729 or Mistletoe Construction LLC. You'll find our active license, bond, and insurance on file. That's the whole pitch: we'd rather earn your trust with a public record than a slogan. If any other bid on your kitchen table can't pass the same two-minute test, you've learned something important for free.
Trust, verified — then maintained
The license check tells you who's safe to hire. What keeps a roof healthy after that is the boring stuff: annual inspections, gutter care, catching small problems early. That's what our Home Care Membership is for — from $49/month with an annual roof and gutter inspection, storm-season debris checks, priority scheduling, and a photo report after every visit, so you always see exactly what we saw. No long-term contracts, because trust you have to lock in isn't trust.
Need something looked at sooner? Our repair crew covers all of Douglas County from our shop in Riddle.
Quick answers
Where do I verify an Oregon contractor?
At the CCB's license search: search.ccb.state.or.us. Search by CCB number or business name — it's free and takes about two minutes.
What am I looking for?
Active status, a bond on file, current liability insurance, the right endorsement for residential work, and a clean complaint/discipline history — with the record's name matching your contract.
What's the real risk of unlicensed work?
No bond to claim against, no CCB dispute process, permit and disclosure problems at sale, and potential personal liability if someone's hurt on your property.
What's Mistletoe's license number?
Oregon CCB #255729 — Mistletoe Construction LLC. Look us up right now; we'll wait.