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Source: Local Help Stations (localhelpstations.com). Last updated November 2, 2026.

Ohio has no statewide license for home improvement contractors, so the statewide protections for homeowners come from the Home Construction Service Suppliers Act, the Home Solicitation Sales Act and Attorney General guidance. These are the statewide rules we could confirm on official pages.

Key Ohio facts

The Ohio Attorney General says state law does not require home improvement contractors to be licensed, although many Ohio cities do. (source: Ohio Attorney General)
The Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board licenses electrical, HVAC, plumbing, hydronics and refrigeration contractors, and it regulates commercial contractors in those five trades. (source: Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Industrial Compliance)
Residential contractors are regulated by local building and health departments, not by that state board. (source: Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Industrial Compliance)
A home construction service that costs $25,000 or more needs a written contract with the owner under the Home Construction Service Suppliers Act. (source: Ohio Revised Code)
That act covers work on one, two and three family dwellings, and a supplier under it must carry general liability insurance of at least $250,000. (source: Ohio Revised Code)
When unforeseen but necessary extra costs on such a contract pass $5,000 in total, the supplier must give you an estimate of the extra costs before doing that work. (source: Ohio Revised Code)
Under the act, a supplier may not fail to do the work in a workmanlike manner, or claim that work was done when it was not. (source: Ohio Revised Code)
For most sales made at your home, you may cancel until midnight of the third business day after you sign. (source: Ohio Revised Code)
In a home solicitation sale, the seller may not start the work while you can still cancel. (source: Ohio Revised Code)
The Attorney General says the three day cancellation rule also covers contracts signed away from the company's usual place of business, such as a home improvement show. (source: Ohio Attorney General)
If you cancel, the seller must return your payments within ten business days. (source: Ohio Revised Code)
The Attorney General suggests at least three written estimates from three different contractors. (source: Ohio Attorney General)
A reasonable down payment, perhaps 20 percent of the total, with final payment held until the job is done, is the Attorney General's advice. (source: Ohio Attorney General)

Ohio topics

Ohio auto

Ohio car repair rules come from the Attorney General's motor vehicle repair rule and the Ohio lemon law in Revised Code Chapter 1345.

Not covered yet

We have not published Ohio pages for these topics yet, because we have not confirmed enough Ohio specific facts on official pages: HVAC, Plumbing, Electrician, Roofing, Appliance repair, Garage doors, Locksmith, Pest control, Movers.

Sources

Ohio Attorney General: Consumer Tips: Home Improvement (checked November 2, 2026)
Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Industrial Compliance: Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (browser) checked November 2, 2026
Ohio Revised Code (codes.ohio.gov, Legislative Service Commission): Ohio Revised Code 4722.02, Home construction service contracts and excess costs (statute text) (checked November 2, 2026)
Ohio Revised Code (codes.ohio.gov, Legislative Service Commission): Ohio Revised Code 4722.01, Home construction service definitions (statute text) (checked November 2, 2026)
Ohio Revised Code (codes.ohio.gov, Legislative Service Commission): Ohio Revised Code 4722.03, Prohibited acts by home construction service suppliers (statute text) (checked November 2, 2026)
Ohio Revised Code (codes.ohio.gov, Legislative Service Commission): Ohio Revised Code 1345.22, Home solicitation sales: right to cancel (statute text) (checked November 2, 2026)
Ohio Attorney General: In the spring, home improvement scams blossom (Consumer Advocate, April 2026) (checked November 2, 2026)
Ohio Revised Code (codes.ohio.gov, Legislative Service Commission): Ohio Revised Code 1345.23, Home solicitation sales: notice of cancellation and refunds (statute text) (checked November 2, 2026)
Ohio Attorney General: Consumer Protection FAQs (checked November 2, 2026)

Last updated: November 2, 2026