Regional contractor's business license
Doing business › Regional contractor's business license
Contractors and landscapers can buy a single license from Metro to construct, alter and repair structures in 20 cities.
If you qualify, there are four ways to apply for a license:
- use your credit card and apply online
- complete and mail the PDF application form (download below)
- call Metro at 503-797-1500 and request an application
- obtain an application at most city permit counters
Instead of getting separate business licenses, you can get a single license from Metro to construct, alter and repair structures in 20 cities that have licensing requirements in the metropolitan area. The license covers all construction trades, both commercial and residential, as well as all landscape contractors.
Participating cities
These cities will honor a Metro license: Beaverton, Cornelius, Durham, Fairview, Forest Grove, Gladstone, Gresham, Happy Valley, Hillsboro, King City, Lake Oswego, Milwaukie, Oregon City, Sherwood, Tigard, Troutdale, Tualatin, West Linn, Wilsonville and Wood Village. The city of Portland is not included at this time.
The Metro license is optional, but it may cost less than getting a number of licenses from individual cities.
To qualify for a Metro license, you must:
- be licensed with the Oregon Construction Contractors Board or licensed with the Oregon Landscape Contractors Board
Visit the Oregon Construction Contractors Board site
Visit the Oregon Landscape Contractors Board site - have a corresponding city license if your principal place of business is located in any of the 20 cities honoring the Metro license
- earn $250,000 or less in gross receipts per year per city honoring the Metro license or hold a city license for any city listed in which that dollar limit is exceeded.
The nonrefundable fee for the license is $135.
Portland exception
Portland does not participate in the Metro contractor's business license program. The Portland Bureau of Licenses has information about doing business in Portland and Portland Online provides links to business-related information and services available online from Portland area public agencies.
Visit the Portland Bureau of Licenses site
Visit the Portland Online business portal
Application
Make a copy of your completed application for your records. Sign the application and send it with the $135 nonrefundable fee to Metro, attn. CBL program, 600 NE Grand Ave., Portland, OR 97232.
As long as you meet all of the licensing requirements, the copy of the completed application will serve as your temporary license until you receive the real license about two weeks later.
Download the application
- Contractor's business license application 46K Adobe Acrobat PDF | Published April 5, 2010
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