Home improvement refers to the repair, replacement, remodeling, alteration, conversion, modernization, improvement or addition of existing 1, 2, or 3 family dwellings to any land or building, which is used, or designed to be used, as a private residence or dwelling place for not more than 3 families and shall include, but not be restricted to, the construction, replacement or improvement of driveways, swimming pools, porches, garages, or fallout shelters.
Home improvement does not include:
- The
construction of a new home building or work done by a contractor in
compliance with a guarantee of completion of a new building project
- The sale
of goods or materials by a seller who neither arranges to perform nor
performs directly or indirectly any work or labor in connection with the
installation of or application of the goods or materials
City of Columbus (licensed) Home Improvement General Contractors are
permitted to perform the following scopes of work:
- Structural
additions, alterations, or repairs to existing 1, 2 and 3 family dwellings
- Construction
of accessory structures and/or garages for 1, 2 and 3 family dwellings
City of Columbus licensed home improvement limited contractors are
permitted to perform one or more of the following scopes of work (based on board approval):
- Residential
roofing
- Residential
siding, windows, and doors
- Residential
deck installation
- Residential
basement waterproofing
- Residential
prefabricated fireplaces and wood or coal stoves
- Residential
masonry fireplaces
- Residential
fencing
- Residential
sidewalks and driveway approaches
- Residential
exterior lathing and stucco
- Residential
swimming pools and spas
- Residential
asphalt paving
- Residential
irrigation sprinkler
- Residential
gypsum board
Applicants for a City of
Columbus home improvement general contractor license must meet the following
requirements:
(1) Have a minimum of 3 full
years of hands-on installation experience in the 1, 2 and 3 family dwelling
improvement field.
(2) Satisfactorily complete
and pass, with a grade of at least 70%, the Ohio Home Improvement Contractor –
767 examination administered by an approved testing agency.
For more
information, study references, and to take the exam, please contact International Code Council (ICC) at
(877) 783-3926 or visit the ICC website;
Schedule to take the exam (select ICC
Contractors Non Authorized, enter 767
to locate the test)
Study references can be found under Contractor/Trades
Examination Bulletin published by ICC.
An applicant's failure to
pass the required examination shall not operate to deny the applicant the right
to take such examination at a future scheduled date, provided the applicant
makes proper application for such later examination with the approved testing
agency.
After 1 year from the date
that a passing score was achieved on any required examination for a
department-issued license, the passing score for that examination or
examinations shall become invalid unless an application for licensure has been
made.
Applicants for a City of
Columbus home improvement limited contractor license must meet the following
requirement:
(1) Have a minimum of 1 full year of hands-on
experience in the field for which application is being made.
Alternatively, in lieu of the above requirements of above, the applicant for any Home Improvement license may be:
(1) A registered design professional who holds a current and valid certificate as an architect or engineer as allowed under the Ohio
Revised Code and who is experienced in residential design and construction; or
(2) A graduate architect or engineer, with at least one (1) full years' experience as a designer or installer in the specific field of work for the type of home improvement contractor license for which application
is made.
Please note: Contractors who wish to perform
structural work on four (4) or more family dwellings and/or commercial
structures, or new construction other than residential garages and/or accessory
structures, must be registered as a City of Columbus General Contractor. Please
see the general contractor section for more information.
The
Board of General and Home
Improvement Contractors meets once per month. Applicants must
submit their application and payment no later than one (1) week prior to the next
scheduled board meeting. Please see the Boards and Commissions page on
this site for more information.
Applicants are not required to be present at the board meeting. However,
contractors may appear before the Board of General and Home Improvement Contractors
for the following reasons.
- Adjudications
- Due
process complaints (filed against or by the contractor)