Latest CCB Sweeps for Unlicensed Contractors, Oct. 22

Construction Contractors Board (CCB) investigators found nearly 60 potential violations of contractor law after recent enforcement sweeps of approximately 400 job sites in the Portland area and the Oregon coast. Investigators checked job sites at random in September and early October as part of an ongoing campaign targeting unlicensed contractors. “We are going to make it difficult for those skirting Oregon’s contracting laws to do business,” CCB Administrator James Denno said. “Our recent enforcement sweeps have been very effective at rooting out unlicensed contractors. This is something we will continue to pursue.” Common violations included: * People who were building, remodeling and repairing properties without a contractor’s license; * Contractors who failed to provide workers’ compensation coverage for their employees; * Contractors who were working on homes built before 1978 but who were not licensed to handle lead-based paint. In recent months, the agency has conducted similar sweeps of construction sites in other parts of the states. A typical first-offense penalty for working without a license is $1,000 with subsequent violations resulting in fines of up to $5,000. Working without a license is also a misdemeanor crime. The CCB posts monthly reports of contractors it penalizes on its website: http://www.oregon.gov/ccb/Pages/enforcement.aspx Contractors and consumers can report unlicensed contractors and other illegal activity or verify licenses on the CCB’s website or by calling 503-378-4621.