Contractor's License ($25,000) Bond - City of Elyria, OH in Ohio

Brief Summary

Elyria wants proof of a $25,000 bond before it registers you, and it wants that proof again every time you renew. Let the bond lapse and you have no registration to pull permits on. The bond is quick to write, and keeping it continuous means January renewals go through without a scramble.

Every contractor registering with the City of Elyria Building Department must provide proof of a $25,000 bond under Codified Ordinance 1321.03, effective for the whole registration period and posted again for each renewal. The amount is the same for every classification, from Building I and II to electrical, heating, plumbing, excavating, demolition and sign work. Registrations expire December 31, renewals can start 30 days before that, and the final renewal date is January 31.

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How to Apply for a Contractor's License ($25,000) Bond:

• Complete the City of Elyria contractor registration application for your classification.
• Provide three letters of reference or copies of current registrations from three other jurisdictions.
• Provide proof of the $25,000 bond, effective for the registration period.
• Provide a certificate of insurance naming the City of Elyria as certificate holder, with the company name matching the application.
• Provide a workers compensation certificate if the company has employees.
• Electrical, heating and plumbing contractors: attach a copy of your state license.
• Building I and II applicants: pass the open book code test at the Building Department after application approval.
• Pay the $125 registration fee once approved.

Detailed Information About the Ohio Contractor's License ($25,000) Bond:

One bond amount for every classification

Elyria does not tier its contractor bond. Section 1321.03 of the Codified Ordinances requires each applicant to provide proof of a $25,000 bond effective during the period of registration, and proof of a $25,000 bond for any renewal. The Building Department's registration instructions apply that same 25K bond to Building I, Building II, Building III, excavating, moving and demolition, sign erector, electrical, heating and plumbing registrations.

Who is exempt

Section 1321.07 lets the owner of a single family home do work on the house the owner lives in without registering, but not build more than one dwelling in any 24 month period. Owner occupants of two and three family homes may do porch repair, roof covering, windows, siding, gutters and other nonstructural work themselves, while electrical, HVAC, plumbing and structural work still requires a registered contractor. Federal, state, county and municipal agencies and public utilities serving the City are exempt, but contractors they hire must still register. Permits are required in every case.

Qualifications beyond the bond

The applicant must be at least 21 years old and have at least five years of practical experience, or three years for sewer layers, shown by affidavit. Two years of technical training at an accredited school plus two years of practical experience, or a degree from an accredited college or university, can substitute. The Building Department asks for three letters of reference or copies of current registrations from three other jurisdictions. Building I applicants take an open book test on the 2024 Ohio Building Code and Building II applicants take one on the 2019 Residential Code of Ohio, with no exam fee. Electrical, heating and plumbing contractors must submit a copy of their state license.

Fees and renewal

The registration fee is $125, due after the application is approved. Every registration expires December 31 of the year it is issued. Renewal can begin 30 days before expiration, and January 31 is the final date to renew.

How premium is set

The surety bases the premium on the $25,000 amount and the owner's personal credit and business history. Because the city needs proof of the bond at every renewal, a continuous bond that renews each year avoids a gap in registration.

Eligibility and Requirements for a Ohio Contractor's License ($25,000) Bond:

• Bond amount of exactly $25,000 for initial registration and for every renewal, under Section 1321.03.
• Applicant at least 21 years old with the experience required by Section 1321.03.
• Registration expiring December 31, with January 31 as the final renewal date.
• Certificate of insurance with the City of Elyria as certificate holder.
• Filing with the Building Department, 131 Court Street, Suite 101, Elyria, Ohio 44035.

Ohio Contractor's License ($25,000) Bond FAQs:

Official and Additional Resources for the Ohio Contractor's License ($25,000) Bond: