What Business License Do I Need for Renovation Work and Furniture Sales in Oregon?

Full question:

I recently started a company that not only does renovations but also builds/sales furniture. My business name is registered--what are all the licenses that I will need? I am currently working on my contractors license but do I need a general business license as well? Anything special for Lincoln county/city?

• Category: Small Business
• Date: 04/07/2025
• State: Oregon

Answer:

Oregon law requires anyone who works for compensation in any construction activity involving improvements to real property to be licensed with the Oregon Construction Contractors Board (CCB). This includes roofing, siding, painting, carpentry, concrete, on-site appliance repair, heating and air conditioning, home inspections, tree service, plumbing, electrical, floor covering, manufactured dwelling installations, land development and most other construction and repair services.

A business name must be registed in the county where the business is located, where a physical facility of the business is located and where an employee of the business is stationed. Permit and licensing requirements vary by city and nature of the renovation to be performed. I suggest contacting the city hall in the city you will perform work in to determine applicable requirements. Anyone doing business in Oregon is required to register with the Secretary of State. Please see:

http://www.filinginoregon.com/business/registering.htm

Please see the following OR statute:

648.007 Requirement to register assumed business name and service
mark; exceptions.

(1) No person shall carry on, conduct or transact business under an
assumed business name in a county where the business is located, where
a physical facility of the business is located or where an employee of
the business is stationed, unless the person has registered the
assumed business name as provided in this chapter and maintains a
current registration.

(2) A person shall register a service mark as an assumed business name
if the person carries on, conducts or transacts business under the
service mark and the person does not disclose conspicuously the
person's real and true name at the time and place that the person
carries on, conducts or transacts business.

(3) ORS 648.010 and subsection (1) of this section do not apply to:

(a) A foreign corporation that applied for and was issued a
certificate of authority prior to September 20, 1985, and that carries
on, conducts or transacts business in this state exclusively under the
name that it stated in its application that it elects to use in this
state, as shown on the records of the Office of the Secretary of
State.

(b) A partnership which uses the surname of all or some of the
partners all of whom are licensed by a common licensure board or
commission.

(c) A mutual and voluntary association composed of 10 or more farmers
and landowners formed for the purpose of constructing, owning and
operating reservoirs, irrigation ditches and irrigation works. The
secretary of each association shall maintain a complete and current
record of the association's members, and shall furnish a copy of the
record upon request.

(4) Nothing in this chapter shall preclude a person from registering
more than one assumed business name.

Please see the information at the following links for further information:

http://www.oregonmetro.gov/index.cfm/go/by.web/id=24216
http://www.filinginoregon.com/business/starting_a_business.htm
http://www.filinginoregon.com/business/check_state_license_requirements.htm#LocalLicense