Solar Installation — Oregon license requirements
01 The project
The starting point is the work itself — Solar Installation in Oregon. The job determines which trades are involved, and the trades determine which license classifications may be required.
| Component | Trade |
|---|---|
| Solar energy system | Solar |
| Electrical interconnection | Electrical |
02 Jurisdiction
This project is evaluated for Oregon — the single-board, endorsement-tier state. The Construction Contractors Board (CCB) licenses every person who works for compensation on improvements to real property (ORS 701.021), scoped by an endorsement chosen by structure class (residential / small commercial / large commercial), each with a statutory surety bond and general liability, a Responsible Managing Individual and a two-year term. Electrical and plumbing are separate Building Codes Division contractor licenses. Oregon jurisdiction page.
Permit fees, local construction rules and any municipal business license were not researched and remain LOCAL_AUTHORITY_REQUIRED. The exact commercial level-1 GL basis is a documented conflict (CONFLICT-OR-002) and the rule returns NOT_DETERMINED on the aggregate/per-occurrence wording rather than guessing. State requirements are not the complete story for any locality.
03 Trade → license
Relations below are recorded per state — only this jurisdiction's classifications are shown.
Trades involved: Solar, Electrical.
- May require ELEC-CONTRACTOR — Electrical Contractor confirmed S-OR-ORS-479-630 rule OR-ELECTRICAL-CONTRACTORPhotovoltaic installation is electrical work; no standalone solar license exists in Oregon.
- Alternative path RESTRICTED-ENERGY-CONTRACTOR — Restricted Energy Contractor reported S-OR-ORS-479-630 rule OR-SOLAR-CREDENTIALThe restricted energy contractor license covers restricted energy work such as renewable/alternative energy systems within the electrical-trade family.
- Component basis RSC — Residential Specialty Contractor (RSC) reported S-OR-CCB-DO-I-NEED rule OR-CCB-LICENSEA roof-mounted array also touches roofing, a licensed residential specialty trade.
04 Scope
What the official sources say about the work involved — typed assertions, never a boolean "covers". Interpretations are marked as such.
- Officially included ELEC-CONTRACTOR Photovoltaic Electrical Installation (may_perform) ORS 479.630(1) S-OR-ORS-479-630 PV is electrical work; Oregon has no standalone solar license.
- Requires another classification solar-installation Electrical Or Restricted Energy Contractor (requires) ORS 479.630(1); ORS 479.945 S-OR-ORS-479-630
- Officially included RSC Residential Roofing (may_perform) ORS 701.021(2)-(4) S-OR-CCB-DO-I-NEED
- Not determined RSC Residential Specialty Endorsement Plus Trade Permits (requires) ORS 701.021; ORS 701.005(18) S-OR-CCB-DO-I-NEED NOT_DETERMINED because the record does not expressly resolve whether a specific HVAC trade credential exists beyond the CCB specialty endorsement.
05 Requirements
| Requirement | Kind | Statement | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verified absence: no standalone solar license — PV is electrical work ORS 479.630; ORS 479.945 (read 2026-10-05) | license | Oregon issues NO standalone 'solar' license. Photovoltaic/electrical-installation work falls under the BCD electrical-trade licensing family (electrical contractor's license, ORS 479.630(1)) and the restricted energy contractor's license (ORS 479.945). No solar-specific credential exists. | S-OR-ORS-479-630Source S-OR-ORS-479-630 — Oregon Legislature — Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS)ORS 479.630 — Requirements for obtaining licenses (electrical) — ORS 479.630; ORS 479.945 (read 2026-10-05) https://oregon.public.law/statutes/ors_479.630 Retrieved 2026-10-05 · last verified 2026-10-05 DCBS issues: an ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR's license to a business making electrical installations (1); a general supervising electrician license (4 years as a general journeyman + exam) (2); a limited supervising electrician license (3); a general journeyman electrician license (4 years as apprentice, incl. ≥1,000 hours in single/multifamily dwellings) (4); a limited journeyman license (5); a limited elevator journeyman license (6); apprentice licenses (7)-(9); and a limited maintenance electrician license (10). |
| Electrical contractor license required to make electrical installations ORS 479.630(1); ORS 479.840(1)(a) (read 2026-10-05) | license | ORS 479.630(1): DCBS issues an electrical contractor's license to a person engaging in or carrying on a business of making electrical installations. The fee is $125 per year for each place of business (ORS 479.840(1)(a)). The electrical contractor must employ a properly licensed supervising electrician. | S-OR-ORS-479-630Source S-OR-ORS-479-630 — Oregon Legislature — Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS)ORS 479.630 — Requirements for obtaining licenses (electrical) — ORS 479.630(1); ORS 479.840(1)(a) (read 2026-10-05) https://oregon.public.law/statutes/ors_479.630 Retrieved 2026-10-05 · last verified 2026-10-05 DCBS issues: an ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR's license to a business making electrical installations (1); a general supervising electrician license (4 years as a general journeyman + exam) (2); a limited supervising electrician license (3); a general journeyman electrician license (4 years as apprentice, incl. ≥1,000 hours in single/multifamily dwellings) (4); a limited journeyman license (5); a limited elevator journeyman license (6); apprentice licenses (7)-(9); and a limited maintenance electrician license (10). |
| General supervising electrician (four years as general journeyman + exam) ORS 479.630(2) (read 2026-10-05) | license | ORS 479.630(2): a general supervising electrician's license is issued to a person who passes the written examination and has at least FOUR YEARS of experience as a general journeyman electrician (or equivalent). This individual credential is what an electrical contractor employs to supervise electrical work. | S-OR-ORS-479-630Source S-OR-ORS-479-630 — Oregon Legislature — Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS)ORS 479.630 — Requirements for obtaining licenses (electrical) — ORS 479.630(2) (read 2026-10-05) https://oregon.public.law/statutes/ors_479.630 Retrieved 2026-10-05 · last verified 2026-10-05 DCBS issues: an ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR's license to a business making electrical installations (1); a general supervising electrician license (4 years as a general journeyman + exam) (2); a limited supervising electrician license (3); a general journeyman electrician license (4 years as apprentice, incl. ≥1,000 hours in single/multifamily dwellings) (4); a limited journeyman license (5); a limited elevator journeyman license (6); apprentice licenses (7)-(9); and a limited maintenance electrician license (10). |
| CCB license required for compensated construction work ORS 701.021(1); CCB 'Do You Need A License?' (read 2026-10-05) | license | ORS 701.021(1) verbatim: 'Except as provided in ORS 701.010, a person or joint venture that undertakes, offers to undertake or submits a bid to do work as a contractor must have a current license issued by the Construction Contractors Board and possess an appropriate endorsement as provided in this section.' The CCB states that Oregon law requires anyone who works for compensation in any construction activity involving improvements to real property to be licensed. | S-OR-ORS-701-021Source S-OR-ORS-701-021 — Oregon Legislature — Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS)ORS 701.021 — License requirement; endorsements — ORS 701.021(1); CCB 'Do You Need A License?' (read 2026-10-05) https://oregon.public.law/statutes/ors_701.021 Retrieved 2026-10-05 · last verified 2026-10-05 A person or joint venture that undertakes, offers to undertake or bids contract work must have a current CCB license and an appropriate endorsement. Residential work: residential general/specialty/limited, residential developer, locksmith, restoration, home inspector services, home services, home energy performance score (2). Small commercial work: any residential endorsement OR commercial general/specialty level 1/2 or commercial developer (3). Large commercial work: a COMMERCIAL endorsement only (4). |
| Surety bond required (amount set by endorsement) ORS 701.068; CCB Surety Bonds (read 2026-10-05) | bond | ORS 701.068(1): an applicant for issuance or renewal of a contractor license must file a surety bond with one or more corporate sureties authorized to do business in Oregon, in the amount set by ORS 701.081 (residential) or 701.084 (commercial). A licensee holding BOTH endorsements must file BOTH bonds (701.068(2)). | S-OR-ORS-701-068Source S-OR-ORS-701-068 — Oregon Legislature — Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS)ORS 701.068 — Bonding requirements; action against surety — ORS 701.068; CCB Surety Bonds (read 2026-10-05) https://oregon.public.law/statutes/ors_701.068 Retrieved 2026-10-05 · last verified 2026-10-05 An applicant must file a surety bond in the amount set by ORS 701.081 (residential) or 701.084 (commercial); a residential+commercial licensee must file both. If the amount owed exceeds the bond, the board suspends the license and may require a reinstatement bond up to 5× the ordinary amount. The bond pays only board determinations under ORS 701.145/701.146. |
| General liability insurance required (amount set by endorsement) ORS 701.073; CCB Liability Insurance (read 2026-10-05) | insurance | ORS 701.073: a licensed contractor must have public liability, personal injury and property damage insurance covering the work, including products and completed operations, in the amount set by ORS 701.081 or 701.084, and must provide evidence at licensure and renewal. The CCB certificate holder must be the Construction Contractors Board, PO Box 14140, Salem, OR 97309. | S-OR-ORS-701-073Source S-OR-ORS-701-073 — Oregon Legislature — Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS)ORS 701.073 — Insurance required of licensed contractors — ORS 701.073; CCB Liability Insurance (read 2026-10-05) https://oregon.public.law/statutes/ors_701.073 Retrieved 2026-10-05 · last verified 2026-10-05 A licensed contractor must have public liability, personal injury and property damage insurance covering the work, including products and completed operations, in the amount set by ORS 701.081 or 701.084, and must provide evidence at licensure and renewal. |
| Two-year license term; renewal; inactive status ORS 701.063 (read 2026-10-05) | renewal | ORS 701.063(1): 'A license is valid for two years from the date of issuance unless the license is revoked or suspended.' A lapsed license may be renewed within two years (4). An inactive license is subject to licensing requirements and fees but not to bonding or insurance, is not valid for work or permits, and may be used at most once per two-year term (5). | S-OR-ORS-701-063Source S-OR-ORS-701-063 — Oregon Legislature — Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS)ORS 701.063 — Term of license; fee; renewal; inactive status — ORS 701.063 (read 2026-10-05) https://oregon.public.law/statutes/ors_701.063 Retrieved 2026-10-05 · last verified 2026-10-05 A license is valid for TWO YEARS from issuance. A lapsed license may be renewed within two years. An inactive license is subject to licensing requirements and fees but not the bonding/insurance requirements; it is not valid for offering, bidding, obtaining a permit or performing work, and may be used at most once per two-year term. |
| CCB application / renewal fee — $400 (board-set) ORS 701.056; OAR 812-003-0142; CCB Forms & Fees (read 2026-10-05) | fee | The statute (ORS 701.056) directs an application fee but states no amount; the board sets it under ORS 701.238. OAR 812-003-0142: effective July 1, 2025 the application fee for all NEW licenses is $400 (was $325); effective July 1, 2024 the fee for all RENEWAL or reissued licenses is $400 (was $325). | S-OR-OAR-812-003-0142Source S-OR-OAR-812-003-0142 — Oregon Secretary of State — Office of Administrative Rules (Oregon Administrative Rules)OAR 812-003-0142 — CCB License Application Fees — ORS 701.056; OAR 812-003-0142; CCB Forms & Fees (read 2026-10-05) https://secure.sos.state.or.us/oard/view.action?ruleNumber=812-003-0142 Retrieved 2026-10-05 · last verified 2026-10-05 Effective July 1, 2024, the application fee for all RENEWAL or reissued licenses is $400 (was $325). Effective July 1, 2025, the application fee for all NEW licenses is $400 (was $325). Application fees are non-refundable except a renewal refunded because the applicant formed a new business entity, less a $40 processing fee. Armed-forces renewal exemption for sole proprietors/general partners. |
| Cities and metropolitan service districts may impose their own business-license requirements ORS 701.010 (context); CCB (read 2026-10-05) | license | ORS 701.015 provides for business-license requirements in cities and metropolitan service districts, subject to exemptions in ORS 701.020. The CCB directs contractors to the local jurisdiction for permits. No Oregon municipal code or fee schedule was opened — every local fact is LOCAL_AUTHORITY_REQUIRED. | S-OR-ORS-701-021Source S-OR-ORS-701-021 — Oregon Legislature — Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS)ORS 701.021 — License requirement; endorsements — ORS 701.010 (context); CCB (read 2026-10-05) https://oregon.public.law/statutes/ors_701.021 Retrieved 2026-10-05 · last verified 2026-10-05 A person or joint venture that undertakes, offers to undertake or bids contract work must have a current CCB license and an appropriate endorsement. Residential work: residential general/specialty/limited, residential developer, locksmith, restoration, home inspector services, home services, home energy performance score (2). Small commercial work: any residential endorsement OR commercial general/specialty level 1/2 or commercial developer (3). Large commercial work: a COMMERCIAL endorsement only (4). |
06 Rule: OR-ELECTRICAL-CONTRACTOR
ORS 479.630(1): DCBS issues an electrical contractor's license to a person engaging in the business of making electrical installations ($125/year per place of business). Missing facts yield NOT_DETERMINED.
| Outcome | Conclusion | Caveats |
|---|---|---|
| electrical-contractor-required | electrical_contractor_license_required | An electrical contractor must employ a properly licensed supervising electrician (OR-ELECTRICAL-SUPERVISING). |
07 Rule: OR-SOLAR-CREDENTIAL
Verified absence: Oregon issues NO standalone solar license. Photovoltaic installation is electrical work (ORS 479.630(1)) or restricted energy work (ORS 479.945). Missing facts yield NOT_DETERMINED.
| Outcome | Conclusion | Caveats |
|---|---|---|
| no-solar-license | no_solar_license | A roof-mounted array also touches the licensed roofing trade. |
08 Rule: OR-CCB-LICENSE
ORS 701.021(1): a person or joint venture that undertakes, offers to undertake or submits a bid to do work as a contractor must have a current CCB license with an appropriate endorsement. The CCB states that anyone who works for compensation in construction involving improvements to real property must be licensed. Missing facts yield NOT_DETERMINED.
| Outcome | Conclusion | Caveats |
|---|---|---|
| ccb-required | ccb_contractor_license_required | The endorsement must match the structure class (OR-ENDORSEMENT). Unlicensed contracting is a Class A misdemeanor (OR-PENALTY). |
09 Rule: OR-ELECTRICAL-SUPERVISING
ORS 479.630(2): a general supervising electrician license requires passing the exam and four years as a general journeyman electrician. Missing facts yield NOT_DETERMINED.
| Outcome | Conclusion | Caveats |
|---|---|---|
| supervising | supervising_electrician_requirements | — |
| journeyman | general_journeyman_requirements | — |
10 Credential chain for this project
- oregon:electrical-contractor — may require (OR-ELECTRICAL-CONTRACTOR) S-OR-ORS-479-630Photovoltaic installation is electrical work; no standalone solar license exists in Oregon.
- oregon:restricted-energy-contractor — alternative (OR-SOLAR-CREDENTIAL) S-OR-ORS-479-630The restricted energy contractor license covers restricted energy work such as renewable/alternative energy systems within the electrical-trade family.
- oregon:residential-specialty-contractor — component basis (OR-CCB-LICENSE) S-OR-CCB-DO-I-NEEDA roof-mounted array also touches roofing, a licensed residential specialty trade.
- Endorsement follows the structure class — residential, small commercial or large commercial (rule OR-ENDORSEMENT). S-OR-ORS-701-021
- Bond + insurance ladder — $25,000/$500,000 (RGC) up to $80,000/$2,000,000 (CG1) (rules OR-BOND, OR-INSURANCE). S-OR-ORS-701-068
- No solar license — PV is electrical work S-OR-ORS-479-630
11 Permit and verification layer
Oregon separates the contractor credential from the permit and the locality: the STATE decides who may contract (the CCB endorsement, plus the BCD electrical or plumbing license for those trades), while the city or county issues the building permit and may impose its own business license under ORS 701.015. The permit and its rules are local — LOCAL_AUTHORITY_REQUIRED. S-OR-ORS-701-021
Verify the contractor that actually applies on the official lookup before relying on any outcome here: CCB — verify a contractor. S-OR-ORS-701-021
Source S-OR-ORS-701-021 — Oregon Legislature — Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS)
ORS 701.021 — License requirement; endorsements — ORS 701.021(1); CCB 'Do You Need A License?' (read 2026-10-05)
https://oregon.public.law/statutes/ors_701.021
Retrieved 2026-10-05 · last verified 2026-10-05
A person or joint venture that undertakes, offers to undertake or bids contract work must have a current CCB license and an appropriate endorsement. Residential work: residential general/specialty/limited, residential developer, locksmith, restoration, home inspector services, home services, home energy performance score (2). Small commercial work: any residential endorsement OR commercial general/specialty level 1/2 or commercial developer (3). Large commercial work: a COMMERCIAL endorsement only (4).