Contractors and Repair Shops in Oregon

Anyone who works or bids as a contractor must have a current license from the Construction Contractors Board. A contractor may not construct, improve or repair a residential structure for a property owner without a written contract if the price exceeds $2,000 (a contract that grows past $2,000 must be put in writing within five days). A property owner who signs an initial written residential construction contract may cancel it in writing before midnight at the end of the next business day, unless both sides agreed that work would begin sooner or the contractor has substantially begun work. The Board may place a contractor on probation for taking a deposit of more than 50% of a home improvement contract price and then failing to perform.

A vehicle repair shop must prepare a written estimate before starting work, describing the work, breaking it into tasks, and listing estimated labor, parts, incidental charges and total cost; the owner must get a copy no later than before final payment. If the estimate shows that diagnosis, disassembly or repair will cost more than $200, the shop must get the owner's separate authorization (signed, by phone, or by fax or email) first, and it must also get authorization before any change that raises the cost by more than 10% or $200, whichever is less. A shop may not charge for work not performed, may not install used parts when the estimate said new parts, and may not knowingly install used or reconditioned parts without telling the owner. Shops must keep copies of these records for at least one year.