Active OCILB HV.24931
Checked Aug 28, 2026
1066 permits 24 mo
Call (513) 242-5522Cincinnati's independent contractor directory
Find Licensed Contractors in Cincinnati
Every pro is checked against Ohio license records and permit filings. Free for homeowners — no lead forms, you call the pro directly.
Free for homeowners. No forms, no shared leads — you call the pro directly.
Popular right now
- 756
- active licenses verified against the state record
- 6,094
- permits on file county open records, 24 months
- 40
- cities & townships listed as themselves
- 15
- trades covered licensed and locally registered
Records current as of August 28, 2026.
Browse by trade
What do you need done?
Every business is checked against its Ohio license or local registration before it's listed.
HVAC contractors
State-licensed †
Plumbers
State-licensed †
Electricians
State-licensed †
Pest control companies
State-licensed
† State-licensed by the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB). Other trades register locally — their standing is built from county permits.
Top-ranked pros
Top Licensed Pros in Greater Cincinnati
Ranked by license standing and permit activity.
HVAC contractors
See all 244
Active OCILB HV.47158
Checked Aug 28, 2026
456 permits 24 mo
No phone on recordActive OCILB HV.50331
Checked Aug 28, 2026
554 permits 24 mo
Call (513) 942-9663Plumbers
See all 318Active OCILB HV.24931
Checked Aug 28, 2026
1066 permits 24 mo
Call (513) 242-5522Active OCILB HV.50331
Checked Aug 28, 2026
554 permits 24 mo
Call (513) 942-9663Active OCILB HV.47158
Checked Aug 28, 2026
456 permits 24 mo
No phone on recordElectricians
See all 302Active OCILB EL.13070
Checked Aug 28, 2026
45 permits 24 mo
Call (513) 738-2641
Active OCILB EL.23101
Checked Aug 28, 2026
34 permits 24 mo
Call (513) 621-1307Active OCILB EL.19973
Checked Aug 28, 2026
22 permits 24 mo
Call (513) 272-2900Where we cover
Serving Cincinnati and 39 Ohio Suburbs and Townships
National directories file Anderson, Colerain, and West Chester under "Cincinnati." We list them as the places they are.
Every business declares one headquarters and one working radius, and a place is covered when a licensed business's own radius reaches it — never through a paid boundary.
Roughly half of Greater Cincinnati lives in a township rather than a city, with permits issued at the county counter. We list townships as the places they are.
How it works
How Every Ranking Is Earned
Two public-record signals decide the order. Payment is not one of them.
Active Ohio license
Checked against OCILB records. Lapsed or revoked means delisted — not demoted. Every license number links to the State of Ohio's own eLicense lookup.
Permit history
Pulled from Hamilton, Butler, Warren, and Clermont County open records. Never self-reported. Ties break on how many state-licensed individuals the business has on the OCILB roster.
Not a factor: payment
Ads are labeled — and never change rank
A Featured slot is capped at three per trade, per city, labeled as advertising, and never moves a business up this list. That is the complete list of what money buys here.
Know before you hire
Cincinnati Cost and Permit Guides
Written from the same public records the rankings use.
Vetting
How to Vet a Contractor in Ohio Before You Sign Anything
The five-minute check on any contractor, using free public records.
Costs
What HVAC Replacement Costs in Cincinnati (2026)
What furnaces, AC and heat pumps actually cost to install here.
Permits
Do You Need a Permit for HVAC, Electrical, or Plumbing Work in Cincinnati?
When a permit is required here — and when it is not.
Licensing
Ohio Contractor Licensing, Trade by Trade
Which trades Ohio licenses, which register locally, and how to check.
Good to know
Questions Cincinnati Homeowners Ask
Short answers, from the same public records the rankings are built on.
How do I verify a contractor's license in Ohio?
Search the State of Ohio's free eLicense lookup by name or license number — or open any listing here: every license number we show links to the state's own record. If the status isn't Active, don't sign.
Which home-service trades require a state license in Ohio?
Ohio state-licenses HVAC, plumbing, electrical, hydronics, and refrigeration contractors through the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB). Trades like roofing, concrete, and landscaping register locally instead — for those, permit history carries the record.
Do I need a permit for HVAC, electrical, or plumbing work in Cincinnati?
Usually, yes. Furnace and AC replacements, electrical panel upgrades, new circuits, water-heater swaps, and most plumbing alterations require a permit from your county or municipal building department. Cosmetic repairs typically don't. Ask your contractor which permit they'll pull — a licensed pro expects the question.
For Ohio Contractors
Licensed in Ohio? Your listing is free.
Listed from the state licence file, claimable with one phone call, ranked on your permit record — never on what you spend.