Contractors working for the public in the City of Mentor must register with the Building Department before pulling any permits or starting work. Registration costs $100 per trade, requires a $10,000 surety bond per trade, and expires every December 31 regardless of when you first signed up.1City of Mentor. Application for Certificate of Registration Three chapters of the Mentor Code cover the process: Chapter 1307 for general contractors, Chapter 1309 for electrical, plumbing, and HVAC, and Chapter 1311 for tree service contractors.2City of Mentor, Ohio. Permits
Who Has to Register
If you contract with the general public to do work inside city limits, you register. That covers construction, remodeling, demolition, and repair work under Chapter 1307.2City of Mentor, Ohio. Permits The Building Department verifies registration before processing any permit application, so unregistered contractors cannot get permits issued.
Electrical, plumbing, and HVAC contractors register under Chapter 1309. It is unlawful to install, repair, or alter those systems in any building without a valid, unexpired registration, and the registered person must personally supervise the work.3Mentor Code of Ordinances. Mentor Code 1309.01 – Requirement for Registered Electrical, Plumbing and Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning Contractors Tree maintenance and removal contractors register under Chapter 1311; the surety bond requirement does not apply to them.1City of Mentor. Application for Certificate of Registration
Specialty trades carry a second obligation. Electrical, plumbing, HVAC, hydronics, and fire suppression contractors must hold a current license from the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board, which requires passing a state exam.4Ohio Department of Commerce. Contractor Licensing The state license does not substitute for Mentor’s registration, and Mentor’s registration does not substitute for the state license. You need both, and you present the state license as part of your Mentor application.2City of Mentor, Ohio. Permits
What You Have to Submit
Assemble the packet before you go to the Building Department:
- A completed application form from the city’s website, listing your business name, entity type, federal tax ID, and each trade you are registering for.
- A $10,000 surety bond on the city’s official form, one bond per trade. The bond guarantees compliance with Mentor’s building and zoning codes, and either the city or an injured party can file a claim against it within two years of a violation.5Mentor Code of Ordinances. Mentor Code 1307.03 – Issuance of Registration Certificate
- A certificate of liability insurance showing at least $1,000,000 for bodily injury and $1,000,000 for property damage.5Mentor Code of Ordinances. Mentor Code 1307.03 – Issuance of Registration Certificate
- Municipal income tax registration with the Tax Division of the Mentor Finance Department, with the completed tax form included in your packet.5Mentor Code of Ordinances. Mentor Code 1307.03 – Issuance of Registration Certificate
- A copy of your current OCILB license if you are an electrical, plumbing, HVAC, hydronics, or fire suppression contractor.1City of Mentor. Application for Certificate of Registration
Every document has to be current, and the business name has to match across all of them. A bond issued to “Smith Plumbing LLC” and an insurance certificate written to “Smith Plumbing” can stall your approval until you fix the mismatch.
Fees and the Renewal Discount
Mentor charges per trade, not per contractor. Register for general contracting and plumbing and you pay twice.6City of Mentor, Ohio. What Is Required to Be a Registered Contractor
- New registration: $100 per trade.
- Renewal filed on or before January 31: $50 per trade, for contractors renewing from the prior calendar year.
- Renewal filed after January 31: $100 per trade, the same as a new registration.
The January 31 cutoff is worth marking on a calendar. A two-trade contractor who renews on time pays $100; the same contractor renewing in February pays $200.1City of Mentor. Application for Certificate of Registration
How to Submit
Deliver the application, supporting documents, and payment to the Mentor Building Department in person or by mail. The city accepts checks payable to the City of Mentor, and credit cards for in-person submissions. Once the department reviews and approves your packet, you receive a certificate of registration that lets you pull permits in the city.
When Your Registration Expires
All registrations expire December 31, no matter when you first registered, and there is no prorated fee for a partial year.1City of Mentor. Application for Certificate of Registration Start renewal in early December so lapsed insurance or a lapsed bond does not push you past January 31 and cost you the discount. Working with an expired registration is treated the same as never having registered, meaning you cannot legally pull permits or work for the public inside city limits.3Mentor Code of Ordinances. Mentor Code 1309.01 – Requirement for Registered Electrical, Plumbing and Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning Contractors
A Note If You Are the Homeowner
If a contractor asks you to pull the permit in your own name because they are not registered, decline. Signing a permit application for work someone else is doing can amount to falsifying a public document and can void the permit, leaving unpermitted work on your property.2City of Mentor, Ohio. Permits You can confirm any contractor’s registration by calling the Building Department before you sign a contract.