Hiring Commercial Property Services Providers in Ohio

Commercial real estate services in Ohio require alignment with the Construction Industry Licensing Board: ensure electrical, HVAC, hydronics, refrigeration, and plumbing contractors carry OCILB licenses, while general contracting and roofing are licensed by cities such as Columbus or Cincinnati and must pull permits through local Building & Zoning Services. Soft vendors—janitorial, landscaping, pest control, security patrol, parking management, waste hauling, or snow removal—need an Ohio business registration; security firms are licensed by the Department of Public Safety, and pesticide applicators by the Department of Agriculture. Set $2 million general liability for trades and $1 million for nightly cleaning, statutory workers’ comp, and E&O for architects or environmental consultants. Confirm familiarity with Ohio EPA storm-water, asbestos, and brownfield regulations, and ensure the contractor can meet Ohio Building Code snow-load and wind-load criteria. Prioritize firms with documented success on assets like Rickenbacker logistics centers, Cleveland medical offices, or university student housing, and check local references.