ORS 701.225: Investigatory powers of board; use of city or county inspectors; notice of noncompliance; conduct of hearings; authority of board to order work stopped.

(1) The Construction Contractors Board may investigate the activities of any person engaged in the building and construction industry to determine compliance with this chapter. (2) With the approval of the city or county, the board may conduct investigations with city or county inspectors, provided that the city or county is reimbursed by the board for the costs of such investigations. (3) Any inspector authorized by the board to determine compliance with the provisions of this chapter is authorized to require any person who is engaged in any activity regulated by this chapter to demonstrate proof of compliance with the licensing requirements of this chapter. If a person who is contracting directly with the owner of a structure does not demonstrate proof of compliance with the licensing requirements of this chapter, the inspector shall give notice of noncompliance to the person. The notice of noncompliance shall be in writing, shall specifically state that the person is not in compliance with the licensing requirements of this chapter and shall provide that unless the person demonstrates proof of compliance within 10 days of the date of the notice, the inspector may by order stop all work then being done by the person. The notice of noncompliance shall be served upon the person and shall be served upon or delivered to the owner of each structure upon which the person is then performing work under contract, or mailed to all persons who are mortgagees or trust deed beneficiaries of record with respect to the real property upon which each such structure is situated. If more than one person is the owner of any such structure, a copy of the notice need be given to only one of such persons. If after receipt of the notice of noncompliance the person fails within the 10-day period specified in the notice to demonstrate proof of compliance with the licensing requirements of this chapter, the inspector is authorized to order the work stopped by notice in writing served on any persons engaged in the activity. Any person so notified shall stop such work until proof of compliance is demonstrated. However, the inspector may not order the work stopped until at least 10 days after the copies of the notice of noncompliance have been served upon or delivered to the owners or mailed to the mortgagees and trust deed beneficiaries specified in this subsection. (4) The board has the power to administer oaths, issue notices and subpoenas in the name of the board, compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of evidence, hold hearings and perform such other acts as are reasonably necessary to carry out its duties under this chapter. (5) If any person fails to comply with a subpoena issued under subsection (4) of this section or refuses to testify on matters on which the person may be lawfully interrogated, the board shall compel obedience in the manner provided in ORS 183.440. (6) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (3) of this section: (a) The board may order the work stopped immediately if the contractor is working on a structure and the contractor was not licensed by the board when the work began; or (b) The board may order the work stopped after 10 days’ notice to the persons listed in subsection (3) of this section if the contractor is working on a structure and was licensed by the board when the job began but has let the license lapse. [1971 c.740 §18; 1975 c.721 §9; 1987 c.414 §40d; 1989 c.744 §3; 1989 c.928 §26; 1991 c.561 §1; 1999 c.402 §34]