Ohio's prevailing wage law uses different thresholds for building and road/bridge projects. Road/bridge thresholds are adjusted biennially by the Department of Commerce based on US Department of Commerce figures, capped at 3% annual change. Building thresholds were set by legislative reform.
Ohio has an active prevailing wage law (Ohio Prevailing Wage Law (ORC Chapter 4115)). Administered by Ohio Department of Commerce, Bureau of Wage and Hour Administration. Certified payroll is required. Federal Davis-Bacon applies to all federal projects.
Ohio maintains its prevailing wage law (ORC Chapter 4115) despite repeated repeal attempts, and what makes bidding here distinct is that the coverage thresholds differ by project type. The Bureau of Wage and Hour Administration applies one set of triggers to building work, over $250,000 for new building construction and over $75,000 for renovation or repair, and a separate, lower set to transportation work: roughly $93,292 for new road and bridge construction and about $27,950 for road and bridge repair. Those road and bridge figures are adjusted biennially based on U.S. Department of Commerce data and capped at a 3% annual change, so you must verify the current threshold before deciding whether a job is covered.
That moving target is the central estimating discipline in Ohio. A road repair project that fell below threshold two years ago may be covered today after a biennial adjustment, so confirm the applicable figure at bid time rather than relying on memory. Once a project is covered, price labor to the Department of Commerce wage determinations by trade, plan for mandatory certified payroll, and classify workers correctly, misclassification is the most common audit finding. Non-compliance carries back wages, civil penalties, debarment from public contracts, and possible criminal prosecution for intentional violations.
Where federal funding is present, Davis-Bacon applies alongside Chapter 4115, and you must pay the higher rate for each classification. Pull both schedules during estimating so the labor burden is correct before the number goes in. Because back-wage liability is rarely recoverable through change orders, confirm the right thresholds, current wage rates, and fringe obligations before you commit a price in Ohio.
The federal Davis-Bacon Act applies to all federally funded or federally assisted construction contracts over $2,000 in Ohio. This includes projects funded by federal agencies, FHWA highway projects, HUD housing, and projects receiving federal grants.
Contractors face payment of back wages, debarment from public contracts, and civil penalties. Intentional violations may result in criminal prosecution.