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How to check a contractor's license in California

California contractors are licensed by the Contractors State License Board (CSLB). A contractor needs a license for any job of $1,000 or more, and for smaller jobs that need a permit or where they bring helpers.

When a license is required

Since January 1, 2025 (AB 2622), unlicensed work is allowed only when the total price is under $1,000, no permit is needed and the worker hires nobody for the job (B&P Code 7048).

Which license class

TradeCSLB class
Painting and decoratingC-33
RoofingC-39
ElectricalC-10
PlumbingC-36
Heating, ventilation and air conditioningC-20

A B (General Building) license also covers most of these when the job involves two or more unrelated trades.

Check it in three steps

  1. Ask for the license number. California contractors must put it on contracts, bids and adverts.
  2. Look it up on CSLB's Check a License. The status should read "This license is current and active", and the classes should match the work.
  3. Check the bond, workers' comp and disclosures on the same page. A contractor marked "exempt" has declared no employees, so anyone else they bring to your home is a red flag. Citations and complaints are listed with dates.

theoPros reads each California license page for you and shows the workers' comp carrier, bond and any disclosures on every listing.

Licensed contractors we've already checked