How to Verify a California Contractor License
Hiring an unlicensed contractor in California is one of the most common and costly mistakes homeowners make. California law requires a contractor license for any project over $500 in combined labor and materials, and the penalties for hiring unlicensed workers fall on both the contractor and the homeowner.
Verifying a license takes less than five minutes. Here is exactly what to check and why each item matters.
Step 1: Confirm the License Is Active
A California contractor license has several possible statuses: Active, Expired, Suspended, Revoked, Cancelled, or Inactive. Only contractors with an Active license are legally authorized to bid on or perform work.
An expired license does not necessarily mean a bad contractor. Licenses expire every two years and some contractors let them lapse between projects. But you should never hire a contractor whose license is not currently active at the time of signing a contract.
Verify a Contractor's License Now
Step 2: Verify the Contractor Bond
Every licensed contractor in California must carry a contractor license bond (currently $25,000). This bond protects you if the contractor fails to pay subcontractors, violates building codes, or otherwise breaches their contractual obligations.
A bond is not insurance. It does not cover damage to your property or injuries on your job site. But it does provide a financial backstop if the contractor defaults. When you check a license, confirm that the bond status shows as current.
Step 3: Check Workers' Compensation Insurance
If a contractor has employees, California law requires them to carry workers' compensation insurance. This is critical for you as a homeowner. If a worker is injured on your property and the contractor lacks workers' comp coverage, you could be held personally liable for medical expenses and lost wages.
Some sole proprietors with no employees may legally file a workers' comp exemption. This is noted on their license record. If you see an exemption, ask the contractor directly whether they will be using any subcontractors or helpers on your project. If so, those workers need coverage.
Step 4: Review Disciplinary History
The CSLB tracks citations, complaints, and formal disciplinary actions against licensed contractors. A single complaint is not necessarily a red flag. Large contractors who do hundreds of jobs per year will inevitably receive some complaints. But patterns matter.
Look for repeated citations for the same issue, license suspensions (even if later reinstated), or unresolved complaints. The CSLB publishes this information specifically to help consumers make informed decisions.
Step 5: Confirm the Classification Matches Your Project
California issues contractor licenses by classification. A C-36 Plumbing Contractor is not authorized to do electrical work. A C-10 Electrical Contractor cannot legally perform roofing.
General contractors hold either an A (General Engineering) or B (General Building) license, which allows them to manage larger projects and hire specialty subcontractors. But even a general contractor must use properly licensed subcontractors for specialty work.
Before signing a contract, confirm that the contractor holds the specific classification required for your project. If you are unsure which classification applies, browse our classification directory for plain-language explanations of each license type.
What If the Contractor Is Not in the Database?
If you cannot find a contractor by name or license number, there are a few possible explanations. The business may be operating under a different legal name than their trade name. Try searching by license number instead. The contractor may be from out of state and not hold a California license. Or the contractor may simply be unlicensed.
If the contractor claims to be licensed but you cannot verify it, ask them to provide their license number directly. A legitimate contractor will not hesitate to share this. California law requires contractors to display their license number on all contracts, advertisements, and commercial vehicles.