California Contractor Licensing
California contractor licensing is statewide: one board, the Contractors State License Board (CSLB), licenses general and specialty contractors.
California contractor licensing is statewide and run by the Contractors State License Board (CSLB). A license is required for any job of $1,000 or more in labor and materials, any job that needs a building permit, and any job that uses additional workers. CSLB licenses general engineering (A), general building (B), and specialty (C) contractors, and registers home improvement salespeople.
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Find what you need in California
- Become a ContractorExperience, exams, the $25,000 bond, and CSLB fees.
- Hire a ContractorA 60-second checklist, including California’s down payment limit.
- Verify a LicenseHow to search a California license in the CSLB lookup.
Official sources
- Contractors State License Board (CSLB): cslb.ca.gov/contractors/applicants/contractors_license/exam_application/before_applying_for_license.aspx, cslb.ca.gov/About_Us/Library/Licensing_Classifications/, cslb.ca.gov/OnlineServices/CheckLicenseII/CheckLicense.aspx, cslb.ca.gov/Contractors/Applicants/Contractors_License/, cslb.ca.gov/Consumers/Filing_A_Complaint/
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Independent reference. Not a government agency. A valid license does not guarantee quality of work, insurance coverage, or the absence of complaints.