How to Verify a California Contractor License Before You Hire

Before you sign any contract or hand over a deposit, go to cslb.ca.gov and look up the contractor's license number. This two-minute check tells you whether the license is active, whether the contractor carries a current bond and workers' comp, and whether the board has taken any disciplinary action against them.

Before you sign a contract or pay a deposit to any California contractor, look up their license at cslb.ca.gov. The Contractors State License Board (CSLB) maintains a free public database where you can enter any license number, business name, or individual name and see the full license record in about two minutes. The record shows license status, classification, bond, workers' compensation coverage, and any disciplinary history. For projects with a combined labor-and-materials value of $1,000 or more, California law requires the contractor to hold a valid CSLB license. Running that lookup takes two minutes and shows you the same information CSLB investigators use.

Step 1: Run the CSLB License Lookup

Go to cslb.ca.gov and click "Check a License" in the top navigation. You can search by license number, business name, or the contractor's personal name. Searching by license number is the fastest and most precise method.

The results page shows the business name, entity type (sole proprietor, corporation, LLC), phone number, issue date, expiration date, and current license status. It also lists every classification on the license, current bonding information, workers' compensation coverage, and a miscellaneous section that includes any disciplinary actions.

You can also call CSLB directly at (800) 321-CSLB (2752) if you prefer a phone verification. That number is staffed during business hours and will give you the same information the website does.

What Every Field on the License Detail Page Means

License status is the most important field. It must say "Active." A license showing "Inactive," "Expired," "Suspended," or "Revoked" means the contractor cannot legally take on work. Do not hire based on a promise to renew.

Classification tells you what work the contractor is legally authorized to perform. A Class B General Building Contractor can manage projects involving at least two unrelated building trades, including structural additions, remodels, and new construction. Specialty contractors hold C-class licenses covering one trade, such as C-8 (Concrete) or C-39 (Roofing). The classification on the license must match the scope of your project.

Bond status shows whether the contractor has a current $25,000 contractor bond on file with CSLB, as required since January 2023 under SB 607. This bond can be used to compensate consumers for defective work or unpaid wages. Check that the bond has no cancellation date showing.

Workers' compensation shows the insurer, policy number, and effective/expiration dates. California law requires contractors with employees to carry workers' comp. If a worker is injured on your property and the contractor has no coverage, you may face liability. CSLB notes certain specialty classifications (roofing, concrete, HVAC, asbestos, tree service) are already required to carry workers' comp even if they claim no employees.

Miscellaneous Information and the Personnel section display any complaints, citations, or disciplinary actions CSLB has recorded. A citation or two is not automatically disqualifying, but a pattern of complaints about incomplete work, abandonment, or fraud is a serious warning sign.

A Worked Example: Looking Up Otto and Sons Construction

Otto and Sons Construction, licensed to Tangitau Corporation and owned by Alani Tangitau, holds CSLB license number 1104751. You can verify this directly at cslb.ca.gov by entering 1104751 in the license number field.

What you will find: an Active status, a Class B General Building Contractor classification, a current $1 million general liability policy, full workers' compensation coverage, and no disciplinary actions. The license covers the full scope of residential remodels, room additions, commercial tenant improvements, and small commercial ground-up builds that Otto and Sons handles across the SF Bay Area, Sacramento, Orange County, and Riverside County.

BuildZoom, which cross-references permit activity and license data, scores Otto and Sons at 114, placing them in the top 2% of California contractors. That score reflects verified permitted work, not just a clean license record.

Red Flags That Should Stop You From Signing

Watch for these warning signs during the hire process:

Under SB 779 (effective July 1, 2026), unlicensed contractors face civil penalties starting at $1,500 per offense for standard violations, with maximums up to $15,000. Willful violations under related sections can reach $30,000. On top of those penalties, the bigger problem is yours: if the work goes wrong, you lose the full set of remedies CSLB provides for licensed work. Under Business and Professions Code Section 7031, an unlicensed contractor generally cannot sue you to collect payment, but that also means recovering money from them outside of CSLB channels is far harder.

• Contractor cannot produce a license number or gives you a number that does not match the business name in the CSLB database.
• License status shows anything other than "Active" when you look it up.
• Classification on the license does not match your project type.
• Bond is cancelled or workers' comp is expired.
• Asks for more than 10% down (or $1,000, whichever is less) before work starts. California law caps initial deposits at that amount for home improvement contracts under BPC Section 7159.5.
• Wants cash only or asks you to make the check out to an individual rather than a business.
• No physical address -- only a cell number or P.O. box.
• Pressures you to sign before you can review the contract or check the license.
• Quote is dramatically lower than all others you received.

The $1,000 Threshold: When a License Is Required

Under Assembly Bill 2622, which took effect January 1, 2025, the threshold requiring a contractor's license rose from $500 to $1,000. A handyperson working alone -- with no hired workers and no permit required -- can legally take jobs valued under $1,000 in combined labor and materials without a CSLB license.

The moment a job exceeds $1,000, or requires a building permit, or involves a hired crew, a valid contractor's license in the appropriate classification is legally required. Most remodel and construction projects -- even small bathroom refreshes -- clear that threshold quickly once permits and materials are factored in.

This is not a loophole. If an unlicensed person advertises for or takes a job requiring a license, they are subject to criminal penalties under BPC Section 7028 and civil penalties under SB 779. And if something goes wrong on your project, your recourse against an unlicensed contractor is extremely limited compared to what CSLB provides against a licensed one.

How to File a Complaint If Something Goes Wrong

If you hired a licensed contractor and the work is defective, abandoned, or the contractor took money without performing, CSLB is your first call. File a complaint at cslb.ca.gov or call (800) 321-CSLB (2752). CSLB investigates complaints against licensed contractors and has enforcement tools including citations, fines, license suspension, and revocation.

For unlicensed contractor disputes, CSLB operates a Statewide Investigative Fraud Team (SWIFT) that targets unlicensed activity. You can also contact your local district attorney. Under BPC Section 7031(b), a homeowner who paid an unlicensed contractor can sue to recover all money paid, regardless of the quality of the work.

The best protection is the one you take before the job starts: run the CSLB lookup, confirm the classification matches your project, check that bond and workers' comp are current, and read the disciplinary history. Two minutes of verification before hiring avoids months of problems after.

Sources

• CSLB Check a License Tool
• CSLB Bond Requirements
• CSLB Workers' Compensation Requirements
• CSLB Class B General Building Classification
• AB 2622 -- CSLB Press Release on $1,000 Handyperson Exemption
• BPC Section 7028 -- Contracting Without a License
• SB 779 2026 Penalty Increases -- Bay Legal PC
• CSLB Consumer Resources
• BuildZoom Contractor Scoring System