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Licenses by State

How to check if a contractor is licensed in California

Edited by John Voll. Last verified .

In California, the state keeps license or registration records for general contractors, electrical contractors, plumbing contractors, HVAC contractors and roofing contractors, and each has an official lookup or board listed below. Check the record before you sign a contract or pay a deposit, and treat the board's own record as final.

Which board covers which trade

TradeWho keeps the recordOfficial lookup
General contractorContractors State License BoardSearch general contractor licenses
ElectricalContractors State License BoardSearch electrical licenses
PlumbingContractors State License BoardSearch plumbing licenses
HVACContractors State License BoardSearch HVAC licenses
RoofingContractors State License BoardSearch roofing licenses

Step by step

  1. Open the official California lookup run by Contractors State License Board and search the contractor by name or number.
    Open the official lookup
  2. The CSLB Check A License page looks up a license by number or business name and shows its status and complaint disclosure. source
  3. Confirm the record is active and the class matches the job (A - General Engineering Contractor or B - General Building Contractor or B-2 - Residential Remodeling Contractor). The board's own record governs. A license is required for jobs above A CSLB license is required when labor, materials and other costs on the project total $1,000 or more, or the job needs a building permit or uses employee labor. source
  4. Check the bond and insurance on the record against the state minimums: Contractor license bond of $25,000 (or a $25,000 cashier's check filed with CSLB) before the license is issued. source Workers' compensation insurance is required for licensees with employees (others file an exemption); LLC licensees also need liability insurance (see the LLC verify note). source

If the contractor is not licensed, or you have a complaint

  • CSLB can act on complaints about licensed and unlicensed contractors' projects for up to four years. source
  • If mediation fails and the estimated loss is under $12,500, CSLB may point the consumer to small claims court and the license bond. source

Homeowner protections in California

  • Every contractor carries a $25,000 license bond filed for consumers harmed by defective work or license law violations and for unpaid employees. source
  • Bond claims are filed with the surety company that wrote the bond, within its time limits; CSLB does not process bond claims. source
  • If a bond is canceled and not replaced within 30 days, the license is suspended. source
  • On a home improvement or swimming pool job the down payment cannot exceed $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less. source
  • An LLC licensee must carry liability insurance of at least $1 million (plus $100,000 per personnel member beyond five, capped at $5 million) and a $100,000 employee/worker bond. source

Questions

How do I check if a contractor is licensed in California?
Search the contractor by name or license number on the official California lookup run by Contractors State License Board, then confirm the record is active and covers the type of work. For electrical, plumbing, HVAC or roofing work, use that trade's lookup in the table on this page.
What can I do if a contractor in California is not licensed?
CSLB can act on complaints about licensed and unlicensed contractors' projects for up to four years. If mediation fails and the estimated loss is under $12,500, CSLB may point the consumer to small claims court and the license bond.

All California licensing rules by trade

Sources

This is not a government site. The licensing board's own record governs; always confirm on the official lookup. Information as of October 6, 2026.