California contractor licenses: who needs one and how to check

Since January 1, 2025, a license is required for any job of $1,000 or more in labor and materials, and for any job that needs a building permit or where the person hires workers, whatever the price (AB 2622).

Licensing body: Contractors State License Board (CSLB).

How licenses are organized

• Class A: general engineering.
• Class B: general building.
• Class C: specialty trades, each with its own classification.

Good to know

• Unlicensed people may advertise work under $1,000 only if the ad says they are not licensed.
• CSLB advises that a down payment should not exceed 10 percent of the contract price.
• Unlicensed contracting can bring administrative fines of up to $15,000.

Check a contractor's license

Search the state's own records by the business name or license number before you sign. On ContractorsNearMe.ai, a profile shows a Verified license badge only after we match its license to these records.