Verify license status online or by calling 1-800-321-CSLB (2752). The other basic requirements are being at least 18 years old and having four years or more of related education or experience. If the business name begins with "The" or "A", do not type this initially. There is no set amount of time it takes to get a contractors license in California. Issue Date. Welcome to the Department of Consumer Affairs license search. The CSLB can waive the exams in some situations. California Contractors License Classifications. Please note: Our database is unavailable Sundays at 8 p.m. through Monday at 6 a.m. due to scheduled maintenance. A list of surety companies with a blanket endorsement on file with CSLB can be found on CSLBs Bond Requirements page. A California contractor license number doesn't contain alphabetic characters. Any home improvement work or construction contract that has a total labor and material cost of more than $500 requires a license. Automobile Emissions Research and Technology Fund, Youth Beverage Consumer Education and Research Fund, Sears Fund for Consumer Protection and Education, Volkswagen Diesel Emissions Defeat Devices, State of California Department of Justice, Consumer Protection and Economic Opportunity, California Justice Information Services (CJIS), http://www.cslb.ca.gov/Resources/GuidesAndPublications/WYSKPamphlet.pdf, http://www.cslb.ca.gov/Consumers/Consumers.aspx, https://www2.cslb.ca.gov/OnlineServices/ConstructionComplaint/ComplaintFormProcess.aspx. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. They will face misdemeanor charges, which can include punishment of an administrative fine that is $200 to $15,000 in addition to a $5,000 fine and/or six months of jail time. For more tips, including how to investigate a contractors full complaint history, read on! Commissioner's Office. Waiver provisions for the examination are outlined in Business and Professions (B&P) Code section 7065.1 and 7065.2. Qualifying individuals are responsible for the construction operations of the principal or employer. Click here to create a list of licensed contractors by City or ZIP code. For example: O'Brian. Contractors - California Department of Industrial Relations 844-522-6734. When you view a contractor on the California State License Board website, youll see any complaints made against the company that are available to the public. For more tips, including how to investigate a contractors full complaint history, read on! California business license and Tax ID (if LLC or Corporation) Fingerprinting Live Scan. How to Check a California Licensed Contractor, https://www2.cslb.ca.gov/OnlineServices/CheckLicenseII/CheckLicense.aspx, http://www.cslb.ca.gov/Consumers/Hire_A_Contractor/What_Kind_Of_Contractor.aspx, http://www.cslb.ca.gov/About_Us/licensing_contact_tips.aspx, https://www.bbb.org/central-california-inland-empire/get-to-know-us/about-us/, http://www.cslb.ca.gov/Consumers/Hire_A_Contractor/Finding_The_Right_Contractor.aspx, The "Check a License" tool can be found at. Determine the type of contractor that you need for the project. You should always look to hire a contractor who has an active license and has been in business for at least 5 to 10 years. DLSE Debarments (Public Works Contractors). For example: Al's Builders. 833-526-4636. The licensing process typically takes a few months. CSLB offers resources and information to help contractors perform professionally, legally, and safely. Licensing is in essence just a way to protect the public and ensure that anyone charging money to perform a task has some knowledge of laws, safety as well as a way . It is also worth mentioning that there is no legal requirement for consumers to pay a contractor that is not state-licensed. The simplest way to verify a contractor's license is with the official State of California contractor license lookup. If you compare this to the date issued, you will notice that they are only valid for two years. CSLB License Classifications. How Do I Check a California Contractors License? There is also a fine equal to either $5,000 or 20% of the price of the contract. Be as specific as possible so there are fewer results to your search. GreatBuildz was founded by a team of real estate and construction experts who believe everyone deserves to find a great contractor, have a stress-free renovation, and enjoy their beautiful new space. With inactive status, they can renew it for four years. To become licensed and appear on a CA contractors license lookup, applicants must pass two tests, one on trade and one on law and business. Welcome to the Contractors State License Board. Yes, California requires landscapers to have a license. Office of the Director. GreatBuildz is a free service that matches homeowners with reliable, pre-screened general contractors. Availability and/or accuracy of this information depends on the public sources that our platform utilizes. For example: "Mc Donald" and then "McDonald". Commas and periods are not used in the name, but apostrophes are. DISCLAIMER: A license status check provides information taken from the CSLB license database. It ensures that contractors have the proper skills and training and that they understand local codes and laws. If you are a grower wishing to verify an FLC license: Check the verification database. Apply for a Contractor License - CSLB Hugh Won-Hyuck Lee # 194279 - Attorney Licensee Search Farm labor contractors license - California Department of Industrial Develop the tech skills you need for work and life. Seniors are a particularly vulnerable audience, often preyed upon by unlicensed or unscrupulous contractors. You can then apply for your C-36 license. When you call, have a pen and paper available to write down all of the information you need. Use this online search tool to verify a license issued by the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) for the professions listed under license type. This article has been viewed 105,622 times. Do not ever hire a contractor that does not have an active license. Be aware that some sites require you to pay for their services. The CSLB also has a helpful summary of what you should know before hiring a contractor: http://www.cslb.ca.gov/Resources/GuidesAndPublications/WYSKPamphlet.pdf, and provides other helpful information including what to do when you have a dispute with a contractor: http://www.cslb.ca.gov/Consumers/Consumers.aspx. A deceitful contractor offers a free inspection, then lies about faulty wiring, bad plumbing, a leaky roof or other defects that put the homeowner in danger (scare tactics). There are three main classifications, one of which has many specialty classifications. The CSLB license lookup will then show you the name of the contractor as well as their license number, the city where they operate, and their licenses current status. If you do not find the license, type the name again with 1 or 2 fewer characters. Note: you may have to search multiple California search pages below to find a specific registration until transition is complete. This is why you may see varying license lengths when you use a State of California contractors license lookup. For example: "A B Smith Builders" and then "AB Smith Builders". You can sign up to receive Industry Bulletins to stay informed about new laws, fee changes, fraud alerts and other important construction news. Personnel listed on this license (current or disassociated) are listed on other licenses. 1-800-736-7401. The Department of Industrial Relations' website also lets you conduct an electrician license lookup in California. One person can be the qualifying individual for up to three firms in a year, but only in one of three cases. Contractors also need a license to work on homes or other properties. How to Check a California Licensed Contractor: 12 Steps - wikiHow The homeowner may panic and agree to unnecessary and over-priced work. Welcome to the California Department of Consumer Affairs. In California, the Department of Consumer Affairs, Contractors State License Board (CSLB) is responsible for regulating the business of contractors. CSLB offers resources and information to help contractors perform professionally, legally, and safely. The Contractors State License Board (CSLB) protects California consumers by licensing and regulating the state's construction industry. What Is a General Contractors License in California? Type only the first 10 to 15 letters of the business name. Before relying on this information, you should be aware of the following limitations. Someone comes to your door and offers to do roofing, painting, install solar panels, or perform other work at a reduced price. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/e4\/Check-a-California-Licensed-Contractor-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Check-a-California-Licensed-Contractor-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/e4\/Check-a-California-Licensed-Contractor-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid1652587-v4-728px-Check-a-California-Licensed-Contractor-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"