How to check a contractor license in California

Updated Nov 9, 2026.

In California a contractor needs a state license from the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) for any job that needs a building permit, uses hired workers, or costs $1,000 or more in labor and materials together. Checking a license on the CSLB website is free.

Step 1. Get the license number

Ask the contractor for their license number and a photo ID. The number must also appear on the bid and the contract. CSLB advises asking to see the pocket license when the contractor bids.

Step 2. Look it up on the CSLB site

Open the CSLB Check a License page. You can search by license number, by business name or by a person's name.

Step 3. Read the result

Status: look for an active license. If it is expired, suspended or revoked, ask why and do not sign until it is resolved.
Business name and address: they should match the bid and the contract.
Classification: the trade the license covers, for example B (general building) or C-39 (roofing). The work you need must fit it.
Bond: a contractor's bond must be on file.
Workers' compensation: firms with employees must carry it. Some trades must carry it even without employees, for example C-39 roofing, C-8 concrete, C-20 HVAC, C-22 asbestos abatement and C-61/D-49 tree service. Otherwise the record shows an exemption.
History: the record shows the license status history and any disciplinary actions.

Step 4. Check the work history

A license shows that a firm may work, not how much it has worked. On Permit Proven you can see how many building permits a licensed firm pulled in 2025–2026 in cities that publish permit data, what kind of work it was and where. Browse licensed contractors with permit history.

Red flags

The contractor will not give a license number, or the number belongs to another business.
The price is split into small pieces to stay under $1,000.
The contractor says your project does not need a permit when it clearly changes structure, roofing, plumbing or wiring.
A large cash payment is asked for up front (see the down-payment rule in our hiring checklist).

Sources: CSLB — What kind of contractor; CSLB — Finding the right contractor. This guide is general information, not legal advice. Always confirm the license on the CSLB site.