A five-minute check that protects you from the most expensive mistake in remodeling. What to look up, what the classifications mean and the red flags.
Every contractor who does work worth more than $500 in labor and materials in California must hold a license from the Contractors State License Board. Checking it takes five minutes and it is the single best protection you have against a deposit that disappears or a job that stops halfway. Here is how to do it and what to look for.
Step by step
- Ask the contractor for their license number. A licensed contractor will give it without hesitation; it should be on their estimate, contract and vehicle.
- Go to the CSLB website and use the license check tool. Search by number, business name or personal name.
- Confirm the status is Active and the expiration date is in the future.
- Check the classification. Class B (General Building) covers whole-home, kitchen and bathroom remodels, ADUs and additions. Specialty classes such as C-10 (electrical) or C-36 (plumbing) are for that trade only.
- Confirm a contractor's bond is on file. It is required and it protects you if the contractor fails to perform.
- Check workers' compensation. If the contractor has employees, it must be on file. If it says exempt, ask who will be on your job and whether they carry their own.
- Look at the complaint disclosure section for legal actions or citations.
Red flags
- A license number that belongs to a different business name or a different person
- A contractor who wants a large deposit up front. In California the legal maximum down payment is 10 percent or $1,000, whichever is less.
- No written contract, or a contract without a start date, finish date and a description of the work
- Offering to work without a permit to save money
- Asking you to pull the permit as an owner-builder for work they are doing
What the license does and does not tell you
An active license with a bond and workers' comp means the contractor is accountable to the state and you have recourse. It does not tell you about quality or communication. For that, look at recent reviews, ask for two references from jobs like yours and visit a job in progress if you can.
Where Fix Brothers stands
Fix Brothers is a licensed and insured general contractor, and we put the license and insurance on every estimate. We pull permits under our own license and never ask a client to pull one as owner-builder. Read more about us or see how we run a whole-home renovation.
Questions to ask on the first call
- What is your license number and classification?
- Who will be on my job every day, and are they your employees?
- Will you pull the permit under your license?
- How do you handle changes after work starts, and are they priced in writing first?
- Can you send a certificate of insurance naming my property?
- Can I see a job in progress and speak to two recent clients?
Frequently asked questions
Is a handyman required to have a license in California?
For any job over $500 in labor and materials, yes. Under $500, an unlicensed handyman may work but cannot advertise as a contractor.
What does a Class B license cover?
General building: projects involving two or more unrelated trades, such as kitchen and bathroom remodels, ADUs, additions and whole-home renovations.
How much deposit can a contractor ask for?
In California, no more than 10 percent of the contract or $1,000, whichever is less, before work starts.
What if the license is expired or suspended?
Do not sign. Work done under an expired license is unlicensed work and you lose the state's protections.
Can I check a contractor's insurance too?
Ask for a certificate of insurance naming you or your property. A legitimate contractor's insurer will send it directly.
Related services
Book a free on-site estimate: call (323) 593-3663 or request a quote online. Fix Brothers is a licensed and insured general contractor based in Chatsworth, serving Los Angeles since 2015.