HOW TO CHECK A CALIFORNIA CONTRACTOR'S LICENSE ON THE CSLB WEBSITE

The Contractors State License Board (CSLB) runs a free page titled “Check a Contractor License or Home Improvement Salesperson (HIS) Registration.” You can search by license number, business name or the name of a person on the license. Salespeople can be looked up by HIS registration number or name.

• Ask for the license number first. It should already be on the contractor's business card, bid and advertising.
• Enter the number on the Check a License page and open the record.
• Compare the business name and address of record with the paperwork you were given.
• If someone other than the owner is selling the job, look up their HIS registration too. CSLB's consumer guide says a salesperson cannot legally sign a home improvement contract for the contractor unless they are a registered home improvement salesperson.

CSLB notes the database is unavailable from Sunday at 8 p.m. to Monday at 6 a.m. for maintenance. You can also call CSLB at (800) 321-CSLB (2752).

• CSLB: Check a License (opens in a new tab)
• CSLB: How do I find the right licensed contractor? (opens in a new tab)

A license detail page is laid out under these headings:

• Business information: the business name and address of record.
• Entity, issue date and expiration date.
• License status: whether the license is current and active.
• Classifications: the kinds of work the license covers.
• Bonding information: the contractor's bond and the bond of a qualifying individual.
• Workers' compensation: whether a policy is on file, and with which insurer.
• Personnel listed on the license.

• Status: it should say the license is current and active. The business name should match the name on your bid and contract.
• Bond: CSLB says licensed contractors are required to have a contractor license bond of $25,000.
• Liability insurance: this is not on the record. CSLB says “Commercial general liability insurance is not required; however, it covers damage to your property,” and suggests asking for the certificate of insurance.

• Ask to see the contractor's pocket license along with a photo ID when they come to bid.
• If a salesperson visits, ask for their Home Improvement Salesperson registration.
• Get at least three written bids on the same plans and specifications. CSLB's advice: “Do not automatically accept the lowest bid.”
• Check references: local customers, material suppliers and subcontractors.
• Look for the license number. CSLB says it must appear in all contractor advertisements and on business cards, bids and contracts.

California has a narrow exemption for minor work. CSLB's industry bulletin of December 31, 2024 (#24-07) explains that starting January 1, 2025 the threshold rose from $500 to $1,000. The conditions matter more than the dollar figure: “the work cannot require a permit, and the unlicensed person cannot employ anyone for the project.”

The bulletin adds that unlicensed individuals may advertise for work up to $1,000 only if the advertisement discloses that they are not licensed. Work that needs a building permit does not qualify, whatever the price.

Every license detail page opens with a disclaimer listing its limits. Among them:

• Complaint disclosure is restricted by law.
• Only construction-related civil judgments reported to CSLB are disclosed.
• Arbitrations are not listed unless the contractor fails to comply with the terms.
• Recent information may not have been entered yet.

So treat a clean record as a starting point. You still want references, a written contract and proof of insurance.

This guide reflects CSLB's pages as read on October 2, 2026. It is general information, not legal advice. For a question about a specific contractor, contact CSLB.