How do I check for complaints or disciplinary history against a contractor?
Look the contractor up on CSLB's "Check a License" tool: the license-detail page shows disciplinary actions CSLB has taken — citations, license suspensions, revocations, and certain legal actions — along with the current status. CSLB does not publish unresolved or pending complaints, so a clean record means no resolved disciplinary action is on file.
Verified against CSLB on · reflects current CSLB rules and California law.
Summary — key takeaways
- CSLB's license-detail page lists resolved disciplinary actions: citations, suspensions, revocations.
- Pending or unproven complaints are not disclosed publicly, by design.
- A suspended or revoked status is itself a disciplinary signal.
- You can file a complaint with CSLB directly.
- We publish only resolved, sourced facts — never pending investigations.
What CSLB discloses about discipline
CSLB is the official source for a contractor's disciplinary record. Its license-detail page lists adjudicated outcomes — issued citations, suspensions, revocations, and accusations or legal actions that have reached a published stage — and shows whether the bond and workers' comp are in order. A license that is suspended or revoked is itself a disciplinary signal.
Why pending complaints aren't shown
Pending or unproven complaints are generally not disclosed publicly, by design — an unresolved complaint isn't a finding of wrongdoing. If you have a dispute, you can file a complaint with CSLB directly, and you can ask the contractor for references and proof they've resolved past issues.
How this directory handles disciplinary data
This directory reflects each contractor's CSLB status and the date we last synced it. We publish only resolved, sourced facts from the public record — never pending investigations — and every profile links back to the official CSLB page so you can confirm the current disciplinary status yourself.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I see a contractor's disciplinary history in California?
On CSLB's "Check a License" license-detail page, which lists resolved disciplinary actions such as citations, suspensions, and revocations. Pending complaints are not shown publicly.
Does CSLB show pending complaints against a contractor?
No. CSLB publishes resolved or adjudicated disciplinary outcomes, not unproven or pending complaints. A clean record means no resolved disciplinary action is on file, not that no complaint was ever made.
How do I file a complaint against a California contractor?
File it directly with CSLB through its consumer complaint process. CSLB reviews complaints and can take disciplinary action, which then appears on the contractor's public license record.
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