How do I verify a California contractor's license?
Look up the contractor's license number on the CSLB "Check a License" tool (or find their profile in this directory) and confirm the status reads Active, with a classification that matches your project. Active is the only status that means a contractor is currently authorized to work; expired, suspended, and inactive licenses are not. CSLB license numbers are six or seven digits, and the number, not the business name, is the reliable identifier.
Verified against CSLB on · reflects current CSLB rules and California law.
Summary — key takeaways
- Active is the only CSLB status that means a contractor can legally work.
- Verify by license number: CSLB numbers are six or seven digits, and they never change even when business names do.
- Since January 1, 2025, jobs where labor, materials, and all other items total $1,000 or more need a licensed contractor (AB 2622).
- Checking a license is free, on the CSLB "Check a License" tool or in this directory.
- The business holds the license through its qualifier; individual employees are not separately licensed by CSLB.
What construction work requires a licensed contractor
Almost all paid construction work in California requires a CSLB license. As of January 1, 2025, any project where labor, materials, and all other items total $1,000 or more must be done by a licensed contractor. The threshold was raised from $500 by Assembly Bill 2622, so older articles that still say $500 are out of date. The license number is the reliable identifier: business names and DBAs change, license numbers don't.
Three things to verify before you sign
Verify three things before you sign: (1) the license is Active, (2) the classification covers your work (for example, C-39 for roofing or C-20 for HVAC), and (3) the contractor carries the contractor bond and, where required, workers' compensation. Each profile here shows all of this, dated against the day we last synced the CSLB public record, with a link back to the official CSLB page so you can confirm nothing has changed.
Confirm the license matches the business you're hiring
Confirm the license is held by the business you're actually hiring: match the name on the CSLB record to the name on your contract, and get the license number in writing on the contract and any bid.
How to search when you don't have the license number
CSLB's search is literal, so a few tricks help when you only have a name. License numbers are six or seven digits; anything longer isn't a CSLB number. For a personal name, enter it last name first. For a business name, use the first 10 to 15 letters, drop a leading 'The' or 'A', and try both spaced and unspaced forms of names like 'Mc Donald' and 'McDonald'. If the search still comes up empty, ask the contractor for the number directly: licensed contractors must put it on bids, contracts, and advertising, so refusal is itself an answer.
Who actually holds the license
The license belongs to the contracting business, and one person, the qualifier (a responsible managing officer or employee, RMO or RME), holds the qualification behind it. Individual employees and crew members are not separately licensed by CSLB, so don't expect every worker on site to have their own license number. What matters is that the business named on your contract holds an Active license in the right classification.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check a contractor's license number in California?
Enter the number in the CSLB "Check a License" tool, or open the contractor's profile in this directory. The CSLB record shows status, classification, bond, and workers' compensation. Confirm the status is Active before hiring.
How many digits is a California contractor license number?
Six or seven digits. If a contractor gives you something longer or shorter, it isn't a CSLB contractor license number; ask again, or search CSLB by name instead.
Can I look up a contractor by name instead of license number?
Yes. Search individuals last name first. For companies, use the first 10 to 15 letters of the name, drop a leading 'The' or 'A', and try both spaced and unspaced spellings (for example 'Mc Donald' and 'McDonald'). The license number is still the most reliable way to pull the right record.
Is checking a California contractor's license free?
Yes. CSLB license records are a free public record, and verifying a contractor in this directory is free. You never have to pay to confirm a license is valid.
Does every worker on my job need their own CSLB license?
No. The contracting business holds the license through its qualifier (RMO or RME), and employees are not individually licensed by CSLB. One separate credential worth knowing: electricians employed by C-10 contractors must hold a state electrician certification from the Department of Industrial Relations, or be registered apprentices or supervised registered trainees. That is a worker credential, not a CSLB license.
What if a contractor won't give you their license number?
Treat it as a red flag. Licensed California contractors must put their license number on contracts, bids, and advertising. If they can't or won't provide it, you cannot verify they're authorized to do the work.
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