What to Do If a Contractor Isn't Licensed in California
If you think a contractor isn't licensed in California, first verify their status directly on the CSLB "Check a License" tool — license numbers and statuses are public, and an Active license is the only proof that counts. If they have no license and the job is $1,000 or more in combined labor and materials, they're not legally allowed to do the work, and you can report unlicensed activity to CSLB.
Verified against CSLB on · reflects current CSLB rules and California law.
Summary — key takeaways
- Verify status on CSLB first — Active is the only status that confirms a valid license.
- Work of $1,000+ (labor + materials) requires a licensed contractor (AB 2622).
- Unlicensed contracting is a misdemeanor under Business & Professions Code §7028.
- Hiring unlicensed means no bond, no CSLB complaint leverage, and possible injury liability.
- Report suspected unlicensed activity to CSLB through its complaint process.
First, verify the license status
Before assuming a contractor is unlicensed, confirm it. Search the CSLB "Check a License" tool by license number or business name, or look them up in this directory. A license must read Active — not expired, suspended, or inactive — to be valid.
If you can't find any record and they can't produce a license number, treat them as unlicensed and don't proceed on a job that requires a license.
What the law requires
In California, any construction job where labor and materials total $1,000 or more must be done by a CSLB-licensed contractor (Business & Professions Code §7048, as amended by Assembly Bill 2622 effective January 1, 2025). Contracting without a license at or above that threshold is a misdemeanor under Business & Professions Code §7028.
Below $1,000, a person may do minor work only if it isn't part of a larger project and they disclose, in advertising and bids, that they aren't licensed.
The risks of hiring unlicensed
If you hire an unlicensed person, you give up the protections licensing provides: there's no $25,000 contractor bond to claim against, no CSLB disciplinary leverage, and you may be liable if an uninsured worker is injured on your property.
Recovering money for bad or unfinished work is much harder. The safer path is to verify a license up front and only hire an Active, correctly classified contractor.
How to report unlicensed activity
You can report suspected unlicensed contracting to CSLB through its complaint process. CSLB investigates unlicensed activity and can issue citations, pursue legal action, and run enforcement operations.
Provide what you can document — advertising, bids, contracts, and payment records — and let CSLB adjudicate. Stick to facts you can support; CSLB is the body that determines whether a violation occurred.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if a contractor is unlicensed in California?
Search the CSLB "Check a License" tool or this directory by license number or business name. An Active license confirms they're licensed; if there's no record and they can't produce a number, treat them as unlicensed.
Is it illegal to contract without a license in California?
Yes. For work of $1,000 or more in combined labor and materials, contracting without a license is a misdemeanor under Business & Professions Code §7028. The homeowner isn't usually penalized, but loses the protections licensing provides.
What happens if I already hired an unlicensed contractor?
Document everything, stop further payments if the work is substandard, and consider reporting to CSLB and using small-claims or civil court. An unlicensed contractor generally can't sue to enforce payment, but recovering your own losses can still be difficult.
Where do I report an unlicensed contractor in California?
To CSLB, through its consumer complaint and report-unlicensed-activity process. CSLB investigates and can cite or pursue legal action against unlicensed operators.
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