California Contractor License Lookup (CSLB Verifier)
Verify any California contractor's CSLB license status, bond, workers comp, classifications, and officers. Free, no signup. Built on CSLB's official statewide license data, refreshed weekly.
Look Up a Contractor
Enter a license number or business name. We check it against CSLB's official license records and flag anything you should worry about before signing.
License Status
Active, suspended, expired, or revoked - and the reason if it isn't clean.
Bond & Workers Comp
Surety bond amount, carrier, and current workers comp policy status.
Classifications
What the contractor is licensed to do (B, C-10, C-36, etc.) and whether it matches your job.
Red Flag Scoring
Plain-English warnings if anything on the record should give you pause before signing.
Why Verify a CSLB License Before Signing
California Business and Professions Code 7028 makes it a misdemeanor to contract without an active CSLB license. The only exception is minor work: under $1,000 total, no permit required, and no employees (the limit rose from $500 on January 1, 2025 under AB 2622). Hiring an unlicensed contractor for an ADU, addition, or remodel doesn't just expose you to liability - it can void your homeowners insurance, prevent your project from passing inspection, and leave you with zero legal recourse if the work is defective.
This tool pulls the same data shown on CSLB.gov, packaged with a plain-English red-flag scoring system. We highlight what matters: is the license suspended, is the bond filed, is workers comp current, and does the classification match the work you need.
What to Check Before You Sign an ADU or Remodel Contract
- License status must be ACTIVE. Suspended, expired, or revoked = walk away.
- Contractor's $25,000 surety bond must be on file. This is your recovery path if the contractor takes money and disappears.
- Workers Compensation must be current. If a worker is hurt on your property and the contractor has no WC, you are on the hook.
- Classification must match the job. B = General Building (ADUs, additions, full remodels). C-10 = Electrical. C-36 = Plumbing. C-20 = HVAC. C-39 = Roofing. The classification on the license has to cover what you're hiring them to do.
- Pull a recent permit and verify the contractor name matches. Use our LADBS Permit Search to confirm they actually pulled permits on a recent project under the same business name.
Red Flags This Tool Surfaces Automatically
Once you run a lookup, our tool flags any of the following without you having to interpret the raw CSLB page:
- License under suspension (with the specific reason from CSLB)
- License expired or expiring in less than 90 days
- No active Workers Compensation policy
- Workers Comp expired or expiring in 30 days
- Missing contractor's surety bond
- Classification mismatch (e.g. you need a B for an ADU and the contractor only holds a specialty C-classification)
If you see any red flag, the safe play is to ask the contractor for written documentation that resolves it before you wire a deposit. Read our full 8 Common Mistakes When Hiring an ADU Builder guide for the full vetting checklist.
Frequently Asked Questions - California Contractor License Lookup
Is this CSLB license lookup free?
Yes. There is no fee, no signup, and no email required. We use CSLB's official public license data, the same records behind CSLB's own license-check page, and organize it with red-flag warnings.
How current is the license data?
Our copy of CSLB's statewide license file is refreshed every week, and each result shows the date of the data it came from. For a change made in the last few days, such as a brand-new license or a same-week suspension, confirm on CSLB.gov with the direct link on every result.
What does the CSLB license classification mean?
A classification is the scope of work the contractor is licensed to perform. B (General Building) covers ADUs, additions, and full remodels. C-classifications are specialty trades (C-10 Electrical, C-36 Plumbing, C-20 HVAC, C-39 Roofing, etc.). For a typical ADU project you want a contractor holding either a B or the appropriate C-class for the trade involved.
What does "license under suspension" mean?
A contractor with a suspended license cannot legally take a job that needs a permit, uses employees, or totals $1,000 or more. CSLB suspends licenses for reasons including failure to maintain workers compensation insurance, unpaid bond claims, citations not resolved, or failure to comply with CSLB investigation. Always wait for a suspended license to be reinstated before signing.
What is the contractor's $25,000 bond for?
California requires every licensed contractor to file a $25,000 surety bond as a condition of licensure. If the contractor abandons your job, performs defective work, or violates the contract, you can file a claim against this bond. It is not insurance - it is a recovery mechanism that pays homeowners harmed by licensed contractor misconduct.
Can I check a contractor's complaint or disciplinary history?
Partly. Every result shows any current suspension, scheduled suspension, or pending CSLB action on the license. Full complaint and disciplinary history lives on CSLB.gov, so every result page includes a direct link to that license's official CSLB record.
Free 15-Minute Call
Worried About a Builder You're Already Talking To?
If a contractor's CSLB record raises red flags, our LA-licensed team will review it with you - the suspension reasons, missing bonds, complaint disclosures, and what they actually mean for your project. No pitch, no obligation.
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