⚠ Warning for Palisades and Eaton Fire Homeowners
17 people have been criminally charged with contracting without a license in the LA fire zones.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office says 11 were working in the Eaton Fire zone and 6 in the Palisades Fire zone. In a declared disaster area, contracting without a license is a felony. Before you sign anything or hand over a deposit, verify the license. It takes two minutes. Check a contractor’s license now →
What Happened
On October 2, 2026, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced criminal charges against 17 people accused of contracting without a license in the wildfire burn zones. Eleven were allegedly working in the Eaton Fire area (Altadena and the Pasadena foothills) and six in the Palisades Fire area.
One of the people charged, Erik Uribe, faces two counts of grand theft and two counts of contracting without a license during a natural disaster. Two Altadena homeowners had already sued him, alleging he “failed to disclose that he was not licensed to complete the project legally.” He has pleaded not guilty, and his attorney says he will vigorously defend himself.
This is not the first round. In December 2025, District Attorney Nathan Hochman charged five other unlicensed contractors caught in a joint sting with the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) in the Eaton Fire zone. As he put it then: “Criminal contractors prey on residents who have lost much and cannot afford further losses.”
Why This Matters If You Lost Your Home
Fire victims are the most targeted homeowners in California right now. You are under pressure to rebuild, you are dealing with insurance, and the people knocking on doors or calling with “we can start next week” offers know it. Hiring an unlicensed contractor can cost you far more than the money you hand over:
- No bond, often no insurance. If a worker is hurt on your lot or the job is abandoned, there may be nothing to claim against. Injured workers can sometimes come after the property owner.
- Your insurance carrier may push back. Draws and supplemental claims depend on documented, permitted work by a licensed contractor.
- Permits and inspections. Unpermitted or uninspected work has to be torn out or legalized later, and it shows up when you sell or refinance.
- Fire-rebuild deadlines. The streamlined rules and fee waivers depend on getting a permit issued by January 13, 2032. A stalled or abandoned job burns time you cannot get back.
- Little legal recourse. An unlicensed contractor generally cannot legally enforce payment for the work, but that does not help you recover a deposit that is already gone.
The Law: A Felony in a Disaster Zone
In California, contracting without a license in connection with structures damaged or destroyed by a disaster that the Governor has declared a state of emergency is a felony. Penalties can include up to three years in prison and fines of up to $10,000. That is why the District Attorney is treating these cases as criminal, not just licensing violations.
⚠ Red Flags – Walk Away If You See These
- They knock on your door or call you first, often right after the fire.
- They will not give you a license number, or the number does not match their name when you look it up.
- They want a large deposit up front. In California, a home improvement down payment generally cannot exceed 10 percent of the contract price or $1,000, whichever is less.
- They want cash, or ask you to pull the permit yourself as an “owner-builder.”
- No written contract, or a contract with no license number on it.
- Pressure to sign today because a “crew is available” or a “price expires.”
How to Protect Yourself: 5 Steps Before You Hire
1. Verify the license
Run the license number or business name through our free Contractor License Lookup. It uses the Contractors State License Board’s official license records and flags problems automatically. Confirm the license is active, the name matches the person you are dealing with, and the classification fits the work (a Class B general building contractor for a full home rebuild).
2. Check the bond and workers’ comp
The same lookup shows the contractor’s bond and workers’ compensation status, plus the officers and qualifiers on the license. A contractor with employees and no workers’ comp on file is a serious warning sign.
3. Get everything in writing
A written contract with the license number, a detailed scope, a payment schedule tied to completed work, and the start and finish dates. Never pay ahead of the work.
4. Make sure the contractor pulls the permit
A licensed contractor pulls the building permit under their own license. If someone asks you to pull it as an owner-builder, you take on the legal responsibility for the job and the workers.
5. Report suspected unlicensed activity
If you have been approached by, or hired, someone you believe is unlicensed, report it to the CSLB. The District Attorney has said fire survivors remain victims even if they knowingly hired an unlicensed worker.
Verify CCS before you trust us, too.
CCS Inc. is a licensed general contractor, CSLB #1047699, bonded and insured. Look us up in our license checker, then book a free consultation about your rebuild.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many unlicensed contractors were charged in the LA fire zones?
On October 2, 2026, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced charges against 17 people accused of contracting without a license in wildfire burn zones: 11 in the Eaton Fire zone and 6 in the Palisades Fire zone. Five others were charged in December 2025 after a joint sting with the Contractors State License Board in the Eaton Fire zone.
Is it a crime to work without a contractor’s license in a fire zone?
Yes. In California, contracting without a license on structures damaged or destroyed in a declared state of emergency is a felony, with penalties of up to three years in prison and fines of up to $10,000.
How do I check if a contractor is licensed in California?
Enter the license number or business name in our free Contractor License Lookup, which uses the Contractors State License Board’s official license records. Confirm the license is active, the name matches, and the bond and workers’ compensation are on file.
How much can a contractor ask for as a down payment?
For home improvement contracts in California, the down payment generally cannot exceed 10 percent of the contract price or $1,000, whichever is less. A request for a large up-front deposit is a red flag.
What should I do if I already hired an unlicensed contractor?
Stop paying ahead of the work, keep every text, receipt, and contract, and report it to the Contractors State License Board. Then have a licensed contractor review what was built so you know what needs a permit, an inspection, or correction.
Sources
- ABC7 Los Angeles – “17 accused unlicensed contractors charged amid ongoing fire zone investigation”
- Los Angeles County District Attorney – “DA Hochman Announces Charges Against Unlicensed Contractors in Eaton Fire Zone”
Related Reading
- Fire Rebuild Services – design, permits, construction, and insurance coordination under one licensed contract.
- LA Fire Rebuild Permits Guide – the 110% rule, fee waivers, and the January 13, 2032 deadline.
- ADU Builder Red Flags in Los Angeles
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