California Contractor License Lookup (CSLB Verifier)
Verify any California contractor's CSLB license, bond, workers comp, and disciplinary status in real time. Free, no signup. Powered by live data from CSLB.gov.
Look Up a Contractor
Enter a license number or business name. We pull the latest record from CSLB 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 for work over $500 without an active CSLB license. 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 query CSLB.gov in real time and parse the response so you get the same data CSLB shows on its own license-check page, organized with red-flag warnings.
How current is the license data?
Live. Every lookup hits CSLB.gov directly. CSLB itself updates the database in near real time as license changes are processed. Results are cached on our side for 24 hours per license to be polite to CSLB's servers and return faster on repeat queries.
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 suspended license cannot legally contract for work over $500. 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?
Yes, but those records require a deeper dive on CSLB.gov itself. The license-status page (what this tool pulls) will show if the license is under any active suspension or citation. To search full disciplinary history, click through to the official CSLB record link shown on every result page - we provide a direct deep link.
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.
CSLB #1047699 · Bonded & Insured · 5.0 rating across 47+ reviews
