How to Verify a California Contractor's License (and Why It Matters)

Hiring a contractor in California without checking their license is like letting a stranger drive your car without checking if they have a license. Roughly 1 in 5 "contractors" advertising on Craigslist, Nextdoor, and Yelp are unlicensed — and the consequences of hiring one for a real project go far beyond a bad job. Here's how to check, in 5 minutes, and what to do with what you find.

The free 60-second license check

Every California contractor working on a project over $500 (labor + materials combined) must hold a CSLB license. Here's how to verify any contractor's status:

1. Go to CSLB's License Check (cslb.ca.gov)
2. Enter their license number (which they should give you up front; if they don't, that's a red flag)
3. Click "Find"

You'll see:

• License status: "Active" is what you want. "Suspended", "Inactive", or "Expired" is not.
• Classifications: What types of work the license covers. "B" is general building (covers most remodels). Specific trades have specific classifications.
• Bond information: Most active CSLB licensees have a $25,000 contractor bond.
• Workers' comp insurance: Required if they have employees. Confirms coverage is current.
• Complaints / disciplinary history: Anything filed against them.

What our license looks like (Design Onn Point)

Our CSLB license number is #1133368. You can verify it at the link above. Active status, B classification (general building), workers' comp current. We post the license number prominently on our website, proposals, and contracts because it's how we earn trust with new clients.

Any reputable LA contractor will display their license number similarly — on their website, on their truck, on their proposal letterhead. If you have to ask twice, that's information.

Beyond the license — three other things to check

1. General liability insurance

CSLB doesn't require general liability (it requires workers' comp for employees and a contractor bond, but not GL). Always ask for a Certificate of Insurance showing at least $1,000,000 per occurrence in general liability coverage. The certificate should name you as additional insured for the duration of the project.

2. Bonded

The CSLB contractor bond is $25,000 — the minimum. Some contractors carry larger bonds (we do). The bond protects you if the contractor abandons the project or doesn't pay subcontractors.

3. Better Business Bureau / Yelp / Google reviews

Look for:

• 10+ reviews on at least two platforms
• 4.5+ star average
• Response from the contractor on negative reviews (a sign they take feedback seriously)
• Recent reviews (within the last 12 months — old reviews from 2018 don't tell you much about today)

Red flags that should make you walk away

• Won't give you their license number. Or gives you one that doesn't check out at CSLB.
• Asks for cash, especially for the deposit. California law caps initial deposits at 10% or $1,000, whichever is less. And it should be paid by check or card with a paper trail.
• Pushes for an unusually large deposit. 50% upfront on a kitchen project is not standard.
• Doesn't have a written contract. California requires written home improvement contracts for any work over $500. Fixed-price, with start and end dates, payment schedule, and detailed scope.
• Tells you a permit isn't needed when it clearly is. See our post on LA County kitchen permits if you're not sure.
• Pressures you to sign immediately. Reputable contractors are happy to give you a few days to compare quotes.
• Quote is dramatically lower than competitors. Often a sign of unlicensed labor, missing scope items, or planned change-order surprises.
• No physical office or verified address. "I work out of my truck" is a yellow flag, especially for a 6-figure project.

What if you've already hired someone unlicensed?

Stop work and address it. The risks of continuing:

• No bonding means no recourse if they abandon the job.
• No workers' comp means if a worker gets injured on your property, you may be personally liable.
• No permits / improper inspections means the work won't be recorded against your home, hurting resale and potentially insurance.
• No CSLB recourse if there's a dispute. Licensed contractors are accountable to the CSLB; unlicensed ones aren't.

CSLB has a complaint process for unlicensed contractors. The state takes this seriously — unlicensed contracting is a misdemeanor.

What you're paying for when you hire licensed

A licensed, insured, bonded contractor costs more than an unlicensed one. What's the markup buying you?

• State-administered accountability if things go wrong
• Workers' comp that protects you if someone is injured on your property
• General liability insurance that protects you if your home is damaged
• Bond that protects you if the contractor abandons the project
• Permits and inspections that protect your resale value
• Subcontractors who themselves are licensed (which means real expertise)

The savings from going unlicensed evaporate the first time anything goes wrong. And on a multi-month, multi-trade project, something always goes wrong.

The 5-minute checklist

1. License # → check on cslb.ca.gov
2. Status: Active
3. Classification: B (or appropriate trade class)
4. Workers' comp: Current
5. No major complaints
6. Get a Certificate of Insurance for general liability
7. Read 10+ recent reviews on at least two platforms
8. Make sure you have a written contract before any work or significant deposit

Five minutes of due diligence saves thousands of dollars, weeks of headache, and protects your largest investment.

Posted by Onn Cohen Meguri, founder of Design Onn Point.