California Contractor License Lookup: How to Check a CSLB License

Where is the official California contractor license lookup?

The California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) licenses and regulates the state's construction industry ^[2]. Its official lookup is the License Check page: cslb.ca.gov License Check ^[1]. It is the same lookup that appears as the button at the top of this page. If you are comparing other states or professions, our licenses hub and resources pages explain how we handle license pages, and the about page and editorial policy say how we source them.

Use the board's own page, not a third-party directory. Private sites that copy public license data may be out of date, and only CSLB can tell you what is on a license record today. The CSLB lookup page says it exists to let you "verify information, including complaint disclosure" ^[1].

How do I search for a contractor license, step by step?

The License Check page offers several kinds of search ^[1]:

• Contractor license number. Digits only, with no letters, up to 8 digits. This is the fastest, most exact search.
• Contractor name. A business name search. CSLB notes the search returns up to 50 names.
• Personnel name. A last name, first name search for a person associated with a license. It returns up to 100 names.
• Home Improvement Salesperson (HIS) registration number, which includes "SP", or a salesperson name search.
• A separate search by ZIP code or city for finding licensed contractors.

Practical tips: ask the contractor for the license number and put it on the contract, then search by number so you are not guessing between similar business names. Name searches can return many results, so the number is more reliable. A contractor who works under a business name may have a license in a different legal name, so check that the name on your contract matches the record.

What do license statuses mean?

CSLB's own glossary defines the main statuses. Active means the contractor is licensed and able to perform work. Inactive means "the contractor is still licensed but is not permitted to perform work." Expired means "a license that has not been renewed" ^[7].

Status	What CSLB says	What it means for you
Active	Contractor is licensed and able to perform work.	The license can be used to contract, if the classification fits the job.
Inactive	Still licensed, but not permitted to perform work.	CSLB says you may not contract for work with an inactive license.
Expired	A license that has not been renewed.	CSLB says any work performed while the license is expired is considered unlicensed.
Suspended	Applied when problems such as a canceled bond or lapsed workers' compensation are not resolved.	CSLB says you may not contract for work with a suspended license.

On suspension, CSLB lists causes that include a surety company canceling a required bond, a workers' compensation policy being canceled or expiring, failing to resolve a civil court judgment within 90 days, and violating the Contractors License Law ^[6].

What are license classifications?

A "classification," as CSLB defines it, refers to the type of trade work a contractor may perform, for example plumbing or electrical ^[7]. CSLB's classification page lists three main branches and a specialty group ^[10]:

Code	CSLB name	What it is
A	General Engineering Contractor	Main branch
B	General Building Contractor	Main branch
B-2	Residential Remodeling Contractor	Main branch
C-10	Electrical Contractor	Specialty (C)
C-36	Plumbing Contractor	Specialty (C)
C-39	Roofing Contractor	Specialty (C)
C-61	Limited Specialty	Listed separately, with its own page

The C group is a single specialty branch with many numbered subclasses (C-2, C-4, C-5 and so on), and the table shows only a few examples. CSLB also lists two certifications that are not licenses: ASB (Asbestos) and HAZ (Hazardous Substance Removal), each with a separate application. Because a classification describes the trade work a contractor may perform, check that the one on the record fits your job. If you are thinking about working in these trades yourself, see our electrician and plumber career pages. We are describing CSLB's list here; read the classification detail pages on cslb.ca.gov for definitions.

What do bonds and workers' compensation have to do with the record?

CSLB says "Licensed contractors are required to have a contractor license bond of $25,000," and also that bonds "do not assure the financial or professional integrity or competency of a contractor." On workers' compensation, CSLB says that "if a contractor has employees, they are required to carry workers' compensation insurance" ^[8]. CSLB's inactive-license page adds that an inactive license does not need a bond or workers' compensation coverage ^[11]. We have not verified exactly how each of these appears on the lookup result screen, so read the record itself on the CSLB site.

How do I verify a contractor for an employer or a homeowner?

If you are a homeowner or an employer confirming a contractor, search the CSLB record yourself rather than relying on a photocopy of a license. Compare four things: the license number, the name on the record, the status, and the classification against the work in the contract. If anything does not match, ask the contractor to explain before signing or paying.

If you are verifying a subcontractor or a job applicant who says they hold a license, the same lookup applies. For a Home Improvement Salesperson, use the HIS registration number or HIS name search on the same License Check page. We never check or confirm anyone's license on this site; only the CSLB record is authoritative.

What does CSLB advise before you hire?

CSLB's own guidance includes these points (CSLB, retrieved 2026-11-15):

• Check the status, not just the number. "Seeing a license number doesn't necessarily mean the license is valid." Check the license status online or by phone ^[8].
• Get at least three written bids and do not automatically accept the lowest one (same page).
• Put it in writing. CSLB says there must be a written contract for all home improvement projects over $500 in combined labor and materials. It should identify the contractor, address and license number, the work, price, payment schedule, who obtains permits and the completion date ^[9].
• Watch the down payment. CSLB says it "should never exceed 10 percent of the contract price or $1,000, whichever is less," with an exception when the contractor holds a Blanket Performance and Payment Bond on file with CSLB (same page).
• Use change orders. Added or removed work, substituted materials or changed dates should be documented on a change order, which becomes part of the contract once signed (same page).
• Know your right to cancel. CSLB says you may cancel within three days of signing, and the cancellation must be mailed in writing before midnight of the third day (same page).

None of this is legal advice, and some rules depend on the type of job. For disputes, CSLB points to its own pages and to the courts.

How do I apply for a California contractor license?

CSLB's applicant page is Apply for a Contractor License ^[3]. In general terms, CSLB says an applicant must take and pass two examinations: Law and Business, and a Trade exam. A trade exam is not required for the C-61 Limited Specialty classification. Under certain conditions, CSLB may grant a waiver of the examinations. After the license exam, applicants must also complete an Asbestos Open Book Exam and a verification form ^[3].

CSLB defines a qualifying individual as the person "who meets the experience and examination requirements for a license." The applicant pages link to separate pages on fingerprinting, fees and application forms. We do not list experience years, bond amounts or fees here because we could not confirm them on the pages we reviewed. Use CSLB's pages for current figures.

How do I renew a California contractor license, and what if it expires?

CSLB offers online renewal for licenses with one qualifier, and says licenses with multiple qualifiers must mail or hand deliver a renewal form with payment ^[4]. The renewal link is on the CSLB home page.

According to CSLB's general renewal information, active licenses expire every two years and inactive licenses every four. A renewal that arrives after expiration is delinquent and a delinquent fee applies. You may renew an expired license any time within five years after its expiration; after five years, you must submit an Application for Original Contractor's License ^[5].

If you see an expired status on a contractor you plan to hire, ask the contractor about it and check the record again before work starts.

Where do complaints and discipline show up?

CSLB handles "violations of California Contractors License Law" by licensed and unlicensed contractors, and complaints can be filed for up to four years after the act ^[12]. CSLB describes itself as a regulatory board whose highest priority is protecting the public.

What the complaint page says about the process:

• Who can file. The standard form is for homeowners, other contractors, subcontractors, employees and public agencies. It can be filed as a PDF by mail, ordered, or filed online.
• Before you file. CSLB asks whether you have formally notified your contractor of your concerns. It suggests saving a copy of that letter to submit with your complaint.
• Other forms. A Lead Referral form is for active projects where you know the job site address. Separate forms cover advertising by unlicensed contractors and failure to pull a building permit.
• Money. CSLB says an investigation is not meant to recover money and "does not guarantee complainants will receive restitution." For limited damages it points to small claims court, and for greater damages it says an attorney should be consulted.
• Enforcement. With sufficient proof, CSLB can suspend the license of a contractor who fails to satisfy final judgments substantially related to construction activities.

The lookup page itself says it lets you verify information including complaint disclosure. We could not confirm from the pages we reviewed exactly what disciplinary details are shown for each record, so check the contractor's record directly. CSLB describes a "disciplinary bond" as a bond required when disciplinary action has been taken against a license. The complaint page also links to a separate overview of how complaints are handled, which we did not review. For the board's other pages, see the CSLB home page ^[2].

Last verified: November 2026. Licensing rules change, so confirm anything important on cslb.ca.gov.