Verify a contractor license in California.

The official source

Contractors State License Board (CSLB) — www.cslb.ca.gov/

Any job of $1,000 or more (labor and materials) requires a CSLB license. The lookup shows classification, bond, workers' comp and disciplinary actions — check all four.

What to check, in order

• The license exists and is active — not expired, not suspended. Match the exact business name or license number from the bid.
• The classification fits your job — a handyman registration is not a roofing license; several states cap the dollar size of jobs by license class.
• Bond and insurance are current — where the state lookup shows them, read them. Where it doesn't, ask for certificates and call the carrier.
• Complaint or discipline history — one old complaint means little; a pattern means everything.

Three questions that expose problems fast

• "What name is your license under?" — evasive answers here end conversations.
• "Who carries your liability policy?" — legitimate pros answer instantly.
• "Will the permit be pulled under your license?" — a contractor asking you to pull the permit is often working around a license they don't have.

Keep going

How to collect bids that can actually be compared · Track and compare your quotes (free, no signup)

We list top-rated pros in hundreds of cities — and every listing exists to be verified, not taken on faith. That is the point.