Step-by-Step: Look Up a CSLB License
The Contractors State License Board (CSLB) maintains a free, public database of every licensed contractor in California. Here’s how to use it.
- Go to cslb.ca.gov and click “Check a License” in the top navigation bar. You can also go directly to the lookup page.
- Enter the license number. If the contractor gave you a 7-digit license number, type it in. If you don’t have the number, search by business name or the contractor’s personal name. Business name search works best.
- Check the status. The first thing you’re looking for: does the Status field say “Active”? If it says anything else — Inactive, Suspended, Revoked, Cancelled — stop right there. Don’t hire them.
- Check the bond. Look for the Contractor’s Bond field. It should show a current bond with a surety company. All California contractors are required to carry at least a $25,000 bond.
- Check workers’ comp. If the contractor has employees, they’re required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. If the field says “Exempt,” it means they’re claiming they have no employees. That’s fine for a sole proprietor, but if they show up to your house with a crew, something doesn’t add up.
- Look at classifications and complaint history. Check that the license type matches the work you need. Then scroll down to see if there are complaints, legal actions, or disciplinary records on file.
The CSLB website is unavailable for maintenance every Sunday from 8 PM to Monday at 6 AM Pacific time. If you can’t load the page on a Sunday night, that’s why. Try again Monday morning.
What Each Field Means
The CSLB license detail page shows a lot of information. Here’s what the key fields actually tell you.
| Field | What It Means |
|---|---|
| License Number | 7-digit unique ID. This doesn’t change even if the business name does. |
| Status | Active, Inactive, Suspended, Revoked, or Cancelled. Only hire Active. |
| Issue Date | When the license was first issued. Longer track record is generally better. |
| Expire Date | Licenses renew every 2 years. If it expired recently, the contractor may be mid-renewal. |
| Classifications | The types of work the contractor is licensed to do (A, B, C-xx). |
| Contractor’s Bond | $25,000 minimum. Protects you if the contractor doesn’t finish the job or does defective work. |
| Bond of Qualifying Individual | $25,000 bond on the specific person who passed the licensing exam. |
| Workers’ Comp | Insurance carrier and policy info. “Exempt” means they claim no employees. |
| Legal Actions | Any CSLB disciplinary actions, complaints, or arbitration cases. |
Active vs. Inactive vs. Suspended
These mean different things, and the difference matters.
Active
The contractor’s license is current and in good standing. This is what you want to see. It means they’ve renewed on time, their bond is current, and they haven’t been disciplined.
Inactive
The contractor chose not to renew their license, or let it lapse. They can’t legally perform contracting work while inactive. Sometimes a contractor will go inactive during a slow period and reactivate later. But right now, if the status says Inactive, they’re not allowed to work.
This is the one we see most often in the Sacramento area. A contractor who was licensed two years ago but didn’t renew. They might still have the same truck, the same business cards, the same yard sign. But their license isn’t valid.
Suspended
The CSLB has suspended the license as a disciplinary action. This usually means something went wrong — failure to resolve a complaint, judgment against the contractor, bond cancellation, or a violation of contractor law. This is a serious red flag. Don’t hire a suspended contractor.
Revoked
The license has been permanently taken away. This is the most severe action the CSLB takes. It means the contractor did something bad enough that the board pulled their license entirely. Fraud, repeated violations, unlicensed activity after suspension — those kinds of things.
We’ve heard every version of “my license is being renewed” and “it’s just a paperwork issue.” If the CSLB says the license isn’t Active, don’t hire them. It doesn’t matter what explanation they give you. The status on cslb.ca.gov is what counts, not their story.
License Classes That Matter for Home Safety Work
California has 43 contractor license classifications. You don’t need to know all of them. For senior home safety modifications, here are the ones that matter.
| Class | Name | Covers |
|---|---|---|
| B | General Building | Most home modifications. Grab bars, ramps, bathroom remodels, accessibility renovations. This is the broadest license. |
| C-36 | Plumbing | Walk-in tub installations, shower conversions, any work involving water supply or drain lines. |
| C-8 | Concrete | Concrete wheelchair ramps, patio modifications, pathway work. |
| C-10 | Electrical | Adding circuits for walk-in tub pumps, stairlift wiring, GFCI installations. |
| D-49 | Tree Service | Not directly related, but if a contractor claims they can do everything “including tree work,” that’s a sign they’re making things up. |
A B license holder can do most home safety work. If the job involves significant plumbing or electrical, they should sub it to a C-36 or C-10, or you should hire those specialists directly.
The most common setup we see in our Sacramento directory: a B-licensed general contractor handles the overall project, and they bring in a C-36 plumber for the tub/shower work. That’s normal and fine. Just make sure both the general and the sub are licensed.
Bond and Workers’ Comp — Why They Matter to You
The contractor’s bond
Every licensed contractor in California carries a $25,000 surety bond. This isn’t insurance for the contractor — it’s protection for you. If the contractor takes your money and doesn’t finish the job (California also caps deposits at 10% — see our deposit rule guide), or does defective work and refuses to fix it, you can file a claim against this bond.
$25,000 doesn’t cover everything, but it’s a backstop. On a $5,000 grab bar and bathroom safety job, it covers the full amount. On a $15,000 walk-in tub installation, it covers a significant portion.
Workers’ compensation
If a contractor’s employee gets injured at your house and the contractor doesn’t carry workers’ comp, you could be liable. Your homeowner’s insurance might cover it, or it might not. This isn’t a theoretical risk — construction injuries happen.
When the CSLB record shows “Exempt” under workers’ comp, it means the contractor is certifying they have no employees. That’s perfectly legal for a one-person operation. But if they show up with helpers, apprentices, or a crew, they should have workers’ comp coverage. Ask about it.
What Are the Red Flags When Checking a Contractor’s License?
No license number on their business card, truck, or website. California law requires contractors to display their license number on all advertising. If it’s missing, ask yourself why.
The license number belongs to a different person or company. Some unlicensed operators use someone else’s license number. Check that the business name on the CSLB record matches the company you’re talking to.
If someone pressures you for a large upfront payment, read our deposit scam warning guide.
“We don’t need a license for this job.” If the total is over $500, yes they do. California B&P Code 7028.
Recent legal actions on the CSLB record. One resolved complaint from years ago isn’t necessarily a deal-breaker. But active complaints, recent suspensions, or multiple legal actions? Move on.
Workers’ comp says “Exempt” but they have a crew. A sole proprietor who does all the work alone can be exempt. A company with employees can’t be. If you see a crew at your house, ask to see their workers’ comp certificate.
How SSS Checks Licenses
We built an automated system that checks every contractor in our directory against the CSLB database. Here’s how it works.
Every night at 3 AM Pacific, our system queries the CSLB for each contractor’s current status. We check: license status (Active/Inactive/Suspended), bond status, and workers’ comp filing. If anything changes — a license goes inactive, a bond lapses, workers’ comp gets dropped — the contractor is immediately flagged in our directory.
When we detect a problem, we send ourselves an email alert, and the contractor’s listing gets a warning indicator until the issue is resolved. We also attempt to contact the contractor directly. Sometimes a lapsed bond is just a renewal timing issue. Other times it’s a sign of bigger problems.
Right now, every contractor in our Sacramento directory has an Active CSLB license. We checked them at 3 AM this morning.
Bottom Line
Check the license. It takes 60 seconds at cslb.ca.gov. Look for Active status, a current bond, and workers’ comp on file if they have employees. Check that the license classification matches the work you need — B for general building, C-36 for plumbing work.
If you don’t want to do the lookup yourself, every contractor in our directory has been checked today. And under AB 1327, they’re required to email you a copy of any contract within 24 hours. We do it every night, automatically. It’s the bare minimum, and it’s what we built this site around.
Frequently Asked Questions
Go to cslb.ca.gov and click “Check a License.” Enter the contractor’s 7-digit license number or search by business name. The results show license status, bond info, workers’ comp, classifications, and complaint history. It takes about 60 seconds.
It means they haven’t renewed their license or chose to deactivate it. They can’t legally do contracting work while inactive. Don’t hire them, even if they say “it’s being renewed.” Wait until the CSLB site shows Active status.
A B (General Building) license covers most home safety modifications: grab bars, ramps, bathroom remodels, and accessibility renovations. For walk-in tub installations or shower conversions that involve plumbing changes, you’ll want a C-36 (Plumbing) license, either on the general contractor or a licensed subcontractor.
Not legally. California B&P Code 7028 only requires a license for projects totaling $500 or more in labor and materials. But we still recommend hiring licensed contractors for any job. Their work is bonded, insured, and you have recourse through the CSLB if something goes wrong.
We run an automated check against the CSLB database every night at 3 AM Pacific. We verify Active license status, current bond, and workers’ comp filing for every contractor in our directory. If any license changes status, we flag it immediately and investigate.