How to Check a Contractor's License in California
A step-by-step guide to the CSLB license lookup: what a California contractor license record shows, what it leaves out, and what to ask before you sign.
The bid looks professional. There is a logo, a warranty, and a license number printed at the bottom of every page. Most homeowners stop there.
That number is where the check starts, not where it ends. Behind it sits a public record kept by the State of California, and reading it takes about five minutes on a free website. This guide walks you through it: how to look up a California contractor license, what each part of the record means for you, and the few things the record cannot tell you.
Why the license number on the bid isn't enough
A license number proves that a license exists. It does not prove that the license is active, that it belongs to the company in front of you, or that it covers the work in your bid. Numbers get copied from old business cards, borrowed from a relative, or kept on a website long after a license was suspended.
Californians ran 28.8 million license checks on the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) website in 2025. The board still opened 20,092 complaints that year. Looking up the number helps. Knowing what you're looking at helps more.
Source: CSLB, 2025
How to use the CSLB license lookup, step by step
- Go to cslb.ca.gov and open Check a License. It is free and needs no account.
- Search by license number, business name, or the name of a person on the license. A California license number is digits only.
- Search the business name too. If the name on your bid doesn't match the name on the license, stop and ask why before you go any further.
- Open the license detail and read it top to bottom. The next section explains each part.
- Can't get online? Call CSLB at (800) 321-2752.
One more check CSLB itself recommends: ask to see the contractor's pocket license card, and compare the name on it with a photo ID. It takes ten seconds and catches someone using another contractor's number.
What to read on a California contractor license record
| On the record | What you want to see | Ask about it when you see |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Active, and not expiring before your job ends | Expired, suspended, revoked or inactive |
| Business name | The name on your bid and your contract | A different name, or one you've never heard |
| Classification | C-39 Roofing for a roof | A bid for work the classification doesn't cover |
| Bond | A $25,000 contractor bond on file | A bond that is cancelled or missing |
| Workers' compensation | A named insurer and policy dates that run past your job | "Exempt" on a company that does roofs |
| Personnel | The qualifier, and how long they've been there | A qualifier who joined last month |
| Legal actions | None, or old and resolved | Recent suspensions, citations or accusations |
Status: active, today and through your job
Only an active license can legally take your job. Check the expiration date as well. A license that expires halfway through your roof is a conversation you want to have before you sign, not after the tear-off.
Classification: does the license cover your job?
A contractor may only do work in the classifications the license carries. For a roof, look for C-39 Roofing. If the bid also includes gutters, solar or structural repairs, check that each one is covered by a classification on the license or by a properly licensed subcontractor. Work outside the license is unlicensed work, whatever the website says.
Bond: small, but it tells you something
Every licensed contractor must keep a $25,000 contractor bond on file with CSLB. It gives a wronged homeowner somewhere to file a claim. Two things to know: the $25,000 is shared across all of the contractor's jobs, not set aside for yours, and it will not rebuild a roof. A cancelled bond is a warning, because a license can't stay active without one.
Source: CSLB, bond requirements (SB 607, effective January 1, 2023)
Workers' comp: the line most homeowners skip
The record shows the contractor's workers' compensation insurer and policy dates, or an exemption that says the company has no employees. For roofers this line matters more than for anyone: California requires every licensed roofer to carry workers' comp, even with no employees. We explain why in Does your roofer need workers' comp in California?
Personnel: the person behind the license
Every company license rests on one person's experience, the qualifier, often listed as the RMO. Their name is in the personnel list. Whether that person actually runs the work is one of the most useful questions you can ask, and we cover it in What is an RMO on a California contractor license?
Legal actions and complaints
This section lists suspensions, citations and other actions CSLB has taken. Read the dates and what each action was for. One old, resolved citation is different from three in the last two years.
Does a roofer need a license in California?
Yes. California requires a contractor license for any job where labor and materials together cost $1,000 or more. A license is also required, at any price, when the job needs a building permit or the person hires anyone to help. A roof replacement crosses all three lines.
Source: CSLB, AB 2622 (effective January 1, 2025)
If you read somewhere that the limit is $500, that page is out of date. The limit doubled at the start of 2025.
The law does protect you if you hire someone unlicensed without knowing it: an unlicensed contractor can't sue you to get paid, and you can sue to recover what you paid them. But that is a lawsuit, not a roof. Checking first is cheaper.
Source: Business and Professions Code §7031
What "licensed and insured" should mean
You will hear "licensed and insured" on almost every sales call. Here is what it should mean, in full:
- Licensed: an active license, in this company's name, with the classification for your job.
- Insured, part one: workers' compensation for the people on your roof. It is on the CSLB record.
- Insured, part two: general liability insurance for damage to your home. It is not on any state record, so ask for a certificate, and ask for it to come from the insurer rather than as a photocopy from the salesperson.
The $25,000 bond is not insurance for you. It is the minimum the state requires to keep a license.
What a clean record doesn't tell you
A license with no complaints listed is a good sign. It is not proof that nobody has ever complained. CSLB only shows a complaint once it has been referred for legal action, or once investigators have found a probable serious violation. Complaints resolved in the contractor's favor are never shown.
Source: Business and Professions Code §7124.6
The license record also says nothing about liens or court judgments against the company, its safety record, its permits, or whether its manufacturer certifications are real. Those live in other public records. A ConFacts report reads the CSLB record together with them and shows every finding with its source, so you can see the whole picture in one place.
Red flags when you check a contractor's license
- The license isn't active, or expires before your job is finished.
- The name on the license isn't the name on the bid.
- The classification doesn't cover the work you're buying.
- A roofing company shows "exempt" for workers' comp.
- The bond was recently cancelled.
- The contractor asks for more than 10 percent of the price or $1,000 down, whichever is less. That is the legal limit for a down payment on a home improvement job.
- They want cash, or they want you to sign today.
Source: CSLB, Tips for Hiring a Roofing Contractor
Questions to ask before you sign
“Is the license number on this bid yours, and is it in this company's name?”
“Does your classification cover everything in this bid?”
“Can your insurer send me your liability certificate directly?”
Frequently asked questions
How do I look up a contractor's license in California?
Use the free Check a License search on cslb.ca.gov. You can search by license number, business name or a person's name, or call CSLB at (800) 321-2752.
What license does a roofer need in California?
For a roof-only job, look for the C-39 Roofing classification on an active license.
How much work can an unlicensed person do in California?
Under $1,000 in total labor and materials, with no building permit and no one else hired to help. Anything beyond that needs a licensed contractor.
Can I cancel a home improvement contract after signing?
In most cases, yes. California gives you three business days to cancel in writing, or five if you are 65 or older. Don't let work start or permits get pulled during that window.
Source: CSLB, A Consumer Guide to Home Improvement Contracts
Does a license mean the contractor is good?
No. A license means the qualifier passed the state's exams and showed the required experience, and that the company keeps a bond on file. It's the minimum, not a recommendation. The rest of the record, and the questions above, tell you more.
For the full picture of what's on a contractor's record, read the Homeowner's guide.