Hiring a Contractor
How to check a contractor's license before you sign
It takes two minutes and it is the single highest-value thing you can do before handing anyone money.
Search the contractor on the CSLB license registry and check four things: the status is Active, the classification covers your work, the bond is in place, and workers' compensation is current or a valid exemption is on file.
The four things to look at
Status: Active
Not expired, not suspended. A suspended licence usually means a bond or workers' comp lapsed, or there is an unresolved judgment. Any of those is your problem too once work starts.
Classification: does it cover YOUR work?
This is the one people skip. A licence is not general permission — it is a specific classification. A General B covers projects involving at least two unrelated trades. Specialty trades carry their own C-classifications. If someone is quoting work outside their classification, that is a risk to your permit, not just theirs.
Contractor's bond
California requires a contractor bond — ours is $25,000. It is not insurance for your project, but a missing or lapsed bond tells you the licence is not in good standing.
Workers' compensation
Check there is an active policy, or a valid exemption if they genuinely have no employees. If somebody is injured on your property and the contractor has no workers' comp, that exposure can land on you. Ask for the certificate from the carrier, not a PDF from the contractor.
What a licence does NOT tell you
- Whether they carry general liability. That is separate from the bond and separate from workers' comp. Ask for it.
- Whether they are any good. A licence is a floor, not a recommendation.
- Who is actually doing the work. Ask which trades are in-house and which are subcontracted, and whether the subs are licensed and insured too.
Us, so you can practise on a real one
| What to check | What you'll see |
|---|---|
| Licence number | 1112902 |
| Classification | General Building (B) |
| Legal entity | Elusive General Construction Inc. |
| Bond | $25,000 |
| Workers' compensation | Active policy, The Hartford |
| Issued | November 2023 |
Look us up on the CSLB registry and compare it against anyone else you are considering. If a contractor gets uncomfortable when you say you are going to check, you have learned something useful for free.
One thing we tell people about our own licence
That means we will not quote you standalone roofing, and we will not pretend a roof is incidental to something else so it fits under our licence. If your project needs a trade we don't hold, you should hear that from us early rather than find out at inspection.
Common questions
How do I check if a California contractor is licensed?
What does a General B licence cover?
Is a contractor's bond the same as insurance?
What if a contractor has no workers' compensation?
Where to go next
Written by the team at Elusive Construction, a licensed California general contractor (B #1112902) building in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. General information about how residential construction works — not legal advice. For your specific contract, talk to an attorney.
Have a project you want priced honestly?
Book a Project Discovery Call and we'll tell you what's realistic — scope, budget and timeline — whether or not we're the right builder for it.