- #CALIFORNIA LICENSE LOOKUP PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER HOW TO#
- #CALIFORNIA LICENSE LOOKUP PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER LICENSE#
A first offense is punishable by up to six months in jail, a $5,000 fine, as well as administrative fines between $200 and $15,000.
#CALIFORNIA LICENSE LOOKUP PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER LICENSE#
If an unlicensed contractor performs work where a license is required, they lose all legal rights to collect payment.Īccording to the CSLB, getting caught contracting without the appropriate license is a misdemeanor. And missing out on payment isn’t the end of it: You could wind up in jail. They cannot file a California mechanics lien, bond claim, or any other claim in California for that matter. If an unlicensed contractor performs work where a license is required, they lose all legal rights to collect payment. If these subs have licenses, they could potentially file a mechanics lien on your house for money you already paid to an unlicensed contractor.Īs a contractor, it’s critical to carry the appropriate license for your work. Without the required bond, the unlicensed contractor can skip town without paying their subs. Without the appropriate insurance, property owners could be liable for issues that occur on the job. CSLB regulations require licensed contractors to carry insurance and bonds. As a result, substantially lower project estimates may be a red flag of an unlicensed contractor. Unlicensed contractors can often undercut the bid of a licensed company because they don’t have to carry overhead expenses, like insurance or bonds.
Any project valued in excess of $500 requires a contractor to hold a license, so don’t accept any excuse as to why they don’t have one. If you’re considering hiring a contractor, be sure to check their license. The CSLB’s entire purpose is to protect consumers from defective work and inexperienced contractors. It’s important, both to the consumer and the contractor. The penalties can be steep - we’ll cover those further down.Ĭontractor licensing is critical in CaliforniaĪ license is not just some easy-to-come-by piece of paper. The Statewide Investigative Fraud Team (SWIFT) works alongside the CSLB and performs regular stings and sweeps of construction sites to find potential violations. Generally speaking, the CSLB requires almost all contractors to carry a license, with a few exceptions.īut that’s not all. The board sets the requirements, standards, and testing for licensing. In California, the CSLB works to ensure that contractors aren’t taking advantage of consumers. Learn more about the CSLB and how it works. The CSLB works to establish trade standards, ethics, and sound business practices in the state.
Established in 1929, this governing body’s primary goal is to protect consumers from predatory contractors and fly-by-night crews.
Pass the California contractor licensing exam Identify the license classification you need
#CALIFORNIA LICENSE LOOKUP PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER HOW TO#
How to get a contractor’s license in California.A California contractor license makes you look professional.Why you need a contractor’s license in California.Who needs a contractor license in California?.Contractor licensing is critical in California.