General Contractor Licenses & Permits in California

State contractor license in classification B (General Building Contractor), listed in Business & Professions Code section 7055 as published by CSLB. Anyone who contracts for projects valued at $500 or more in labor and materials in California must hold the appropriate CSLB license classification; licensure requires passing law/business and trade exams, filing a $25,000 contractor bond, and completing the asbestos open-book exam before issuance.

Issuing agency

California Contractors State License Board (CSLB)

Renewal frequency

every 2 years (active status); every 4 years if renewed inactive

Typical fee

$200 – $700 ($450 application processing fee + initial license fee $200 (sole owner) / $350 (non-sole owner), which covers the first two years; active timely renewal $450 (sole owner) / $700 (non-sole owner))

Last verified

2026-09-13

Every active CSLB license must have a $25,000 contractor's bond (or cashier's check in lieu) on file, written by a surety licensed by the California Department of Insurance, before CSLB will issue, reactivate, or renew an active license. The bond, raised to $25,000 effective January 1, 2023 by SB 607, protects consumers damaged by defective construction or license-law violations and employees owed wages (B&P Code 7071.6). A separate $25,000 Bond of Qualifying Individual may also be required.

Issuing agency

California Contractors State License Board (CSLB)

Renewal frequency

must be continuously maintained; bonds are typically written for one to three years and must be renewed with the surety (bond must be on file at each 2-year license renewal)

Typical fee

$25000 ($25,000 bond amount (premium set by the surety; CSLB does not issue bonds and states no premium amount))

Last verified

2026-09-13

In addition to the contractor's bond, a $25,000 Bond of Qualifying Individual is required when the license is qualified by a Responsible Managing Employee (RME), or by a Responsible Managing Officer (RMO) who does not own at least 10% of the corporation's voting stock (B&P Code 7071.9). An RMO owning 10% or more may instead file an exemption certification. Each qualifier on a license must satisfy the qualifier bonding requirement.

Issuing agency

California Contractors State License Board (CSLB)

Renewal frequency

must be continuously maintained while the qualifier arrangement exists

Typical fee

$25000 ($25,000 bond amount (surety premium not stated by CSLB))

Last verified

2026-09-13

California law requires every employer, including construction-industry employers, to carry workers' compensation insurance even if it has only one employee. DWC states that a roofer with no employees is still required to carry coverage, and out-of-state employers may need California coverage if employees regularly work in the state. Coverage is purchased from a licensed insurer or through certified self-insurance rather than issued by the state.

Issuing agency

California Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC)

Renewal frequency

continuous coverage required; policies are typically written annually and must be renewed without lapse

Last verified

2026-09-13

Every active CSLB licensee, license applicant, and licensee reactivating a license must have on file with CSLB either a valid Certificate of Workers' Compensation Insurance / Certification of Self-Insurance or a signed exemption certifying no employees. Contractors holding C-8, C-20 (HVAC), C-22, C-39 (roofing), or C-61/D-49 classifications must carry workers' compensation coverage whether or not they have employees and cannot file an exemption. Failure to maintain coverage results in automatic license suspension, and proof must reach CSLB headquarters within 90 days of a hire.

Issuing agency

California Contractors State License Board (CSLB)

Renewal frequency

continuous; certificate must be current at all times and refiled at each renewal or policy change

Last verified

2026-09-13

CSLB requires a contractor licensed as a limited liability company to carry liability insurance with a minimum cumulative limit of $1 million for licensees with five or fewer personnel of record, with higher cumulative limits for larger LLCs. General liability insurance is not stated as a CSLB licensing prerequisite for sole owners, partnerships, or corporations, so for those entity types it is a commercial/contractual norm rather than a license condition. Coverage must be kept in force for the LLC license to remain active.

Issuing agency

California Contractors State License Board (CSLB)

Renewal frequency

continuous coverage; policies typically renew annually

Last verified

2026-09-13

A contractor licensed as an LLC must file a $100,000 surety bond for the benefit of employees and workers, in addition to the $25,000 contractor bond and the $25,000 bond of qualifying individual. CSLB states the $100,000 LLC Employee/Worker Bond is required for issuance and renewal of an LLC contractor license. It applies only to LLC-structured contracting businesses.

Issuing agency

California Contractors State License Board (CSLB)

Renewal frequency

must be maintained continuously and be on file for each license renewal

Typical fee

$100000 ($100,000 bond amount (surety premium not stated by CSLB))

Last verified

2026-09-13

A CSLB license is initially issued for two years and may be renewed every two years on active status (four years inactive); a license may be renewed up to five years after expiration before reapplication is required. CSLB's renewal pages state the documents, signatures, bonds, and workers' compensation proof needed at renewal but state no continuing education or re-examination requirement for renewal. Separately, all new license applicants must complete and submit the asbestos open-book examination before a license can be issued (B&P Code 7058.5), and CSLB may require updated asbestos certification examinations based on new health and safety information.

Issuing agency

California Contractors State License Board (CSLB)

Renewal frequency

every 2 years (active); every 4 years (inactive)

Typical fee

$450 – $1050 (Active timely renewal $450 (sole owner) / $700 (non-sole owner); $470 / $720 for C-10; delinquent renewal $675 / $1,050)

Last verified

2026-09-13

Any contractor or subcontractor that bids on, is awarded, or performs work on a California public works project must be registered with DIR (SB 854 program). Registration requires workers' compensation coverage for employees, a CSLB license if applicable to the trade, no delinquent wage or penalty assessments, and no debarment. Registration runs on fiscal years (July 1-June 30) and may be purchased for one to three years.

Issuing agency

California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR)

Renewal frequency

annual (fiscal year July 1-June 30); may register or renew for 1, 2, or 3 fiscal years

Typical fee

$400 – $2000 ($400 for one fiscal year, $800 for two, $1,200 for three; late/unregistered-work penalties of $400 or $2,000 apply)

Last verified

2026-09-13

Every California employer must establish, implement, and maintain a written, effective Injury and Illness Prevention Program; for construction employers this is required by Title 8 section 1509 in conjunction with section 3203. Construction employers must also adopt and post a written Code of Safe Practices and hold 'toolbox' or 'tailgate' safety meetings with crews at least every 10 working days. Cal/OSHA states a written IIPP has been required of every California employer since 1991.

Issuing agency

California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA), Department of Industrial Relations

Renewal frequency

one-time to establish; must be maintained and kept current on an ongoing basis (no filing or renewal with the state)

Last verified

2026-09-13

California establishments with 250 or more employees (unless exempted by Title 8 section 14300.2), and establishments with 20 to 249 employees in the industries listed in Appendix H (which include construction), must electronically submit their Form 300A summary injury and illness data to Cal/OSHA each year. Submissions cover the previous calendar year and are made through federal OSHA's Injury Tracking Application. The annual deadline is March 2.

Issuing agency

California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA)

Renewal frequency

annual (due March 2 for the prior calendar year)

Last verified

2026-09-13

A business becomes a 'subject employer' once it pays more than $100 in wages in any calendar quarter to one or more employees, and must then register for an eight-digit EDD employer payroll tax account number within 15 days. Registration is done online through e-Services for Business (or by paper form DE 1) and enables reporting and payment of UI, ETT, SDI, and personal income tax withholding. The account number must appear on all deposits, returns, and correspondence with EDD.

Issuing agency

California Employment Development Department (EDD)

Renewal frequency

one-time registration (ongoing quarterly/annual payroll tax filing obligations)

Last verified

2026-09-13

A seller's permit is required for any person engaged in business in California who intends to sell or lease tangible personal property that would ordinarily be subject to sales tax if sold at retail; the requirement applies to individuals, partnerships, corporations, and LLCs, and to both wholesalers and retailers. Contractors who sell fixtures or materials over the counter, or who furnish and install taxable items in ways treated as retail sales, must register. Temporary permits are issued for selling operations of no more than 90 days.

Issuing agency

California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA)

Renewal frequency

one-time registration, held as long as the business operates (temporary permits valid up to 90 days)

Typical fee

$0 ($0 - CDTFA states there is no charge for a seller's permit, though a security deposit may be required)

Last verified

2026-09-13

Contracting businesses organized as a corporation, LLC, limited partnership, or LLP must file formation or registration documents with the California Secretary of State before operating, and CSLB requires corporate/LLC name changes to be registered with the Secretary of State first. Entities also file periodic Statements of Information (annual for stock corporations, biennial for LLCs and nonprofits). Filing fees are set out in the Secretary of State's Business Entities Fee Schedule.

Issuing agency

California Secretary of State, Business Programs Division

Renewal frequency

one-time formation filing plus periodic Statement of Information (annual for stock corporations; biennial for LLCs)

Last verified

2026-09-13

An EIN is the federal tax identification number a business generally needs to hire employees, operate as a partnership or corporation, pay certain taxes, or change business structure. It is obtained free from the IRS, most quickly through the online EIN assistant, and is limited to one EIN per responsible party per day. Corporations and LLCs should form the entity with the secretary of state before applying.

Issuing agency

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

Renewal frequency

one-time (no renewal)

Typical fee

$0 ($0 - the IRS states the EIN is free and 'you never have to pay a fee for an EIN')

Last verified

2026-09-13

Many employers with more than 10 employees must record work-related injuries and illnesses on OSHA Forms 300, 300A, and 301 (certain low-hazard industries are exempt; construction is not exempt). All employers, regardless of size, must report a work-related fatality to OSHA within 8 hours and a work-related in-patient hospitalization, amputation, or loss of an eye within 24 hours. Establishments meeting size and industry criteria must also submit injury and illness data electronically once per year through the Injury Tracking Application.

Issuing agency

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), U.S. Department of Labor

Renewal frequency

ongoing recordkeeping; annual electronic submission during the January 2 - March 2 window

Last verified

2026-09-13

Federal law requires all renovation, repair, and painting firms - including sole proprietorships - working in housing or child-occupied facilities built before 1978 to be certified by EPA before disturbing painted surfaces. Every individual performing such work must be a certified renovator or be trained on the job by one, and a certified renovator must be assigned to each job. California is not among the states running its own RRP program, so contractors working in California apply to EPA directly.

Issuing agency

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Renewal frequency

every 5 years (recertification application must be submitted at least 90 days before expiration)

Typical fee

$15 – $550 ($300 renovation firm certification/recertification ($20 for tribal firms); $550 combined renovation and lead-based paint activities firm application; $15 replacement certificate)

Last verified

2026-09-13

The RRP Rule requires each certified firm to have at least one certified renovator assigned to every pre-1978 job, with all other workers either certified or trained on the job by a certified renovator (with documented training records). Initial certification requires an 8-hour EPA-accredited course including 2 hours of hands-on learning. Recertification requires a 4-hour refresher, which must include hands-on learning every other cycle.

Issuing agency

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Renewal frequency

every 3 years for online refresher training; every 5 years for refresher training taken with hands-on component

Last verified

2026-09-13

Private employers with 15 or more employees for at least twenty calendar weeks in the current or prior year are covered by federal laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity, and pregnancy), national origin, disability, and genetic information. Employers with 20 or more employees are additionally covered for age discrimination. Virtually all employers, regardless of size, are covered by the Equal Pay Act.

Issuing agency

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

Renewal frequency

ongoing compliance obligation (no registration or renewal)

Last verified

2026-09-13