Hiring Contractors: Verify Before You Hire

Before hiring anyone for renovation, repair, or home improvement work, verify their license directly with the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) - it’s free and takes under a minute.

The CSLB License Check tool shows whether a contractor’s license is active, its classification (general, electrical, plumbing, roofing, etc.), bond and insurance status, and any disciplinary actions or complaints on file. California law requires a license for most home improvement work over $500 in combined labor and materials - if a contractor can’t provide a valid license number, that’s a red flag on its own.

CSLB also offers a zip-code search to find licensed contractors by trade in a given area.

We don’t publish a specific list of recommended contractors here - verify anyone independently before hiring, regardless of how they were referred to you.