Do you need a general contractor license in California?
Yes, a license. In California, anyone who undertakes, offers or bids to build, alter, repair or improve a building or other structure needs a contractor license from the Contractors State License Board unless the work is exempt. A job whose total price for labor and materials is under $1,000 is exempt if it is casual, minor or inconsequential and needs no building permit, but not if the person advertises as a contractor or employs someone to help. A home improvement contractor is a contractor licensed under the same law, and the license branches include general building contracting and residential remodeling contracting. Acting as a contractor without a license is a misdemeanor. Cities and counties can add their own licensing on top of the state’s. This is Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 7028, 7026, 7048, 7055, 7057, 7057.5, 7150.1, 7000.5.
| What | California |
|---|---|
| General contractors | State contractor license (jobs of $1,000 or more) |
Source
Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 7028, 7026, 7048, 7055, 7057, 7057.5, 7150.1, 7000.5
Read the statute in the California Codes (California Legislative Information): leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.
Checked against the statute on November 13, 2026.
This is a summary of a published statute, not legal advice. Rules change, local ordinances can add to them, and the terms of a specific lease may differ. Check the citation and speak to a lawyer before acting.
How Seayora uses this rule
A contractor on Seayora keeps each license with its issuing state, its expiry date and the last four digits of its number, and the business is warned before one lapses — on the website and both phone apps. A customer finding a pro on Seayora sees whether a license is on file.
Guides on this rule
- Contractor License Requirements by State: Every Trade — Which states require a state license for electricians, plumbers, HVAC, general and home improvement contractors, with the statute for each.
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