Does my contractor need a license in California?
Researched by the LokalMatch editorial team1 answer
The tiler quoting for our bathroom says he works under someone else's license and that it makes no difference to me.
Answers (1)
LokalMatch EditorialLokalMatch editorial
At 1,000 dollars or more for labor and materials together, yes. That is the line the Contractors State License Board draws, and it counts the whole job rather than the labor alone.
The exemption underneath that figure is narrower than the number makes it sound, and the conditions attached to minor work have been changed in recent years. Check the current CSLB page rather than a figure somebody remembers hearing. A tiler quoting four figures is above the line either way.
Working under somebody else's license is not a category that exists. A license is held by a person or a business entity, and CSLB publishes a license check you can run in under a minute from the number on the truck. Run it. Confirm the name on the license is the name that will be on your contract, and that the classification matches the work — a license to do one thing is not a license to do another.
The number is also how you find out what has happened before you. CSLB's record shows disciplinary actions and the bond, and a contractor reluctant to give you the number has told you something for free.
Answers come from pros and are reviewed by LokalMatch before they’re published. They’re general information — for regulated or safety-critical work, have a licensed professional assess your situation.
Sources
Where the facts on this page come from.
What Kind of Contractor Do You Need? — Contractors State License Board (accessed September 24, 2026)