Trade Contractor Resources for California (Licensing, Permits, Tools)

Trade contractor resources · California

Trade business resources for California.

Licensing board, permit offices, and trade-by-trade requirements for California contractors. All links go to the official sources, not paid intermediaries.

State licensing board

Official authority

California Contractors State License Board

https://www.cslb.ca.gov
(800) 321-2752

California requires most contractors to hold a valid license issued by the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) before performing or bidding on construction work valued at $500 or more in combined labor and materials. Unlicensed contracting is a misdemeanor in California and can result in fines, stop-work orders, and civil liability.

California contractor licenses are divided into three broad classes: Class A (General Engineering Contractor) for projects involving fixed works requiring engineering expertise such as grading, pipelines, and highways; Class B (General Building Contractor) for projects where framing or structural work is the principal contract; and Class C (Specialty Contractor), which covers 42 specific trade classifications including electrical (C-10), plumbing (C-36), HVAC (C-20), roofing (C-39), and many others. Any single-trade project where labor and materials combined reach $500 or more requires the appropriate license, and contractors must also carry workers' compensation insurance and a contractor's bond of at least $25,000.

License requirements by trade

Electrician
Electrical contractors must hold a CSLB Class C-10 (Electrical) license. Journeymen and apprentice electricians performing work as employees are certified through the California Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Apprenticeship Standards, but the contracting entity must hold the C-10 license.
Plumber
Plumbing contractors must hold a CSLB Class C-36 (Plumbing) license. Individual journeyman plumbers working as employees do not require a separate state journeyman license, but the contracting company must be licensed with the CSLB before performing any plumbing work valued at $500 or more.
HVAC
HVAC contractors must hold a CSLB Class C-20 (Warm-Air Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning) license. Work involving refrigeration systems may also require a C-38 (Refrigeration) license depending on the scope, and technicians handling refrigerants must hold EPA Section 608 certification.
General Contractor
General contractors in California must hold either a Class A (General Engineering) or Class B (General Building) license from the CSLB. A Class B license is required when a project's principal contract involves framing or structural trade work, and the contractor may subcontract specialty trades but must use licensed subcontractors.
Roofing
Roofing contractors must hold a CSLB Class C-39 (Roofing) license. This classification covers the application, repair, and replacement of all types of roofing systems, and any roofing work valued at $500 or more in combined labor and materials requires the licensed entity to be the contracting party.

Top California city permit offices

Permit office

Los Angeles

https://www.ladbs.org
(213) 482-0000
Permit office

San Diego

https://www.sandiego.gov/development-services
(619) 446-5000
Permit office

San Jose

https://www.sanjoseca.gov/your-government/departments-offices/planning-building-code-enforcement
(408) 535-3555
Permit office

San Francisco

https://sfdbi.org
(628) 652-3700
Permit office

Sacramento

https://www.cityofsacramento.org/Community-Development/Building
(916) 808-5314

Business registration

Secretary of State

Business entity registration

https://www.sos.ca.gov
Tax registration

California Department of Tax and Fee Administration

https://www.cdtfa.ca.gov

Tools for California trade businesses

Compliance tracking, NEC 220 load calcs, profit calculators, and the 90-day operating system. One-time purchase. Real Excel and Sheets files. Used in truck cabs from Houston to Eureka.

Browse the 7 tools →
The information on this page links to official state and city authorities. Requirements change. Verify with the issuing authority before filing. LaunchLocal tools are research and calculation utilities, not legal or professional advice.