Free tool · Live CSLB record
Verify a contractor before you sign.
Enter any California contractor\u2019s CSLB license number — it\u2019s on every bid, contract, and card they\u2019re required to show you. You\u2019ll see the license status, classification, bond, and liability coverage, pulled from the same state record the official site shows.
The example above is our featured builder
JMB Builders LLC — CSLB #1103479
We pre-loaded the lookup with the license of our featured Altadena builder so you can see the tool work on a real record — and see what a fully verified credential set looks like: current and active, B — General Building, bonds on file, $2M liability coverage. If a contractor you\u2019re considering can\u2019t produce a record like this, that\u2019s your answer.
- Status
- CURRENT & ACTIVE
- Expires
- 04/30/2027
- Contractor\u2019s bond
- $25,000
- LLC worker bond
- $100,000
How to read it
What each field on the record means.
License status
“Current and active” means exactly that — the license is in good standing right now. Inactive, suspended, or revoked are the states you’re screening against.
Classification
A B — General Building license can frame most residential projects. Specialty classifications (C-5 framing, C-8 concrete…) matter for prime contracts in those trades.
Contractor’s bond
A $25,000 bond is the state minimum — it protects you, capped, if the contractor abandons work or violates license law. It is not insurance for your project.
Liability insurance
CSLB shows the policy on file and its limit. For major construction, $1M–$2M is the practical floor you want to see.
Workers’ comp
If the contractor has employees and no workers’ comp, an injury on your property can become your problem. Exemptions exist for true solo operators.
Issue & expiry dates
A license issued years ago with continuous renewal is a stability signal. An expiry date inside your project window is worth a conversation, not a disqualifier.
Data source: California Contractors State License Board (cslb.ca.gov) public record. This site is not affiliated with CSLB. License data retrieved live and cached; verify critical decisions against the official record.
One more thing
A verified license is the floor, not the ceiling.
License, bond, insurance — that\u2019s table stakes. Fit, scope, communication, and references decide the rest. Our hiring guide walks the whole checklist.