Consumer guide
Check a plumber's license before you hire. Here's how to read it.
One fear comes first: "is he even licensed?" California lets you check that for free. The state posts every contractor's license record on one public site. Four fields on that record tell you most of what you need before anyone touches your pipes. This guide explains each field in plain words. Then it walks the lookup step by step. The whole check takes about 3 minutes. Some pages here cite dated license records. Treat the live CSLB page as the source of truth. How this list works explains how we cite records.
- Source: CSLB public records · cslb.ca.gov
- Examples checked July 6, 2026
The four fields
What a CSLB record tells you, field by field.
CSLB is the Contractors State License Board. It is the state board that runs contractor licenses. Every record it posts shows these 4 fields.
- Field 1
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License status
The status line sits at the top of the record. It answers the first question: "is it active?" You want it to read "current and active." It may read expired, suspended, revoked, or inactive instead. Any of those means CSLB says the firm can't contract under that license right now.
In one line: if the status is not "current and active," stop and ask why first.
- Field 2
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Classification (C-36)
Each classification is a trade the license covers. C-36 is California's plumbing classification. Some plumbing firms hold more than one class. C-20 covers heating and air. B covers general building. For plumbing work, look for C-36 on the record.
In one line: a B license alone does not make a plumbing specialty contractor.
- Field 3
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Contractor bond
Every active license must have a contractor bond on file. Right now the bond is $25,000. SB 607 set that number, effective January 1, 2023. Confirm the current figure on CSLB's site. A bond is not insurance. It is a capped fund. A harmed homeowner can file a claim against it.
In one line: the record should show a bond on file with a surety company. No bond most often means no active license.
- Field 4
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Workers' compensation
This line shows one of two things. It can show an insurance policy. You see the carrier, the policy number, and dates. Or it can show "exempt." That means the firm has certified it has no employees. Workers' comp covers a worker hurt on your job. Without it, an injury claim can land on you.
In one line: "insured" should show current policy dates. "Exempt" means a certified no-employee shop — see below for when that matters.
The lookup
Check-A-License, step by step.
The official tool is CSLB's Check-A-License at cslb.ca.gov. It's free and public. You need no account.
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Open CSLB's Check-A-License
Go to cslb.ca.gov's Check-A-License page. Make sure you're on cslb.ca.gov. That is the state's own site. Do not use a third-party lookup wrapped around it.
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Search by license number (fastest) or business name
Ask the plumber for their license number. California law requires contractors to include it in their advertising and contracts (Business & Professions Code §7030.5). Most print it in their website footer, too. If you have no number, search by business name instead.
Shortcut: type the license number right after cslb.ca.gov/. That jumps straight to the record. For example, cslb.ca.gov/982295 opens licence #982295. That is one of the dated records cited in the current Oceanside plumbing hub.
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Make sure the record matches the company you're talking to
The record shows a registered business name. It may also list a DBA — a "doing business as" name. One of those should match the firm you're dealing with. The city, phone, or address should back it up. DBAs are normal. On our July 6, 2026 check, licence #972962 was registered to "1ST CHOICE INVESTMENT BUILDERS INC" doing business as "1ST CHOICE PLUMBING HEATING AND AIR." A name mismatch nobody can explain is different. That is a reason to pause.
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Read the four fields
Status should read "current and active." Classification should show C-36 for plumbing. The bond should be on file. Workers' comp should read insured, with current dates — or exempt. The guide above explains each field.
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Check the dates
The license expiration date should be in the future. Any workers' comp policy dates should be current. A record can look fine at a glance. It can still show a policy that lapsed last month. The dates are where that shows up.
That is the whole check. Then ask 3 pros for quotes in writing.
Your money
California caps the down payment. Know the number.
The big fear is getting "ripped off." The deposit leaves. The work never starts. So California put a cap in the law.
California law · B&P Code §7159
What the law says about the deposit
The down payment may not exceed $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less.
That is the rule for home-improvement contracts under California Business and Professions Code section 7159 — read the statute text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, and confirm current consumer guidance on CSLB's consumer pages. In practice: on a $12,000 repipe, the most a pro can ask up front is $1,000. On a $6,000 water-heater job, it's $600. "Half upfront" is far over that cap.
Two honest caveats. The law has narrow exceptions. One example: pros who have posted certain extra bonds with CSLB. Emergency service and repair work is its own case. It has related rules of its own. If a quote asks for a big deposit, check the current rules on CSLB's site first. That takes less time than getting the money back.
Reading "exempt"
When "workers' comp: exempt" matters — and when it doesn't.
"Exempt" on the workers' comp line means one thing. The firm has certified to CSLB that it has no employees. For a true one-person shop, that can be normal. It is not a quality grade. Two examples from our July 6, 2026 record check:
- Licence #1010148 showed workers' comp exempt (certified no employees, effective January 13, 2026).
- Licence #972962 showed workers' comp exempt (certified no employees, effective January 6, 2026).
When it matters: "exempt" says no employees exist. But say more than one worker shows up. Now the record and the truck don't match. Ask "who exactly will be working in my house" — and who employs the extra workers — before the job starts. If a worker with no coverage gets hurt at your home, that claim can land on you. Get it answered on day zero, not after something happens.
When it doesn't: a solo pro working alone. The record and the truck match. The exempt mark is doing its job.
License-check FAQs
3 questions homeowners really ask.
Is checking a contractor's license really free?
Yes. Check-A-License is a free public tool. The State of California runs it. You never need to pay anyone to see a license record — not even this site. Some services charge a fee to "verify" a license. CSLB shows you the same facts at no cost.
What does it mean if the license is expired?
An expired license cannot be used to contract until it is renewed. That is how CSLB marks it. Treat the live CSLB record as the source of truth. Check it again right before you hire.
How much can a plumber ask for up front in California?
For a home-improvement contract, California caps the down payment at the lesser of $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, under Business and Professions Code section 7159. The law has narrow exceptions. Emergency service and repair work has related rules of its own. Confirm the current rules on CSLB's consumer pages before you sign. And never pay in full before the work is done.
This guide is general consumer information, not legal advice, and Coastal SD Pros is not affiliated with the Contractors State License Board. Coastal SD Pros is operated by Roscoe Equity LLC and is not a licensed plumbing contractor. License examples reflect the cited CSLB records as of July 6, 2026 and can change — always verify the live record on cslb.ca.gov before hiring. Paid advertising is labeled; advertising or Roscoe Site Pro client status does not change factual record fields, inclusion decisions, list order or editorial conclusions.