California Contractor License Lookup

The safest way to verify a California contractor is to use the state database yourself. Do not rely only on a license number printed on a truck, proposal, website, or business card. Start with the official record, make sure it belongs to the business or person you are dealing with, and read the disclosure information before you sign.

Open the official California CSLB license lookup. CSLB says this tool verifies contractor licenses and Home Improvement Salesperson registrations, including complaint disclosure.

How to search the CSLB database

1. Use the license number when you have it. California contractor license numbers contain no letters and are no longer than eight digits. Enter the number from the contractor's pocket license or advertising.
2. Use the business name if the number is missing. CSLB recommends searching only the first 10 to 15 letters. If a first and last name appear in the business name, try the last name first. The business-name search returns up to 50 names.
3. Search by personnel when the company name is uncertain. Enter the last name first, then narrow with the first name. CSLB's personnel-name search returns up to 100 names.
4. Open the matching state record. Confirm that the record identifies the contractor you intend to use. Read the status and disclosure information presented by CSLB rather than assuming that appearing in search results means everything is clear.
5. Save what you checked. Keep the URL or a dated copy with the estimate and contract. License records can change, so document what the state showed when you made the hiring decision.

What if the business name does not appear?

Try fewer characters and remove punctuation. CSLB does not use commas or periods in the business-name search, but apostrophes matter. If the name begins with “The” or “A,” search without that word first. For a business built from a person's name, CSLB's example reverses the name, such as searching “Smith John” for “John Smith Construction.”

If you still cannot locate the record, ask the contractor for the exact legal business name and license number shown on the pocket license. A marketing name, DBA, shortened truck name, or spelling difference can make a broad name search unreliable. Do not treat a verbal “we are licensed” statement as verification.

Home Improvement Salesperson lookup

The same CSLB page includes separate searches for Home Improvement Salesperson registrations. You can search by registration number or by the salesperson's name. CSLB says the registration number includes a numeric portion of up to eight digits plus the letters “SP.” This matters when the person selling the project is not the person whose name appears on the contractor license.

Structural pest control uses a different search

California's Structural Pest Control Board directs users to the Department of Consumer Affairs license search. In that search, choose “Structural Pest Control Board” in the Boards and Bureaus field, then search by name, business, license type, license number, location, or status.

Open the Structural Pest Control Board license-search instructions. The board warns that cancelled licenses and registrations do not appear in online results. Contact the board directly if you need a cancelled record rather than concluding that no historical credential existed.

Common lookup mistakes

• Searching a truck name instead of the legal business name.
• Assuming a search-result match is enough without opening the record.
• Checking only the contractor and not the salesperson registration when one applies.
• Using the CSLB tool for structural pest control instead of the board-specific DCA search.
• Taking a failed search during scheduled maintenance as a final answer.

California contractor lookup FAQ

How do I look up a California contractor license?

Use CSLB's official Check a License page. Search by contractor license number, business name, or personnel name, then open the matching record and review its disclosure information.

Can I verify a home improvement salesperson?

Yes. CSLB provides separate registration-number and name searches for Home Improvement Salespeople on the same lookup page.

Are pest-control licenses in the CSLB search?

Use the Department of Consumer Affairs search linked by the Structural Pest Control Board and filter to that board. The board says cancelled licenses and registrations are not shown online.

This page explains how to use California's official public lookup tools. It is not legal advice and does not guarantee that a contractor is qualified for a particular project. Verify the current record and project requirements with the responsible California agency before hiring or contracting.