California contractor license lookup.
Check a California contractor through the Contractors State License Board (CSLB). Choose your search method to get started.
Have the license number ready.
Enter the numeric contractor license number on CSLB’s site. CSLB accepts up to eight digits; a salesperson registration is a different search.
Enter your search on CSLB’s website. Results open there in a new tab.
Official search links and guidance for all 50 states, reviewed September 8, 2026. A state listing does not mean every trade or local jurisdiction is covered. ObservedWork does not currently return license records or linked permit activity here. Source-link review is not a contractor status check.
How to use the CSLB license lookup
CSLB offers separate searches for contractor licenses and home improvement salesperson registrations. Choose the contractor search for the business you are researching. Open the official tool above, enter your identifier there, and review the full matching record.
Read the record in context
Compare the business identity with your proposal or other project documents. Review the license status and classifications; investigate any qualifications or notices shown in the agency record. For questions about what a classification permits, consult CSLB’s classification descriptions.
Record the URL and the date you actually checked it. Do not treat this guide’s review date as a license verification date. If a business name is similar but other details differ, keep that identity match unresolved.
When a name search does not find a match
Try fewer characters, check spacing and initials, or obtain the license number directly from the contractor. CSLB provides specific name-search tips beside its search fields. If the result remains unclear, contact the board rather than inferring license status.
Does an active license prove recent work?
No. Credential status and project activity need separate evidence. A permit record can help identify a project participant, but it does not prove that the participant performed the work, employs a listed contact, or has current capacity for another job.
ObservedWork’s public lookup currently links to CSLB. It does not import a contractor’s license status or attach permit histories. Visit our coverage page for the questions to ask when evaluating activity data.
Before you rely on a search
- Match the business and credential to the proposed work.
- Review the full source record, not just a search-result name.
- Save your actual check date and source link.
- Resolve inconsistent identities with the contractor and agency.
Source & further reading
CSLB: Check a License and official search tips ↗
This is an independent search guide. The agency provides the authoritative record.