Redact Legal California Contractors Forms For Free

Those who are caught contracting without a license likely will have to appear before a Superior Court judge to answer to misdemeanor charges that can carry a potential sentence of up to six months in jail and/or a $5,000 fine, as well as an administrative fine of $200 to $15,000.

A contractor's license is not necessary as long as you don't advertise yourself as a licensed contractor and never contract for jobs costing $500 or more, including labor and materials. There are serious penalties for unlicensed contracting and the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) seriously pursues violators.

A person who uses an unlicensed contractor may sue the contractor to recover all money paid for the work they performed. A contractor may not sue a property owner to recover compensation for work on a contract unless he or she was licensed at all times while performing the work.

California Law Requires All Contractors to Have Licenses Additionally, it is illegal for a general contractor to hire an unlicensed subcontractor, and ?Entering into a contract with a contractor while such contractor is unlicensed . . .

Is Hiring an Unlicensed Contractor in California Illegal? The California Contractor's State License Law protects homeowners against unlicensed contractors. It is illegal for an unlicensed person to perform contracting work on any project valued at $500 or more in combined labor and material costs.

Reporting Building Permit Complaints Use the Building Permit Violation Referral form to report any contractor who fails to pull a project building permit for construction activity on an active job site. After completing the form you may attach it to an email and send it to the appropriate SWIFT office.