How to Check a Stucco Contractor's License in California
Short answer: Go to the Contractors State License Board website (cslb.ca.gov), choose Check a License, and search the contractor's license number or business name. For stucco and plaster work, the classification to look for is C-35 Lathing and Plastering. The record also shows the bond and workers' compensation status.
When a license is required
In California, anyone who contracts for construction work worth $1,000 or more in combined labor and materials must hold a CSLB license. The threshold rose from $500 to $1,000 on January 1, 2025. Below $1,000, a license is still required if the job needs a building permit or the person uses employees. A full stucco or re-stucco job is well past that line.
What to check on the license record
- Status — it should read current and active.
- Classification — C-35 Lathing and Plastering covers stucco, lath and plaster.
- Name match — the business name on the estimate should match the license; ask to see the pocket license and a photo ID.
- Bond — licensed contractors must carry a $25,000 contractor license bond.
- Workers' compensation — the record shows whether a policy is on file or the contractor has claimed an exemption for having no employees; a crew on your walls with an exempt record is a red flag.
Know the down payment rule
On a home improvement contract, a contractor cannot ask for a down payment of more than 10 percent of the contract price or $1,000, whichever is less. Later payments should follow work actually completed or materials delivered.
Check ours
SD Plastering Company holds CSLB license #915601, classification C-35, and is bonded and insured. You can look it up yourself on the CSLB site. Learn more about our company, or read the questions to ask before you hire a stucco contractor.
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Want a licensed, bonded, and insured C-35 stucco contractor to look at your home? We'll give you an honest assessment and a free estimate.
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