Quick answer
In California, anyone who contracts for work that needs a building permit, uses employees, or is worth $1,000 or more in labor and materials must hold a CSLB license. Look up the license number on the CSLB site, get at least three written bids, and never pay a down payment above $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less.
Updated · By the San Diego Plumber Pros editorial team · How we research
Who licenses plumbers in California?
Plumbing contractors in California are licensed by the Contractors State License Board (CSLB), part of the Department of Consumer Affairs. CSLB licenses contractors in 45 classifications, and plumbing work falls under the C-36 Plumbing Contractor classification. CSLB's guide What Kind of Contractor Do You Need? says that anyone who contracts for a project that requires a building permit, uses employee labor, or is valued at $1,000 or more for combined labor and materials must hold a current, valid CSLB license.
The same page explains when a general contractor is the right choice. If you only need plumbing, a specialty plumbing contractor fits. If a remodel combines plumbing, electrical and carpentry under one contract, a licensed "B" General Building contractor can run the whole job and subcontract the specialty work.
What changed with the $1,000 minor work rule?
Since January 1, 2025, Assembly Bill 2622 raised the minor work exemption from $500 to $1,000. CSLB stresses the catch: the exemption only applies if the work needs no permit of any kind and the unlicensed person hires no workers. Most real plumbing jobs fail that test. In the City of San Diego, for example, a plumbing permit is required to install a water heater. An unlicensed person who bids more than $1,000, does permitted work or employs helpers is subject to legal action, and anyone advertising without a license must say in the ad that they are not licensed.
How do you check a California contractor license?
- Ask for the license number. CSLB says contractors must print it on business cards, bids, contracts and all advertising, including the side of a truck.
- Enter it in the CSLB license check. You can also search by business or personal name.
- Confirm the status is active, the classification fits the job (C-36 for plumbing), and the business name and address match what you were given.
- Read the disciplinary history and the workers' compensation information on the license record.
- When the contractor visits, ask to see the pocket license and a photo ID, and make sure the person matches the license. Salespeople must be registered with CSLB as Home Improvement Salespersons.
CSLB's page How do I find the right licensed contractor? also notes that every licensed contractor must carry a $25,000 contractor license bond, which may not be enough to cover several complaints or a large job. Contractors with employees must carry workers' compensation; general liability coverage is not required, so ask how damage to your home would be covered.
How many bids should you get, and what should they say?
CSLB recommends at least three written bids based on the same scope of work, and warns that a bid far below the others usually means a mistake or missing work. The Better Business Bureau's plumber hiring tips add that you should check whether a price is a flat rate that includes materials or whether materials are billed separately. Compare bids line by line: fixture brand and model, permit fees, haul away of old equipment, and patching of walls or drywall.
What must a California home improvement contract include?
According to CSLB's consumer guide Terms of Agreement, home improvement projects over $500 in combined labor and materials must have a written contract. Key rules:
| Item | California rule |
|---|---|
| Down payment | No more than $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less; no exception for special order materials |
| Payment schedule | Required; payments cannot exceed the value of work performed |
| Price changes | Only by written change order |
| Right to cancel | Three business days, or five if the buyer is 65 or older, when not signed at the contractor's place of business |
| Complaints | Four years to file a complaint with CSLB about faulty work |
One important exception: the guide says the cancellation right does not apply to a service and repair contract for an emergency repair you requested on short notice once it is signed and work has begun. That makes the license check before signing even more important.
What are the warning signs?
CSLB's page What You Should Know Before You Hire a Contractor lists the common scams: door-to-door offers at a reduced price, high pressure for an immediate decision, scare tactics after a "free inspection" that claims bad plumbing puts you in danger, demands for cash, illegally large down payments and verbal agreements in place of a written contract. In plumbing, add a refusal to permit a water heater replacement and a large sewer or repipe job recommended without showing you camera footage or the failed pipe.
Where do costs and urgent repairs fit in?
Our San Diego plumber cost guide lists typical price ranges so you can judge a quote. If water is running right now, shut off the main valve first; the emergency plumber guide covers the first steps. You can still run the CSLB check from your phone while the water is off.
How does this site fit in?
This site is an independent homeowner guide operated by SWKM GmbH. We are not a contractor, we hold no license and we do not perform plumbing work. If you want help, email us your city or ZIP, what is happening and a few photos. We reply by email with practical next steps and, where we know a licensed contractor for your area, an introduction. Run the license checks above on anyone you hire.
Frequently asked questions
Can a handyman do plumbing work in California?
Only within narrow limits. Since 2025 an unlicensed person may take jobs under $1,000 in labor and materials, but only if the work needs no permit and they hire no workers. Most plumbing beyond simple fixture swaps needs a permit, and a water heater installation does in the City of San Diego, so a CSLB licensed contractor is usually required.
How much can a plumber ask for up front in California?
For a home improvement contract, the down payment cannot exceed $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less, and CSLB says there is no exception for special order materials. Only a small number of contractors with a blanket performance and payment bond on file with CSLB may collect more.
Do I have a right to cancel a plumbing contract?
CSLB's consumer guide says you generally have three business days to cancel, or five if you are 65 or older, when the contract is not signed at the contractor's business. The exception is a service and repair contract for an urgent repair you requested, where the right ends once you sign and work begins.
Where do I complain about a California contractor?
File a complaint with the Contractors State License Board. CSLB's contract guide says consumers have four years to file a complaint about a faulty project, and that deadline can be longer if the contract includes additional warranties. Keep your contract, change orders, invoices and photos.
Sources
- CSLB: What Kind of Contractor Do You Need?
- CSLB: License Requirement for Minor Work Increases from $500 to $1,000 (AB 2622)
- CSLB: How do I find the right licensed contractor?
- CSLB: Terms of Agreement, A Consumer Guide to Home Improvement Contracts (PDF)
- CSLB: What You Should Know Before You Hire a Contractor
- BBB: Tips for Hiring a Plumber
Independent homeowner guide operated by SWKM GmbH. Not a licensed contractor. We do not perform plumbing work. More about this site.