FAQ
Remodeling permits and contractor license FAQ for California
Short answers on who needs a license, which remodel work needs a permit and who pulls it. Each answer follows what the state and the building offices publish.
The short version
California licenses contractors through the Contractors State License Board (CSLB), and a license is required once a job reaches $1,000 in labor, materials and other items combined. Permits are a separate system run by your city or county building office. Most real remodeling work, kitchens and bathrooms included, needs one. The details below point you to the right office.
Licensing questions
Start here if you are checking a contractor or wondering whether a handyman can take the job. The two things that matter most are the dollar threshold and whether the work needs a permit, since either one means a license is required. A license also has a classification, and the classification should match the work. Check all of that before you sign, not after the demolition starts. The CSLB License Check is free. For how licensing fits into hiring, see how to choose a remodeler and our general contractor page.
Permit questions
Rules differ by town, so the answers below name the offices that say something specific. A permit lets the building office review the plans and inspect the work as it goes, which is how plumbing, electrical and structural changes get a second set of eyes. Offices also differ in how they take applications: some online only, some in person, some by appointment. Our East Bay remodel permit guide covers all thirteen towns we serve. For the work itself, see remodeling services.
Insurance and who is responsible
Licensing and permits both come back to the contract. It should name the license number and say who pulls permits. Insurance belongs in the same conversation. Ask for proof of liability coverage, and ask whether the contractor has employees, because that decides whether workers' compensation coverage or an exemption is on file with CSLB. Questions about payments and contract terms are answered in the hiring and estimates FAQ.
Permits and licensing: questions and answers
At what price does California require a contractor license?
For work with combined labor, materials and other items of $1,000 or more. Under $1,000 is exempt only if the job needs no building permit, the person has no employees and does not advertise as a contractor. Any job that needs a permit or employees needs a license at any price.
How do I check whether a contractor is licensed?
Use the free CSLB License Check online. Search by license number or business name, then confirm the license is active, that the classification fits your job and that the name matches the company on your estimate.
Does a kitchen or bathroom remodel need a permit?
Usually, yes. Concord lists kitchen and bathroom remodels as requiring a permit, as do Walnut Creek and Danville. Brentwood says almost all construction work needs one. Check your own building office before work starts.
Which remodeling jobs commonly do not need a permit?
City lists usually exempt finish work such as painting, papering, carpeting and flooring, and often cabinets and countertops without new fixtures. Brentwood notes that tile inside a tub or shower enclosure does need a permit. Every office words its list differently.
Who pulls the permit, me or the contractor?
It is a matter of agreement, and the contract should say who does it. CSLB lists who pulls permits among the things a home improvement contract should state. Ask before you sign.
Can I hire an unlicensed person for a small job?
Only if the whole job is under $1,000, needs no permit, and the person has no employees and does not advertise as a contractor. A job that needs a permit needs a licensed contractor regardless of price.
What license classification should my remodeler hold?
CSLB advises a licensed B general building contractor when a job involves more than two types of work on a building, with a kitchen remodel as its example. For one specialty, a C-class license applies, such as C-10 Electrical, C-36 Plumbing or C-54 Ceramic and Mosaic Tile.
Does a contractor need workers' compensation insurance?
CSLB says California law requires employers, construction employers included, to carry workers' compensation even with one employee. License holders file a certificate of coverage or self-insurance. A licensee with no employees may file an exemption instead, so ask which applies.
Which office handles permits in Alamo and Discovery Bay?
Both are unincorporated, so the Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development handles building permits. Applications go through the county's ePermits Center.
Can I get a remodel permit the same day I apply?
It depends on the town and the job. Livermore says permits are exclusively online and no longer over the counter, and Walnut Creek does not issue permits over the counter. Pleasanton has an appointment-based over-the-counter track for limited projects.
Do window replacements need a permit?
It varies. Concord lists window replacement as requiring one. Pleasant Hill says retrofit windows do not. Pleasanton exempts replacements that do not alter size, opening style, framing or weather barrier. Ask your office.
Is a countertop swap exempt from a permit?
Often, if the work stays in the same place. Brentwood exempts replacing a kitchen countertop in the same location with outlets and fixtures unchanged. Pleasant Hill says countertops need no permit, but electrical work does.
What happens if work is done without a permit?
The work can be questioned later, and unpermitted work can cause trouble when you sell or file an insurance claim. Following the permit process is the cleaner path.
Where can I see each town's permit rules?
Our East Bay remodel permit guide summarizes what thirteen building offices publish and links to each office's own page. The office is always the final word.
Planning a remodel in the East Bay?
Call or send the form. We will walk through permits and scope with you.