California Contractor License Requirements

B-2 Residential Remodeling Contractor

A residential remodeling contractor is a contractor whose principal contracting business is in connection with any project to make improvements to, on, or in an existing residential wood frame structure, and the project requires the use of at least three unrelated building trades or crafts for a single contract.

• Officially excluded Structural Changes To Load Bearing Elements (BPC §7057.5(c)(2)) S-03
• Requires another classification Install Replace Alter Extend Mechanical Electrical Plumbing Systems (BPC §7057.5(c)(3)) S-03

C-8 Concrete Contractor

A concrete contractor forms, pours, places, finishes and installs specified mass, pavement, flat and other concrete work; and places and sets screeds for pavements or flatwork. This class shall not include contractors whose sole contracting business is the application of plaster coatings or the placing and erecting of steel or bars for the reinforcing of mass, pavement, flat and other concrete work.

• Officially excluded Placing And Erecting Reinforcing Steel (CCR T16 D8 Art 3 — C-8 definition) S-30
• Officially excluded Application Of Plaster Coatings (CCR T16 D8 Art 3 — C-8 definition) S-30
• Officially excluded Lattice Patio Cover (CCR §832.08 (CSLB Building Official Information Guide)) S-19

C-10 Electrical Contractor

An electrical contractor places, installs, erects or connects any electrical wires, fixtures, appliances, apparatus, raceways, conduits, solar photovoltaic cells or any part thereof, which generate, transmit, transform or utilize electrical energy in any form or for any purpose.

• Officially included Solar Photovoltaic Cells (CCR T16 D8 Art 3 — C-10 definition) S-31
• Officially included Electrical Wires Fixtures Apparatus Raceways Conduits (CCR T16 D8 Art 3 — C-10 definition) S-31

C-20 Warm-Air Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning Contractor

A warm-air heating, ventilating and air-conditioning contractor fabricates, installs, maintains, services and repairs warm-air heating systems and water heating heat pumps, complete with warm-air appliances; ventilating systems complete with blowers and plenum chambers; air-conditioning systems complete with air-conditioning unit; and the ducts, registers, flues, humidity and thermostatic controls and air filters in connection with any of these systems. This classification shall include warm-air heating, ventilating and air-conditioning systems which utilize solar energy.

• Officially included Hvac Systems Which Utilize Solar Energy (CCR T16 D8 Art 3 — C-20 definition (final sentence)) S-32
• Officially included Warm Air Heating Ventilating And Air Conditioning Systems Including Ducts Controls Filters (CCR T16 D8 Art 3 — C-20 definition) S-32

C-27 Landscaping Contractor

A landscape contractor constructs, maintains, repairs, installs, or subcontracts the development of landscape systems and facilities for public and private gardens and other areas which are designed to aesthetically, architecturally, horticulturally, or functionally improve the grounds within or surrounding a structure or a tract or plot of land. In connection therewith, a landscape contractor prepares and grades plots and areas of land for the installation of any architectural, horticultural and decorative treatment or arrangement.

• Officially included Permits And Gas Electrical Work (CCR §832.27 (CSLB Building Official Information Guide)) S-19

C-46 Solar Contractor

A solar contractor installs, modifies, maintains, and repairs thermal and photovoltaic solar energy systems. A licensee classified in this section shall not undertake or perform building or construction trades, crafts, or skills, except when required to install a thermal or photovoltaic solar energy system.

• Officially excluded Other Building Trades Except Solar Installation (CCR T16 D8 Art 3 — C-46 definition (second sentence)) S-38

C-54 Ceramic and Mosaic Tile Contractor

A ceramic and mosaic tile contractor prepares surfaces as necessary and installs glazed wall, ceramic, mosaic, quarry, paver, faience, glass mosaic and stone tiles; thin tile that resembles full brick, natural or simulated stone slabs for bathtubs, showers and horizontal surfaces inside of buildings, or any tile units set in the traditional or innovative tile methods, excluding hollow or structural partition tile.

• Officially excluded Hollow Or Structural Partition Tile (CCR T16 D8 Art 3 — C-54 definition (final clause)) S-39

C-36 Plumbing Contractor

A plumbing contractor provides a means for a supply of safe water, ample in volume and of suitable temperature for the purpose intended and the proper disposal of fluid waste from the premises in all structures and fixed works. This classification includes but is not limited to: (a) Complete removal of waste from the premises or the construction and connection of on-site waste disposal systems; (b) Piping, storage tanks and venting for a safe and adequate supply of gases and liquids for any purpose, including vacuum, compressed air and gases for medical, dental, commercial and industrial uses; (c) All gas appliances, flues and gas connections for all systems including suspended space heating units. This does not include forced warm air units; (d) Water and gas piping from the property owner's side of the utility meter to the structure or fixed works; (e) Installation of any type of equipment to heat water, or fluids, to a temperature suitable for the purposes listed in this section, including the installation of solar equipment for this purpose; and (f) The maintenance and replacement of all items described above and all health and safety devices such as, but not limited to, gas earthquake valves, gas control valves, back flow preventers, water conditioning equipment and regulating valves.

• Officially included Water Heater And Fluid Heating Equipment Installation (CCR T16 D8 Art 3 — C-36 definition (e)) S-36
• Officially excluded Forced Warm Air Units (CCR T16 D8 Art 3 — C-36 definition (c)) S-36

B General Building Contractor

Except as provided in this section, a general building contractor is a contractor whose principal contracting business is in connection with any structure built, being built, or to be built for the support, shelter, and enclosure of persons, animals, chattels, or movable property of any kind, requiring in its construction the use of at least two unrelated building trades or crafts, or to do or superintend the whole or any part thereof.

• Requires another classification Roofing Within Multi Trade Prime Contract (BPC §7057(b); CSLB Fast Facts B) S-18
• Requires another classification Well Drilling C57 (BPC §7057(c)) S-18
• Requires another classification Standalone Roofing Contract (CSLB Fast Facts B; BPC §7057(b)) S-18
• Officially included Solar Energy System Installation (CCR Title 16 §832.62(b)) S-03
• Requires another classification Fire Protection Systems C16 (BPC §7057(c)) S-18
• Requires another classification Prime Or Sub Contract Single Unrelated Trade (BPC §7057(b)) S-29

C-39 Roofing Contractor

A roofing contractor installs products and repairs surfaces that seal, waterproof and weatherproof structures. This work is performed to prevent water or its derivatives, compounds or solids from penetrating such protection and gaining access to material or space beyond. In the course of this work, the contractor examines and/or prepares surfaces and uses the following material: asphaltum, pitch, tar, felt, glass fabric, urethane foam, metal roofing systems, flax, shakes, shingles, roof tile, slate or any other roofing, waterproofing, weatherproofing or membrane material(s) or a combination thereof.

• Not determined Structural Changes In Re Roof Or Re Pitch (CCR §832.39 (CSLB Building Official Information Guide)) S-19

Concrete Driveway concrete-driveway

• may require C-8 — Concrete Contractor S-30
  C-8 definition covers forms, pours, places, finishes and installs pavement/flatwork concrete. Official exclusions apply (reinforcing steel erection, plaster coatings — SCOPE-CA-C8-REBAR / SCOPE-CA-C8-PLASTER). §7048 minor-work exemption may apply below $1,000 with all conditions.

Solar Installation solar-installation

• may require C-46 — Solar Contractor S-38 rule CA-SOLAR
  Dedicated solar classification (installs/modifies/maintains/repairs thermal and PV solar energy systems). Rule CA-SOLAR outcome 'c46-covers-solar'.
• alternative C-10 — Electrical Contractor S-31 rule CA-SOLAR
  Alternative path for the electrical/PV scope: the C-10 definition expressly includes 'solar photovoltaic cells'. Covers interconnection scope, not necessarily roofing attachments. Rule CA-SOLAR outcome 'c10-covers-pv'.
• alternative B — General Building Contractor S-03 rule CA-SOLAR
  Alternative path: a B may self-perform because an active solar energy system constitutes more than two unrelated building trades within the meaning of BPC §7057 — CCR §832.62(b) (regulation prevails over the Fast Facts wording, CONFLICT-CA-003). Rule CA-SOLAR outcome 'b-self-perform-solar'.

Roof Replacement roof-replacement

• may require C-39 — Roofing Contractor S-18 rule CA-ROOFING
  Standalone roofing contract: a B must subcontract to C-39 (or hold C-39 itself) — CSLB Fast Facts B. Rule CA-ROOFING outcome 'standalone-roofing'.
• alternative B — General Building Contractor S-18 rule CA-ROOFING
  Alternative path: a B may take the prime contract when it requires >=2 unrelated building trades or crafts (BPC §7057(b)); self-performance of the roofing work itself inside that contract is NOT determined by the reviewed official sources (scope category C). Rule CA-ROOFING outcome 'b-prime-multi-trade'.

Water Heater Replacement water-heater-replacement

• may require C-36 — Plumbing Contractor S-36
  C-36 definition (e) expressly covers 'installation of any type of equipment to heat water … including solar equipment for this purpose'. Permit interaction depends on the local building department (BPC §7031.5, S-42) and is NOT determined for any specific city/county. The §7048 minor-work exemption may still apply below $1,000 with all conditions — see rule CA-MINOR-WORK.

Bathroom Remodel bathroom-remodel

• component basis C-54 — Ceramic and Mosaic Tile Contractor S-39 rule CA-BATHROOM-REMODEL
  Tile component basis (official C-54 definition).
• component basis C-36 — Plumbing Contractor S-36 rule CA-BATHROOM-REMODEL
  Plumbing component basis (official C-36 definition). B-2 minor-alteration exception for fixture installation is limited to contracts with >=3 unrelated trades (BPC §7057.5(c)(3)).
• component basis C-10 — Electrical Contractor S-31 rule CA-BATHROOM-REMODEL
  Electrical component basis (official C-10 definition). Same B-2 minor-alteration caveat as the plumbing component.
• component basis C-33 — Painting and Decorating Contractor S-35 rule CA-BATHROOM-REMODEL
  Painting component basis (official C-33 definition). NO B or B-2 row is asserted for this project: the prime path (B vs B-2) is deliberately NOT concluded by the rule — it depends on unrelated-trade count and structural work (BPC §7057 / §7057.5).