The 10 Best San Diego, CA General Contractors

You must hire a licensed contractor in San Diego for any remodeling or construction project that costs more than $500 (labor and material cost combined).

The California Contractor State License Board (CSLB) is one of the highest rated licensing boards in the country. To become licensed, contractors must demonstrate that they have four years of relevant work experience, pass a trade examination and one on the relevant contractor law and business, and pay a fee. All contractors licensed after 2005 are required to submit their fingerprints and pass a criminal background check. Licenses must be renewed every 2 years for a $360 fee. The CSLB requires contractors to maintain at least $2,500 in operating capital.

Hiring a licensed contractors in California provides you with a number of consumer protections. Licensed contractors must carry workers' compensation insurance, if they have employees, and liability insurance with the cumulative limit of $1 million for five or less employees, and $100,000 for each additional member (not to exceed $5 million total). Ask for a copy of each insurance certificate for your records before any work on your property begins.

Generally, permits are required in San Diego for new construction, remodels, demolition and building relocation. Additionally, many home improvement projects, such as the replacement of windows, requires a permit. Note that if your property is in a historical district or on a premises containing environmentally sensitive lands, a permit may be required when otherwise exempted. If you are unsure if a permit is required for your project, call Development Services at 619.446.5000.

The San Diego Development Review Center is responsible for issuing permits and ensuring compliance with all relevant codes and regulations. When you first hire your contractor, you should determine who is responsible for going through the permitting process. The Development Review Center provides a variety of services to guide you through the permitting process, including a number of detailed online guides and a variety of methods for obtaining a building permit depending on the scale of your project. For example, the Development Review Center offers same-day permits for many common home improvement projects and minor renovations. More details are available on the San Diego Development Review Center website.

All licensed contractors in California are required to maintain a bond, which provides you with financial recourse in case of defective work or work that violate license regulations. Unlike with licensed contractors, the California Contractor State License Board cannot force an unlicensed contractor to make repairs or provide financial restitution.

The BuildZoom score is based on a number of factors including the contractor's license information, which is gathered from the California Contractor State License Board; building permit data, gathered from the San Diego Development Review Center; and feedback and behavior we have observed in the BuildZoom marketplace and in other, third-party review sites.

We have analyzed every licensed contractor who has worked in San Diego, California. Using this information, we’re able to save you time, money and lessen your risk by providing you with a simple and straight-forward way to gather and receive multiple bids from vetted general contractors in San Diego. Click here to get started by providing us with a few details about your project.