You must hire a licensed contractor in San Fransisco 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. Applicants must demonstrate that they have 4 years of relevant work experience, pass a trade knowledge 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 contractor in California provides you with a number of consumer protections. Licensed contractors must carry workers' compensation insurance 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). Request a copy of each insurance certificate for your records before any work begins on your property.

All construction and home improvement projects in San Francisco require a permit unless specifically exempted in the building code. Generally, a permit is necessary for all new construction, enlargements, alterations, repairs, conversions, demolition, changes in use or occupancy and movement of structures. Common projects which require a permit include fences over 3 feet in a front yard and 6 feet elsewhere, retaining walls more than 4 feet, re-roofing more than 25% of a roof, most chimneys, new boiler installation or replacement, and accessory structures over 100 square feet. If you begin construction without a permit when one is required, you could be penalized and required to remove unauthorized work. If you are unsure whether a permit is necessary for your project, contact the Permit Services at 415.558.6070.

The San Francisco Department of Building Inspection - Permit Services is responsible for issuing permits and ensuring project compliance with all applicable codes and ordinances. You should determine with your contractor at the start of project planning who will be responsible for the permitting process. The Department provides a variety of services to guide you through the permitting process, such as meeting with plan review staff before the start of project planning, for a fee. A variety of methods are available for obtaining a permit, including same day review without plan submission for some minor projects. More details are available on the Department of Building Inspection’s website.

All licensed contractors in California are required to maintain a bond, which provides homeowners 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 for incomplete or faulty work.

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 Francisco Department of Building Inspection; 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 Francisco, 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 Francisco. Click here to get started by providing us with a few details about your project.