When do you need to hire a licensed contractor in California?

In California, any remodeling or construction project that exceeds $500 (labor and materials), requires a contractor to have an active license with the California Contractor State License Board (CSLB).

How important is contractor licensing in California?

The CSLB is one of the highest rated licensing boards in the US. Applicants are required to pass a written board exam and prove at least four years of prior, relevant work experience. In addition, the CSLB requires all license holders to maintain at least $2,500 in operating capital and provides you with a range of other consumer protections.

Your liability risk when hiring a licensed contractor in California

Contractors in California are required to carry workers' compensation insurance if they have employees and proof of liability insurance with the cumulative limit of $1 million for licensees with five or fewer persons, and an additional 100,000 for each additional member over five, not to exceed $5 million total.

Financial recourse when hiring a contractor in California

All licensed contractors in California are required to maintain a bond, which provides you with financial recourse in case they perform defective work or violate license regulations. If you feel as though you have been taken advantage of, you should leave feedback on the contractor's BuildZoom profile and file a complaint with the CSLB.

What else should I know before hiring a contractor in California?

California contractors are required to submit their fingerprints to the board, which are then checked against criminal records held by the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) prior to obtaining a valid contracting license.

How is the BuildZoom score calculated?

The BuildZoom score is based on a number of factors including the contractor's license status, insurance status, verified work history, standing with local consumer interest groups, verified reviews from other BuildZoom users and self-reported feedback from the contractor.

Why you should hire through BuildZoom

When it comes to major construction work or even minor alterations to your home, hiring the wrong contractor could result in incomplete or defective work. You may even find yourself dealing with huge liability claims. BuildZoom does the homework for you and helps you hire the right contractor.

You should get several bids before hiring a contractor

The California State License Board recommends getting at least three written bids before hiring a contractor. Do not automatically accept the lowest bid - an abnormally low bid may indicate the contractor made a mistake and is not including the same work quoted by their competitors. We've made the bid collection process extremely simple (and free). Just click here to get started.

Page 6 | Best Hvac/mechanical Contractors in San Francisco, CA

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Best of BuildZoom: 2026

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Valex Construction

We understand remodeling your home can be an emotional experience.

BZ Score

San Francisco Investment Development Aka Sfid Design Build

It's important to communicate clearly, while listening with an attention to detail.

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415 Remodeling Inc

Clients look for a professional experience and delivery of their project.

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Webcor Builders Inc

The best clients get involved, understand the costs, make decisions quickly, and have clear goals

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FORMA Construction

The only goal is to complete the project and make the client happy. Nothing else matters.

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Dawson Clinton General Contractors

Treat the partnership like a marriage – there’s no other option but to finish.

BZ Score

Gci Construction

Setting expectations early in the process is extremely important.

BZ Score

Aaron Gordon Construction Inc

Changes to scope or designing during the build is the largest contributor to schedule slip.

BZ Score

Centric Building Inc

Some things will go wrong. I ask our clients not to judge us by that, but by how we react

BZ Score

Benjamin Shaw

Clients search for honesty, integrity, personality compatibility and value, in that order.

BuildZoom’s database now contains every licensed contractor across the U.S. - over 2.5 million of them... Categorized contractor profiles are enriched using government data from state licensing boards, Better Business Bureau ratings, and more… BuildZoom jumped into the fray by announcing that it raised $10.6 million in a round led by Formation 8. ...the Y combinator-backed startup said it will be focused on remodeling projects, where the median budget is around $19,000… A new index compiled by BuildZoom — which identifies contractors for projects — found that renovations are running 2.8 percent above their 2005 level…

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The 10 Best Hvac/mechanical contractors in San Francisco, CA

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