Contractor Licensing FAQs

The Capitol Connection is our weekly Q & A column for contractors that focuses on topics pertaining to contractor's licensing.

Removing Lead-base paints, “C-33”, LLC & DBA’s, Carpet Cleaning and Apprenticeship licensing

It took years to become contractor’s law but the popularity of the LLC has soared among California firms. We have answers for LLC’s and clarify a contractor’s question about reciprocity. We’ve helped people through the application process for more than 25 years but get called out on the ‘carpet’ for the first time by an applicant’s…

Read MoreRemoving Lead-base paints, “C-33”, LLC & DBA’s, Carpet Cleaning and Apprenticeship licensing

“C-17” & General Qualifiers, Business Names & Advertising and “C-36”, “C-20” Overlap

Baseball season is back and we go to bat today for an Arizona company, a veteran glazer and a plumber who pitches a ‘wet’ one. Unfortunately, by the end of the ‘game’ played here, readers will discover it’s three strikes and you’re out!.. Q:  I have been a “C-17” (Glazing) contractor for many years.  I recently…

Read More“C-17” & General Qualifiers, Business Names & Advertising and “C-36”, “C-20” Overlap

SWIFT Justice and Lost Renewals

For unlicensed contractors, or anyone who tries to play ‘fast and loose’ with rules that protect workers or consumers justice will prevail. From the SWIFT Investigators seeking to ‘sting’ the unlicensed to local prosecutors protecting their consumers, contractors must beware breaking the law… According to the Davis Enterprise Newspaper, a Vacaville Contractor was recently sentenced to…

Read MoreSWIFT Justice and Lost Renewals

JV Licenses & Out of State Partners, NV Applications, Bid Limits & Financial Statements

Attending conferences, CSLB Board meetings and other events important to contractors is part of my job. For many contractors seeking contracts and new bid opportunity also takes them out ‘on the road’…  Q:  We are a CA “B” General Building contracting company and are applying for a new license in the State of Nevada.  We typically do…

Read MoreJV Licenses & Out of State Partners, NV Applications, Bid Limits & Financial Statements

Service & Repair vs HIC limits, Bid Limits for Licensing Requirements & Pocket Cards

When there is a question of what the law actually says people will try to exploit it to their advantage. This is important to both sides of a contract- consumer and contractor. A recent case prompted the CSLB to issue a News Release highlighting the need for consumers to understand the difference between a service and…

Read MoreService & Repair vs HIC limits, Bid Limits for Licensing Requirements & Pocket Cards

Reviving Suspended Corporate Licensing, Fencing, Licensing for Consultants & Fees

‘Work-arounds’, loopholes, or gray areas can sometimes be exceptions to the rules. But they are often looked for to avoid doing what is ‘business as usual’ as in our first question. Nice try but let me count the ways it’s not going to work. We finish with raising a contractor’s ‘suspended’ corporation… Q:  We are a…

Read MoreReviving Suspended Corporate Licensing, Fencing, Licensing for Consultants & Fees

DIR Registration, Family Transfer and RME Reactivation of Expired Licensing

Important updates you don’t want to miss, but first losing a family member is never easy, but our second question shows that losing their loved one was only the beginning for this contractor family. Although it’s not much, we do find a small silver lining to the dark clouds… Q:  We’re contemplating hiring this guy to…

Read MoreDIR Registration, Family Transfer and RME Reactivation of Expired Licensing

“C-61″/”D-21” Pumps & Cranes, Listing Corporate Officers & AZ Handyman Experience for Licensing

What can you do in Arizona that you can’t do here?  We also help contractors with questions on LLC and foreign corporations, and we ‘raise’ the spirits of a Nevada company looking for work in California… Q:  I have worked as a journeyman handyman/contractor for almost a year in California and I just recently moved to…

Read More“C-61″/”D-21” Pumps & Cranes, Listing Corporate Officers & AZ Handyman Experience for Licensing

General Partners, DOSH & “C-22”, Limits & Scope of “C-27” Licenses

What work, outside your specialty, can you do? Our first contractor finds himself‘fenced out’ on a job he can rightly do. A demolition contractor helps us‘break down’ the new ‘asbestos licensing’, and we must ‘demolish’ the ideas of a partnership hoping to maintain the ‘status quo’ in their current license… Q:   We currently have a “C-27”…

Read MoreGeneral Partners, DOSH & “C-22”, Limits & Scope of “C-27” Licenses