Hire from a shorter, cleaner contractor list.

California requires a license for any construction project over $1,000 in combined labor and materials. The Contractors State License Board (CSLB) manages the licensing system, and every licensed professional carries a surety bond and workers' compensation insurance. Hiring an unlicensed worker puts you at risk: no bond protection, no insurance coverage if someone gets hurt on your property, and no legal recourse through the CSLB if the work goes wrong.

Our directory pulls directly from CSLB public records. Every listing shows the license number, classification, bond status, workers' comp carrier, and whether any complaints have been filed. You can verify this yourself at cslb.ca.gov, and we link directly to each profile page so you don't have to search twice.

Sacramento's Construction Market in 2026

Sacramento County alone has over 15,000 active licensed professionals. Placer County adds another 5,000+, and El Dorado, Yolo, and the surrounding counties bring the Sacramento Valley total past 27,000. Statewide, California has 232,000+ active licenses across 40+ trade classifications.

The most common trades in the Sacramento area are General Building (B license), Electrical (C-10), Plumbing (C-36), HVAC (C-20), and Roofing (C-39). Each classification covers specific work. A C-36 plumber can't legally do electrical work, and a B general building license holder has to sub out specialty work to properly licensed trades.

What Does CLEAR Status Mean?

When you see "CLEAR" on a license, it means the license is active, the bond is current, insurance is in place, and there are no holds or suspensions. It's the status you want. Other statuses like "INACTIVE," "SUSPENDED," or "REVOKED" mean the person can't legally take on new work. We only list professionals with CLEAR status in our directory.

How to Use This Directory

Start with our search page if you know what trade you need. You can filter by city, county, or classification. Each profile page shows the full CSLB record: business name, license number, issue date, expiration, bond amount and carrier, workers' comp carrier, and classification details.

If you're not sure what license type you need, browse by trade category. Our trade pages explain what each classification covers, typical project costs in Sacramento, and tips for hiring. For location-specific results, try our city pages for Sacramento, Roseville, Elk Grove, Folsom, and Rancho Cordova.

Tips Before You Hire

Get at least three bids for any project over $5,000. Compare not just price but scope of work, materials specified, timeline, and warranty terms. Ask each bidder for their license number and verify it yourself. Check their complaint history on the CSLB site. Ask for references from jobs completed in the last 12 months, and actually call them.

Never pay more than 10% or $1,000 (whichever is less) as a down payment. That's California law under Business and Professions Code Section 7159. Get everything in writing before work starts: scope, materials, timeline, payment schedule, and change order process. A written contract is required by law for any home improvement project over $500.

Sacramento's hot summers mean HVAC work books up fast from May through September. Roofers get busy after winter storms. Landscapers fill their schedules in spring. Plan ahead: get bids 2-3 months before you want work to start, especially for bigger projects like kitchen remodels or ADU construction.

If something goes wrong, the CSLB handles complaints at no cost to you. You can file online at cslb.ca.gov. The $25,000 contractor bond is there to protect you financially if a licensed professional doesn't finish the job or does substandard work. Read more about how bonds work in our contractor bond guide.