B License or C-8 for Oceanside Concrete

Two licenses can lead an Oceanside concrete job. The C-8 is the concrete specialty, and a Class B general building contractor can run the work in three set ways.

The Two Licenses Side by Side

The C-8 Concrete class is the specialty license. The board says a C-8 contractor forms, pours, places and finishes mass, pavement, flat and other concrete work, and installs screeds for pavement and flatwork. It does not cover a contractor whose only trade is plaster coatings or placing rebar.

The Class B General Building license is the most common one in California. The board says its main business is building structures for shelter and enclosure, work that takes at least two unrelated building trades or crafts.

How a B Takes a Concrete Job

A B may take framing or carpentry work on its own. For other trades, concrete included, the board allows a B to take a prime contract in one of three cases.

• The contract has at least two unrelated trades besides framing or carpentry.
• The B holds the specialty license for the trade, which is C-8 for concrete.
• The B hires a properly licensed specialty contractor for that trade.

Framing and carpentry do not count toward the two trades. So a lone slab from a B who has no C-8 and hires no one is not allowed, but a B who brings in a licensed C-8 contractor can run it.

Three Oceanside Cases

A new driveway only. The B must hold C-8 or hire a licensed C-8 contractor to pour it. You still get one contract and one point of contact.

A patio slab with a block wall, lighting and drainage. That is several unrelated trades in one contract, and the B can run the whole job and hire licensed subs for each part.

A bedroom addition on a lot near the coast. The slab under it is concrete, and the B coordinates the C-8 contractor, the framing, the electrical and the rest. Ask the city whether your parcel sits in the coastal zone before work begins.

Who Handles the Trades

On a job like that, the B coordinates the C-8 contractor and the other trades, such as electrical (C-10), masonry (C-29), earthwork and paving (C-12) or landscape (C-27). The B is responsible to you for the whole job.

A B-2 Is Not a Concrete License

The B-2 Residential Remodeling class covers existing wood frame homes with at least three unrelated trades in one contract and no structural changes to load bearing parts. Concrete is not on its list of trades. If the license says B-2 and not C-8, ask who will pour.

What to Ask Before You Sign

• What is your license number, and which classes does it list?
• Do you hold C-8, or will a licensed C-8 contractor do the concrete?
• What is that subcontractor's name and license number?
• Will the contract name who does each part of the work?

Look every number up on the CSLB online license check. It shows each class a license holds.

Work in the Street

A curb cut, apron or public sidewalk is in the right of way. Some cities want a Class A General Engineering license for work in the street. The board says a Class A covers fixed works like roads and utilities, with related earthwork and concrete. We did not read an Oceanside rule on this, so ask the city, and see the permit guide.

Common Questions