How to Check a Concrete Contractor
Look up the license before you pay anyone. In California any concrete job over $1,000 in labor and materials needs a licensed contractor.
Quick Points
- Search the license on cslb.ca.gov
- Concrete is C-8, or a B who holds or hires C-8
- The minor work limit is now $1,000
- Get the scope and price in a written contract
Look Up the License
Go to the Contractors State License Board site at cslb.ca.gov. You can search by license number, business name or the owner's name. Check that the license is active and that the name matches the person you are talking to.
Know the Right Class
The CSLB C-8 Concrete Contractor class covers forming, pouring, placing and finishing concrete, including flat work like driveways and patios. A Class B general building contractor may also take a concrete job, if the B holds C-8 or hires a licensed C-8 contractor for the concrete. See the page on B license or C-8.
The $1,000 Rule
Since January 1, 2025, Assembly Bill 2622 lets an unlicensed person take a job up to $1,000 in labor and materials. That only applies when the work needs no permit and the person hires no one. Most driveways and patios cost more than that, so they need a licensed contractor.
An unlicensed person who advertises must say they are not licensed. Someone who says they are licensed when they are not cannot use the exemption at all.
Get It in Writing
Ask for a written contract that lists the size, the finish, the base prep, the joint plan, cleanup and who pulls any permit. Do not pay in cash to someone you cannot look up.
Common Questions
What license does a concrete contractor need in California?
The CSLB C-8 Concrete Contractor class covers concrete work. A Class B general contractor can also run a concrete job by holding C-8 or hiring a licensed C-8 contractor. Any job over $1,000 needs a licensed contractor.
Can an unlicensed person pour my patio?
Only if the whole job is $1,000 or less, needs no permit, and the person hires no one. Most patios cost more than that.