California LLC Contractor License Requirements
Updated October 30, 2026
An LLC can hold a California contractor license, but it carries requirements a corporation or sole owner does not.
On top of the $25,000 contractor bond
- $100,000 employee/worker bond. Required on every LLC license.
- Liability insurance. $1 million for five or fewer personnel of record, plus $100,000 for each additional person, up to $5 million. CSLB's example: eight personnel need $1,300,000.
Secretary of State
The LLC must give CSLB a current, active Secretary of State registration number, and the name must match that record exactly. A responsible managing officer's title must also match. Officers and members must be on the Secretary of State record; any additional officers must be listed on the application too.
Everyone gets listed
Every officer, member, responsible manager, or director goes on the application with full legal name, date of birth, address, and driver license number, signs under penalty of perjury, and is fingerprinted.
Who can qualify
A responsible managing member, manager, officer, or employee with the required experience. An RME or an RMO with under 10% of the voting stock also needs the $25,000 Bond of Qualifying Individual.
Changing to an LLC later
If you already hold a license as a sole owner or corporation, moving to an LLC takes a new license. See Changing your business entity.
Sources
- CSLB: Application for Original Contractor License, Examination Waiver (7065), form 13A-1a
- CSLB: Bond Requirements
- CSLB: Change in Personnel
This guide is general information, not legal advice. CSLB rules and fees change; always confirm on cslb.ca.gov.