Contractor Bond Cancelled? How to Clear a CSLB Bond Suspension
Updated November 1, 2026
A bond suspension means CSLB no longer has an acceptable bond in force for your license. CSLB says any work performed during the suspension is considered unlicensed, so this is worth fixing the day you find it.
Why it happens
- Your surety cancelled the bond.
- A judgment or payment of a claim reduced the amount of the bond or cashier's check.
- Your surety is no longer authorized by the California Department of Insurance.
- You did not keep a required disciplinary bond in force for the required time.
- An RMO no longer owns at least 10% of the voting stock, so the Bond of Qualifying Individual exemption no longer applies.
Two ways to clear a cancellation
| Option | Who sends it | Deadline at CSLB |
|---|---|---|
| Rescission of the cancellation | Your surety | Within 90 days of the cancellation date |
| New bond or cashier's check | You or your surety | A bond must be received within 90 days of its effective date |
Start with your surety or agent. Ask why the bond was cancelled and whether they will rescind. If not, buy a new bond and ask for an effective date matching the old bond's cancellation date. CSLB says that avoids a break in coverage, and that coverage has to be continuous to avoid a break in licensing time.
What a new bond must show
- Written by a surety licensed through the California Department of Insurance.
- The business name and license number exactly as they appear in CSLB's records.
- The signature of the surety's attorney-in-fact, on a form approved by the Attorney General's Office.
Only one bond can be in effect at a time, and a bond cannot be transferred to another license or qualifier. CSLB cannot recommend a surety.
When the suspension lifts
Under BPC 7071.7, if CSLB receives the bond within 90 days of its effective date, it accepts the bond as of that date and reinstates the license, if otherwise eligible, back to that date. CSLB's license record may show the suspension until a bond it has received is processed, so check the record before you tell anyone it is cleared. Processing times vary.
If you missed the 90 days
CSLB can still accept the bond and lift the suspension retroactively if the failure was due to circumstances beyond your control. You send the Request for Bond Acceptance (form 13B-31), which you sign under penalty of perjury, with the original bond. If your reason does not fit, expect a gap in licensed time, which matters for work and payment during a suspension.
What a new bond will not fix
If the bond was cancelled because of a judgment or payment of a claim, a new bond lifts the bond suspension only. You still have to resolve the judgment or claim to lift that suspension. Your record can also show a separate suspension for another reason, such as workers' comp, and each one has to clear.
What it costs
CSLB's suspension page lists no fee to clear a bond suspension. You pay the surety's premium, which the surety quotes. See which bonds you need if you are not sure which one lapsed.
Sources
- CSLB: Bond Suspensions
- CSLB: General Bond Information
- CSLB: Request for Bond Acceptance (BPC 7071.7), form 13B-31
- CSLB: Bond Requirements
- CSLB: Major Reasons for Suspension and How to Reinstate Your License
This guide is general information, not legal advice. CSLB rules and fees change; always confirm on cslb.ca.gov.