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Your contractor license & insurance checklist
Generate a printable hiring checklist for any trade, plus a verified link to your state's official contractor licensing authority so you can confirm a license is real and active.
12Trades50 + DCStates coveredVerifiedLive board links$0No signup
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California contractor licensing authority
Run the lookup to get a verified link to your state's licensing authority.
Hiring checklist - General contractor
11 checks
01Confirm the legal business identity. Verify the general contractor's registered legal name and a real physical address - not just a phone number.
02Verify the license is active. Look up the general contractor's license number with California's licensing authority and confirm it is current and in good standing.
03Get a certificate of insurance. Ask the insurance agent to send the certificate (general liability and workers' compensation) directly to you.
04Check complaint and review history. Search the licensing board, the Better Business Bureau, and independent reviews for unresolved complaints.
05Collect at least three written bids. Compare itemized bids line by line - labor, materials, demolition, disposal, and exclusions.
06Require a detailed written contract. Scope of work, materials and grades, start and completion dates, and a clear list of exclusions.
07Set safe payment terms. Keep the deposit modest, tie payments to completed milestones, and avoid large upfront cash payments.
08Confirm who pulls the permits. A licensed general contractor normally pulls trade permits. Be cautious if they push permits onto you.
09Get a written workmanship warranty. The warranty term and what it covers should be in the signed contract, not just promised verbally.
10Confirm cleanup and disposal. The contract should state that debris removal and final cleanup are included.
11Ask about lien waivers. For larger jobs, request lien waivers as payments are made so suppliers and subs cannot lien your home.
Your next move
Work through every item before signing or paying a deposit. Requirements vary by state, county, and city - confirm locally.General consumer guidance, not legal advice. Licensing rules differ by jurisdiction.
Why verification matters before you hire
02
Insurance protects you
Without liability and workers' comp coverage, an on-site injury or accident can become your financial problem.03
Written beats verbal
A detailed written contract is the only thing that holds up when scope, schedule, or payment disputes arise.04
Verify the source
Confirm a license number directly with the official state board - never trust a number printed on a flyer or quote alone.Methodology
How this tool works
The checklist reflects hiring practices recommended by consumer-protection agencies - verify identity, license, and insurance; compare written bids; and use a detailed contract with milestone payments. For your state's licensing authority, an AI assistant identifies the official agency and the crawler then verifies the web links are live before they are shown to you, so you never get a dead or fabricated URL. Contractor licensing is handled differently in every state - some license statewide, others mainly at the city or county level - so always confirm requirements locally.