California Contractors State License Board

The California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) was established in 1929 as the Contractors License Bureau under the Department of Professional and Vocational Standards. Today it is part of the California Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA). DCA is part of the California State and Consumer Services Agency. The CSLB licenses and regulates contractors in 43 classifications that constitute the construction industry. As of September 1, 2010, there were 307,167 licensed contractors in the state. The CSLB also registers Home Improvement Salespersons (HIS). As of September 1, 2010, there were 7,596 HIS. The top 10 licensing classifications, in order of active licenses issued by CSLB on September 1, 2010 are: "B" General Building Contractor - 112,125 "C-10" Electrical - 25,737 "C-33" Painting and Decorating - 16,857 "A" General Engineering Contractor - 16,293 "C-36" Plumbing - 15,320 "C-27" Landscaping - 11,529 "C-20" Warm-Air Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning - 11,489 "C-15"... (see more)