How to Check a Flooring Contractor's License in California
Updated · Best Flooring Sacramento
Look the company up on the CSLB website before you sign anything, and check four things: the license is active, it includes the flooring class (C-15) or general building (B), the bond is current, and workers' comp is on file or the company is exempt. In our Sacramento check, 37% of flooring businesses had no CSLB license we could match.
| Who issues licenses | Contractors State License Board (CSLB) |
|---|---|
| Flooring class | C-15, Flooring and Floor Covering |
| General building class | B |
| When a license is required | Jobs of $1,000 or more in labor and materials |
| Deposit limit | 10% of the contract price or $1,000, whichever is less |
| Where to check | CSLB license lookup |
| Flooring businesses we checked | 311, Sacramento region |
| No license we could match | 37% |
| Suspended license, bond or workers' comp | 6 businesses |
Why the license matters
In California, any flooring job of $1,000 or more in labor and materials has to be done by a contractor licensed by the CSLB. The license record is public and shows more than a yes or no: the classes the company may work in, when it was licensed, and whether its bond and workers' comp are in place.
A Google listing tells you none of this. In our check of 311 flooring businesses in the Sacramento region, 37% had no CSLB license we could match, and 6 had a suspended license, bond or workers' comp.
What the license classes mean
Most flooring installers hold C-15, Flooring and Floor Covering. Some hold B, General Building, which covers projects that involve several trades. Many companies hold more than one class. Euro Flooring holds B, C-15 flooring, C-54; Family Floors & More holds C-15 flooring, C-54.
The record also shows the year the license was issued. In our top 15 that runs from 1980 for Floor Store to 2024 for Essential Flooring. A newer license is not a problem by itself; it is a shorter record to check.
A home improvement deposit is capped at 10% of the contract price or $1,000, whichever is less. A contractor with employees must carry workers' compensation; "Exempt" on the record means the license holder reports no employees.
Check a license in six steps
Get the license number
Ask for it, or look on the written quote, the website or the company truck.
Search the CSLB license lookup
Search by number first. With only a name, search by business name: a company may be licensed under a different name than it uses on Google.
Check the status
It should read Active. A suspended or expired license means stop and ask why.
Check the class
For a flooring job, look for C-15. For a remodel with several trades, B.
Check bond and workers' comp
Both should be current. A company with no employees can be exempt from workers' comp, and the record says so.
Match the details
The name, address and phone on the record should match the company you are talking to.
Questions about contractor licenses
Can a company be on Google without a license?
Yes. 37% of the flooring businesses we checked had no CSLB license we could match. Some may be licensed under another name, so search by name and by number before you decide.
Does a license mean the work will be good?
No. It means the company is registered with the state, with the bond and insurance the record shows. We also read reviews and ask each company for a price; our ranking combines all of it.
How do I check a flooring contractor's license in California?
Search the license number or business name on the CSLB website (cslb.ca.gov). In California any job of $1,000 or more in labor and materials needs a licensed contractor, and a home improvement deposit is capped at 10% of the price or $1,000, whichever is less.
Sources: CSLB license records; our check of 311 flooring businesses in the Sacramento region. Updated .
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