Edhat Reader
By the Contractors State License Board
The Contractors State License Board (CSLB), in partnership with the California Department of Insurance and Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, held an undercover sting operation in Fillmore targeting unlicensed contractors.
The two-day operation on October 23-24 resulted in 12 individuals receiving notices to appear in criminal court for allegedly contracting without a license. The individuals placed bids ranging from $800 for flooring work to $10,300 for a painting, all without a valid contractor’s license. California law mandates that any contractor advertising or contracting for work valued at $500 or more (including labor and materials) must be licensed. These individuals advertised their services without disclosing their unlicensed status.
Consequences for unlicensed contracting in California are severe, with penalties reaching up to $15,000 in administrative fines, misdemeanor charges, potential jail time of up to six months, and criminal fines as high as $5,000. Repeat offenders face escalated penalties, including a mandatory 90-day jail sentence and a fine of $5,000 or 20 percent of the contract value – whichever is greater.
The sting also revealed that two individuals requested excessive down payments before starting work. California law restricts contractors from asking for more than 10 percent of the project cost or $1,000, whichever is less. Demanding more is a misdemeanor, punishable by fines up to $5,000 and/or up to a year in county jail.
“CSLB is dedicated to protecting homeowners from the risks of unlicensed contractors,” said David Fogt, CSLB Registrar. “We encourage consumers to verify a contractor’s license before starting any construction project in California, as it’s a simple step to help safeguard their investment.”
CSLB will continue to work with law enforcement agencies across the state to address unlicensed contracting in its consumer protection efforts.
For more information, visit CSLB’s website, or connect with us on Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
About CSLB: CSLB operates under the umbrella of the Department of Consumer Affairs and licenses and regulates about 285,000 contractors in California.
I understand that there are safety concerns with unlicensed contractors who build housing, but fining someone for creating a commissioned painting seems excessively petty.
Good joke, if that’s what it was.
Remove the “a” or add “a job” to make it make sense. If you’re serious, it’s rather unlikely it was for a painting.
Article states, “ placed bids ranging from $800 for flooring work to $10,300 for a painting,”
What’s dangerous about flooring or painting?
There a tons of jobs a handyman can do without being a contractor.
As long as it is disclosed to the purchaser I see no harm.
Getting a contractor license can be onerous; tests, fees, bonds and can add to the cost of a job.
Seems like an another overregulation by California resulting in higher prices.
Well, the current ethos seems to favor making fraud and grifting easier, from the national government on down, so what the heck, let’s get rid of all the guardrails!