CSLB License Lookup: What Every Status Flag Actually Means
To check a California contractor’s license, search their name, license number, or business name at CSLB’s free Check a License tool. The result page shows three things most people conflate into one word: the license status, the bonding company on file, and workers’ compensation status. “Active” only means the license itself is current — it does not confirm the $25,000 bond required under Business and Professions Code § 7071.6 is the right amount, or that the surety who wrote it is even admitted in California. This page walks through every field on the results page, decodes the status flags people misread most, and — if you’re the licensee and your own lookup showed a bond problem — routes you straight to the fix.
Already know your bond is the problem? File your $25,000 CSLB bond today and skip straight to same-day filing. Want the full licensing picture first? Read the California contractor license bond hub.
- Who requires it: California Contractors State License Board (CSLB), which shows license status, the bonding company on file and workers' comp status.
- Amount: the standard bond is $25,000 under Business and Professions Code §7071.6.
The 60-Second Lookup: What Each Field on the Results Page Tells You
CSLB’s tool supports five search methods — license number, business name, personnel name, salesperson name, and HIS registration number. A license number search is fastest and returns exactly one result; a name search can return up to 100 matches, so narrow with a city or classification if the name is common.
Source: CSLB Check a License and CSLB Bond Information. Field labels and layout can shift with CSLB site updates; the underlying data points described here have been stable across recent CSLB redesigns.
Status-Code Decoder: Active, Suspended, Expired, and the 3 Kinds of Suspension
“Suspended” is not one thing. CSLB uses the same word for a lapsed bond, an unresolved judgment, and a workers’ comp lapse — three different statutes, three different fixes. This is the table that is easy to miss.
What Each CSLB Status Actually Means
Cross-referenced against the CSLB status definitions and the statute that governs each suspension type.
| Status Shown | What Triggered It | Bond Status | What To Do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active | License is current and the contractor may legally bid and contract for work. | Bond on file and in force — but "Active" does not mean the bond amount is correct. See the self-check section below. | Nothing — but verify the bond company name if you are hiring this contractor. |
| Inactive | Licensee put the license "on hold." They cannot bid, contract, or advertise as a licensed contractor. | No bond required while inactive — reactivation requires filing a new $25,000 bond first. | If you are the licensee: file a bond before requesting reactivation. If you are hiring: do not use this contractor for licensed work. |
| Suspended — Bond | The $25,000 bond required by BPC § 7071.6 lapsed, was cancelled by the surety, or was never replaced after a claim. | No bond currently on file with CSLB. | File a new CSLB-accepted bond immediately — see the fix path below. |
| Suspended — Judgment | Licensee had an unsatisfied final court judgment related to their contracting business and did not notify CSLB within 90 days. | A separate judgment bond may be required under BPC § 7071.17 in addition to the standard $25,000 bond. | Notify CSLB in writing, satisfy the judgment, or file the bond BPC § 7071.17 requires to guarantee payment. |
| Suspended — Workers' Comp | Licensee's workers' compensation insurance lapsed while employees were on payroll, or coverage became required and was never obtained. | Unrelated to the $25,000 license bond — this is a separate insurance requirement under BPC § 7125.2. | File proof of workers’ comp coverage (or an exemption) per BPC §§ 7125 and 7125.1 to lift the suspension. |
| Expired | Licensee did not renew on the required 2-year (active) or 4-year (inactive) cycle. | Bond may still show on file for up to 5 years, but it does not authorize contracting. | Renew within 5 years to reinstate without a new exam; after 5 years, a new original application is required. |
| Revoked | CSLB took disciplinary action and terminated the license entirely, or it expired more than 5 years ago. | Existing bond is void for licensing purposes — a new bond alone will not restore the license. | File an original application, retake the trade and law/business exams, and resolve the conditions that caused revocation. |
A single license can show more than one active issue at once — a bond suspension and a workers' comp suspension are tracked independently and both must be cleared.
Sources: CSLB License Problems pages; Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 7071.6, 7071.17, 7125.2
See “Suspended — Bond” on your own license? The fix is a replacement bond with same-day submission, not a new application.
File My CSLB BondWhat “Suspended — Bond” Means and How the Fix Actually Works
CSLB will not issue, renew, or keep active a license without a compliant $25,000 bond on file, per BPC § 7071.6. When a surety cancels a bond — for nonpayment, a revoked indemnity agreement, or a non-renewal after a paid claim — CSLB is notified and the licensee has a limited window to file a replacement before the license flips to Suspended. Once suspended for a bond issue, the contractor cannot legally bid or contract for work over the state’s minor-work threshold until a new bond is filed and posted.
The fix is narrower than most licensees expect: you do not need to reapply or retake an exam. You need a new CSLB-accepted bond, signed by an admitted surety, with the business name and license number matching the CSLB file exactly. Filed electronically, that bond can reach CSLB the same business day it’s signed; CSLB intake then typically posts it within 1–5 business days, at which point the lookup tool updates back to Active.
If your suspension is instead tagged to a judgment or workers’ comp lapse, filing a new license bond alone will not clear it — those are separate requirements under BPC §§ 7071.17 and 7125.2, with their own documentation to submit. Call CSLB at (800) 321-2752 if the status page doesn’t make clear which of the three suspension types applies to your file.
Official California Requirements
"A bond required by this section shall be in the amount of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000). The bond shall be executed by a sufficient surety... and shall be filed with the registrar by the licensee or applicant."California Business and Professions Code § 7071.6 • BPC § 7071.6
Triggered by an unsatisfied final judgment tied to the contracting business. The licensee must notify the registrar in writing within 90 days — miss that window and the statute makes suspension automatic.
Cleared by satisfying the debt, reaching an accord, or filing a bond sufficient to guarantee payment of the judgment amount.
Automatic the moment required coverage lapses or becomes required and isn’t obtained — effective the earlier of the lapse date or the date coverage became required. CSLB sends written notice with the reason and reinstatement steps.
Cleared by filing proof of current coverage (or a valid exemption) under BPC §§ 7125 and 7125.1 — completely separate from the license bond.
Verifying the Bond Itself: Surety Name, Bond Number, and Amount
A status of “Active” with a bonding company listed is not the same as confirming the bond is real. Two extra checks catch problems the lookup tool alone won’t surface.
Confirm the surety is admitted in California
Every legitimate CSLB bond must be written by a surety company admitted by the California Department of Insurance. Search the bonding company name in CDI’s Insurance Company Profiles tool — if the name doesn’t come up, or comes up under a different legal name than what CSLB shows, treat that as a red flag before relying on the bond for a hiring decision or a bid bond package.
CDI Insurance Company ProfilesKnow when $25,000 isn’t the real number
The lookup tool doesn’t always display the dollar amount in the summary view. Most licenses carry exactly the $25,000 standard bond, but LLCs carry an additional $100,000 employee/worker bond, and a licensee under disciplinary reinstatement can carry a bond up to $250,000 under BPC § 7071.8. Under BPC § 7071.6(d), CSLB can also double the standard bond to $50,000 after an unlicensed-contracting conviction or a substantial-injury citation. If the exact amount matters — for a bid package or a claim — request a copy of the bond directly rather than assuming the statutory minimum.
See which classifications require which bond amount →Watch for “phantom bond” citations
Some unrelated licenses and product categories get sold with bonds tied to statute sections that don’t actually require them — a pattern we documented in detail after finding contractors and other license holders charged for coverage no agency ever mandated. If a bond quote cites a section number, verify it exists and says what you’re told it says before paying.
Read: California Phantom Bonds — 4 Bonds the State Never Required →Contractor Self-Check: Look Yourself Up Before You Renew
CSLB shows the public exactly what a homeowner, GC, or bonding company sees. Running your own license through the lookup 30-60 days before renewal catches problems while you still have time to fix them without a lapse.
Does the bond company match your records?
If your surety changed hands or your policy renewed under a new bond number, confirm CSLB shows the current one — not the prior term.
Is workers' comp status current?
A lapsed policy triggers automatic suspension under BPC § 7125.2 independent of your bond — check both fields, not just the bond line.
Do all your classifications still show?
A classification can be removed for cause. Confirm every class you bid work under is still listed before you submit a bid.
Any new disclosures or judgments listed?
A judgment appearing here starts the 90-day notice clock under BPC § 7071.17 whether or not you’ve been formally notified yet.
Want the full renewal timeline, not just the bond piece? Read our contractor license bond renewal guide.
Run Your CSLB Lookup NowCSLB License Lookup: Frequently Asked Questions
The questions we get after someone runs a lookup and doesn’t recognize what they see.
Why does the CSLB lookup show "Active" but my contractor told me their bond lapsed?
What is the difference between "Suspended" for a bond issue and "Suspended" for a judgment?
Does the CSLB lookup tell me the exact bond amount on file?
How do I verify the bonding company shown in the lookup is a real, admitted surety?
I’m a contractor and my own lookup shows a status I don’t understand — what do I do first?
Can I check a license status without an internet connection to CSLB’s live database?
Keep Going: CSLB Bond and Licensing Resources
Fix a bond problem
File your $25,000 CSLB bond (same-day)SB 607 bond increase compliance guideContractor license bond renewal guideCSLB bond cost calculatorLicensing hubs
California contractor license bond hubContractor license bonds by stateBond of Qualifying Individual (BQI)How to become a licensed CSLB contractorEstimate Your California Contractor License Bond Premium
Free calculator — ballpark cost in under 60 seconds, no email required.
Other California Bonds
Additional surety bonds available in California
Notary public bond
DMV dealer licensing
NMLS mortgage licensing
All bond types
Construction & service contracts
Executors, administrators & guardians
FMCSA broker authority
Nearby States
Contractor license bonds in neighboring states
All content is researched from official state and federal sources (.gov). BuySuretyBonds.com works with Treasury-listed surety carriers.
Lookup Showed a Bond Problem? Let’s Fix It Today.
replacement bond with same-day submission, CSLB-accepted form, signed by an admitted surety. Most licenses post back to Active within 1–5 business days of filing.
Treasury-listed carriers • Pay only when issued • BPC § 7071.6 compliant