Hiring a licensed contractor in California: a CSLB checklist for bathroom jobs

Older adults are a frequent target for home repair scams, and bathroom safety is an easy pitch: a stranger knocks, mentions a neighbor's new tub, and offers a deal that ends today. California's rules are designed to slow that down. Knowing a few of them gives you, or the parent you are helping, real leverage.

Step 1: check the license on the CSLB website

The Contractors State License Board (CSLB) licenses contractors in California. Its free online tool, Check a License, is the place to start. Ask every contractor for their license number; it should be on their bid, contract and advertising.

• Status is active. Not expired, suspended or revoked.
• The name matches. The business name on the license should match the name on your contract.
• The classification fits. Bathroom remodels are often done under a B (general building) license. Plumbing specialists hold a C-36 license, and electrical specialists hold a C-10. Ask how the contractor will handle the trades they are not licensed for.
• Bond on file. An active license requires a contractor's bond, which exists for the benefit of consumers.
• Workers' compensation. If the contractor has employees, the record should show workers' compensation coverage. If they claim an exemption, ask who is covered if someone is hurt in your home.
• Complaint and discipline history. The license record shows public complaint and legal action information.

If a salesperson, rather than the contractor, comes to the house, they should be registered with CSLB as a Home Improvement Salesperson (HIS). The same Check a License page lets you look up HIS registrations.

Step 2: understand the small-job limit

California lets unlicensed people do small jobs, but the limit is low. A 2024 law, AB 2622, raised the "minor work" limit from $500 to $1,000 starting January 1, 2025. According to CSLB, that $1,000 includes all labor and materials, and the exemption does not apply if the work requires a permit or the person has employees helping. A walk-in tub installation is far above this limit, so the person doing it should be licensed.

Step 3: read the contract before signing

Home improvement contracts in California must be in writing and include specific information. Look for:

• The contractor's name, address and license number
• A description of the work and the materials, including the tub model
• The total price and a payment schedule tied to work completed
• Start and substantial completion dates
• Required notices, including the notice of your right to cancel

The down payment limit

California generally caps the down payment on a home improvement contract at $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less. After that, the contractor should not ask for payments that run ahead of the work actually done or materials actually delivered. A demand for a large deposit is a red flag.

The right to cancel, and the senior rule

Most home improvement contracts signed at your home come with a right to cancel within a short period. CSLB's guide What Seniors Should Know explains that buyers aged 65 and older get a longer cancellation window than other buyers. Read the notice of cancellation that comes with your contract, and check CSLB's current guide for the exact period, as the law in this area has been updated over time.

Red flags

• Door-to-door offers, especially using leftover materials from a "job down the street"
• A price that is only good if you sign today
• Requests for cash, or for a large deposit
• No license number, or a number that does not match the name
• Pressure to skip the permit
• A salesperson who will not leave the contract for family to review
• Claims that Medicare or a government program will pay, without paperwork from that program

If something feels off, it is fine to ask the person to leave. You can report suspected unlicensed contracting to CSLB.

Permits

A licensed contractor should know when a permit is needed in your city or county and should normally pull it for the work they do. Be cautious if a contractor asks you to pull an owner-builder permit for their work; that can shift responsibility for the job, and for workers' injuries, onto you.

Questions to ask any walk-in tub installer

1. What is your CSLB license number and classification?
2. Will your own employees do the work, or subcontractors? Are they licensed and insured?
3. Who pulls the permit, and is the fee included?
4. What happens if you find water damage once the old tub is out, and how is that priced?
5. Who covers the installation workmanship, and for how long?
6. Who do I call if the door seal leaks after the job?

How installation works with us

When Aging Safely Baths & More arranges installation, the work is done by factory-certified installers. Ask your specialist for the installer's CSLB license number before the appointment and look it up yourself. We would rather you check. If you use your own contractor for a delivered tub, the same checklist applies to them.