Legal Question in Construction Law in California

Re: california contractors lisence

No, as a condition to receiving the license the background investigation must be performed. If you work without a valid license you may end up with civil and criminal penalties and the CSLB may revoke or never issue a license to you if they find out you did work as an unlicensed contractor.

Furthermore, if you work as an unlicensed contractor and a dispute with a customer arises then you would really be opening up yourself to trouble. Even if you did all the work properly if you are an unlicensed contractor then you are required to give back all of the money that the customer paid to you. Thus you could be out of business in no time.

I suggest you just keep calling them and bugging them on the background investigation as much as you can and following up on it with the CSLB. However, do not bug them too much or you may find yourself at the end of the list with a cranky person at the CSLB.

If you would like help incorporating or setting up your contracts or business so as to protect yourself once you get your license-please contact me.

Re: california contractors lisence

No. Until your license has actually been issued, you cannot legally do work that requires a contractor's license.