Legal Question in Construction Law in California

Re: what laws govern handyman work?

You are limited to jobs that, labor and materials combined, do not exceed $500 each. You cannot break bigger jobs into smaller ones to get around that - if you do multiple jobs for an individual at the same property - even if stretched over several months, they can be considered a single job, and the values aggregated, and if beyond the $500 limit, you can be nailed for contracting without a license. Also, if you do a job that exceeds $500, the homeowner can legally pay you only the $500 and you cannot collect for the balance of the work you did! The State is coming down hard on un-licensed contractors, so be very cognizant of the rules. Documenting and photographing all work is a good idea.

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