Legal Question in Construction Law in California

If the job exceeded $500 in labor and materials (and you cannot break it into smaller jobs to get under that limit), then you are almost certainly not going to prevail in Small Claims as an unlicensed contractor. Unfortunately, when you fail to comply with the law, it can have some pretty serious consequences, including not getting paid. I would suggest that from now on, you limit your activity to less than $500 total labor and materials for any given job, or get a license. You also need to be careful because the Contractor's State License Board is on a tear against unlicensed contractors. Suing the shop owner may not only fail to get you paid, but may in fact get you slapped with a complaint to the CSLB.

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