How to Renew Your California Contractor License

California contractor licenses must be renewed every two years. The CSLB sends a renewal notice approximately 60 days before expiration, but it is your responsibility to renew on time whether or not you receive the notice.

Renewal Fees

Fees depend on your license status and business structure:

Active license, sole owner: $450
Active license, non-sole owner (corporation, LLC): $700
Inactive license, sole owner: $300
Inactive license, non-sole owner: $500
C-10 Electrical contractors pay an additional $20

Renewal Requirements

Beyond paying the fee, the CSLB checks that the following are current at the time of renewal:

Contractor bond — your $25,000 bond must be active. If it has lapsed, you cannot renew until a replacement bond is filed.
Workers’ compensation — if you have employees, proof of coverage must be on file. If you have no employees, a current exemption must be on file.
Workers’ comp classification codes — active licensees must certify the three workers’ compensation classification codes with the highest estimated payroll on their policy.
Outstanding fees — any unpaid Industry Expert fees from CSLB enforcement must be paid as part of the renewal.

Need a Contractor License Bond?

California contractors must carry a $25,000 license bond. Get a quote and file directly with the CSLB.

Get a Contractor License Bond Quote →

How to Renew

You can renew online through the CSLB renewal portal (sole owners) or by mailing the completed renewal form with payment to CSLB headquarters in Sacramento.

Online renewals process in one to two days. Mail renewals take two to four weeks. Given processing variability, submit early.

Late Renewal

If your renewal is not received by the expiration date:

Within 90 days — You can still renew, but a delinquent fee applies. For sole owners the delinquent fee is $225 (total becomes $675). For non-sole owners it is $350 (total becomes $1,050). Your license is retroactively reinstated under SB 1474 (2021) if the renewal is received within 90 days.
90 days to 5 years — You can still renew by submitting a renewal application with all delinquent fees. There will be a gap in license status. Any work performed during the gap is considered unlicensed.
More than 5 years — The license cannot be renewed. You must apply for a new license from scratch, including re-taking the exams.

Active vs. Inactive Status

If you are not actively contracting, you can place your license on inactive status. Inactive licenses still require renewal (every four years instead of two) but do not require a bond or workers’ compensation insurance on file. You cannot bid on or perform any work with an inactive license.

To reactivate, file a bond, provide proof of workers’ compensation (or exemption), and pay the reactivation fee.

Key Dates to Track

License expiration date (on your pocket card)
Bond expiration date (separate from license renewal)
Workers’ comp policy renewal date

These three dates are on different cycles. Missing any one can trigger a license suspension.

For official renewal forms and status lookup, visit the CSLB renewal page.