Contractors State License Board, State of California
Contractor License Defense
Each year, the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) receives nearly 20,000 complaints from consumers, other licensees, professional groups, and governmental agencies. The CSLB investigates both licensed and unlicensed contractors.
If you are a licensed contractor, license applicant, or unlicensed contractor facing a CSLB investigation or disciplinary action, we have the experience and resources to provide effective representation.
Complaints and investigations
The following represent some of the most common allegations contractors face:
- Poor workmanship
- Abandonment of a project
- Failure to pay subcontractors, suppliers, or employees
- Building code violations
- Lack of reasonable diligence in executing a construction project
- False, deceptive, or misleading advertising
- Violations of law governing home improvement contracts
The board reviews and investigates complaints received before deciding on the best course of action, which can include closing the case. If the CSLB does not close the case and a settlement between the parties cannot be reached, the board may issue a citation or lesser form of discipline or refer the matter to the California Office of the Attorney General for formal disciplinary proceedings. The attorney general may file an accusation or, in the case of an applicant, a statement of issues, which initiates a formal hearing process under the California Administrative Procedures Act.
At the administrative hearing stage, the CSLB may impose penalties that can include issuing an advisory letter or letter of admonishment, issuing a citation, denying a contractor’s license application, and suspending or revoking a contractor license.
As the holder of a professional license, you have important statutory and constitutional rights. While each situation is unique, it is generally wise to engage counsel before responding to a board investigator or a request for information.
How we can help
Our experienced attorneys can work closely with you to close an investigation without discipline or minimize the discipline that may eventually be imposed. In many cases, we can assist in negotiating an agreed resolution with the board’s attorney without a hearing. We can also aggressively defend you at a contested hearing.
If you are facing criminal prosecution, you need to know and understand the consequences that a guilty or no contest plea and a conviction can have on your license. A conviction that results from circumstances outside of your professional work and appears to have no relationship to your practice as a contractor may still have a significant impact on your license.
Whether you have been wrongfully accused of misconduct or have made an uncharacteristic mistake, our attorneys offer the experience, expertise, and resources to aggressively defend you before the board. We will listen, offer advice, and develop a plan to obtain the best result possible.
More information:
California State Contractors License Board
Verify the status of a contractor license
The Business and Professions Code
California Contractors License Law & Reference Book
Complaint Process Against Licensed Contractors
Enforcement Statistics (pp. 63-67)