What a California contractor's $25,000 bond covers (and what it doesn't)
Updated Oct 22, 2026 · data from CSLB's file dated Oct 20, 2026 · by Carlos Morones
Every active California contractor license carries a contractor's bond. In CSLB's Oct 20, 2026 file, 232,952 of 233,184 active licenses show $25,000. The bond is a limited fund for claims against the contractor. It isn't insurance for your project, and it can be smaller than your loss. You can see a contractor's bond on file in the lookup.
The amount went from $15,000 to $25,000 on January 1, 2023 (SB 607, per CSLB's bond bulletin). The other 232 active records show a smaller amount or no amount (112 are blank). The file alone doesn't say why, so if you see one, ask the contractor and check CSLB's page. Here are the bond amounts across all active licenses.
What CSLB says the bond is for
In CSLB's words, the bond or cashier's check "is filed to protect consumers. If the contractor violates laws, causes property damage, or doesn't pay their workers, a bond claim may be filed to seek compensation" (CSLB Fast Facts: contractor license bonds). CSLB lists who can claim:
- Homeowners who hired a contractor for home improvement or to build a single-family home, when the contractor violated license law and they were damaged.
- Victims of fraud or deliberate violations during a project.
- Employees who weren't paid wages, and eligible employees owed fringe benefits.
And CSLB's limit, from its finding the right contractor page: "this bond is often not enough to cover multiple complaints made against it or your project if it's worth more than the value of the bond." On a $90,000 remodel, $25,000 is the ceiling for every claim against that bond, not just yours.
How to see a contractor's bond
Look up the license. The record shows the bond amount, the surety company, and a cancellation date if one is on file. On CSLB's own license page, the "Contractor's Bond History" link shows which surety wrote the bond that was in place on the date of your contract. That's the company you'd file with. If you haven't yet, check the license first: status, class and workers' comp matter as much as the bond.
What a bond cancellation date means
In the Oct 20, 2026 file, 3,170 active licenses had a bond cancellation date on file. CSLB's Bond Basics page explains it: a license bond "is canceled 30 days from the date that CSLB receives a cancellation notice from a bond company." If CSLB doesn't get a reinstatement or a replacement bond in those 30 days, the license is suspended. CSLB says cancellation can happen when the premium isn't paid or when the surety has paid out some or all of the bond. Bond suspension is already the most common suspension in the file: 7,033 records show "Contr Bond Susp."
If a contractor you're about to hire has a cancellation date, ask whether a new bond is on the way, and check the license again before you pay.
Bond, liability insurance and workers' comp aren't the same thing
| Contractor's bond | General liability insurance | Workers' comp | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Required? | Yes, for every active license (CSLB) | CSLB says it isn't required (CSLB) | Yes if the contractor has employees. Always for C-8, C-20, C-22, C-39 and D-49 (CSLB) |
| On the CSLB record? | Yes: amount, surety, cancellation date | Not in the public file | Yes: policy, self-insured, or exempt |
| What it's for | Claims for license-law violations, per CSLB | CSLB says it covers damage to your property | Injuries to the contractor's workers |
CSLB also says a licensed contractor has to tell you about both kinds of insurance in your written contract. Ask for the certificates and call the insurers.
How a homeowner makes a claim, as CSLB describes it
This is CSLB's process from its bond Fast Facts and Bond Basics page, in order:
- Find the surety company on the contractor's license record.
- Gather your records: contract, payments, messages, and proof of the problem.
- Contact the surety directly and submit your evidence. CSLB doesn't process bond claims.
- Stay involved. The surety investigates and may ask for more information.
- Wait for the decision. If you're not satisfied, CSLB says you can take the contractor to small claims court for up to $10,000. Larger claims go to superior court.
Two exceptions CSLB calls out. If the contractor posted a cashier's check instead of a bond, you have to file a lawsuit against the licensee and the CSLB Registrar, because CSLB can only pay from a cashier's check under a court order. And you can still claim after a license is revoked, up to two years from its original expiration date. You can also file a complaint with CSLB, which investigates the license separately.
Questions people ask
Is a $25,000 contractor bond the same as insurance?
No. It's a surety bond: a limited fund that can pay claims when a contractor breaks license law and someone is damaged. It isn't liability insurance for your property, and CSLB warns it's "often not enough to cover multiple complaints" or a project worth more than the bond.
Where do I see a contractor's bond?
On the license record. Our lookup shows the amount, the surety company and any cancellation date. CSLB's own license page also has a "Contractor's Bond History" link that shows which surety wrote the bond in place when you signed.
Does CSLB pay bond claims?
No. CSLB says it doesn't process claims against surety companies. You file with the surety. The surety investigates the claim, and CSLB separately investigates any complaint you file about the license.
What if the license was revoked?
CSLB says you can still file if the problem happened before the revocation. You have up to two years from the license's original expiration date (B&P Code §7071.11).
Sources
- CSLB Fast Facts: A guide to contractor license bonds (rev. 8/2025)
- CSLB: Bond Basics
- CSLB industry bulletin: bond increase to $25,000
- CSLB: Finding the right contractor
- CSLB: Workers' compensation
- Counts: CSLB License Master file dated Oct 20, 2026. Methodology.
This is general information, not legal advice. California Trusted Pros doesn't sell bonds or insurance and isn't affiliated with CSLB.