What is the handyman limit in California?

A worker with no contractor license may only take a job that costs less than $1,000 in total, counting labor and materials. The job must not need a building permit, and the worker must work alone.

Can a worker without a license advertise in California?

Only for jobs under $1,000, and the ad must say the worker is not licensed.

How long do I have to cancel a home improvement contract in California?

Usually three business days after you get a signed copy. Seniors get five business days. Repairs after a declared disaster get seven business days.

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Who can fix it in California? Handyman and contractor license rules

Checked October 20, 2026 against California law and state agency pages · General information, not legal advice

The short answer: In California, a worker with no state license may only take a job that costs less than $1,000 in total. The job must not need a building permit. The worker must work alone.

“This chapter does not apply to a work or operation on one undertaking or project by one or more contracts if the aggregate contract price for labor, materials, and all other items is less than one thousand dollars ($1,000), that work or operation being considered of casual, minor, or inconsequential nature, and the work or operation does not require a building permit.” — Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 7048(a)

What that means for your job

The price counts labor, materials, and everything else. A big job cannot be split into small bills to get under the limit.
A job that needs a permit needs a licensed pro. Many electrical, plumbing, gas, heating, and cooling jobs need a permit.
The worker cannot act like a licensed contractor. Any ad must say they are not licensed.
You may work on your own home without a license if you are not fixing it up to sell. You still need permits.

Trades that need a license in California

General building and home improvement: Yes. The Contractors State License Board (CSLB) licenses general building contractors (Class B). A worker with no license may only take the small jobs described above. (CSLB Licensing Classifications: General Building Contractor; Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 7048)
Electrical: Yes. CSLB licenses electrical contractors (C-10). Owners can do their own work under the owner-builder rule below. (CSLB Licensing Classifications: Electrical; Cal. Health & Safety Code § 19825 (owner-builder declaration, summarizing Bus. & Prof. Code § 7044))
Plumbing: Yes. CSLB licenses plumbing contractors (C-36). Owners can do their own work under the owner-builder rule below. (CSLB Licensing Classifications: Plumbing; Cal. Health & Safety Code § 19825 (owner-builder declaration, summarizing Bus. & Prof. Code § 7044))
Heating and air conditioning: Yes. CSLB licenses heating and air conditioning contractors (C-20). Owners can do their own work under the owner-builder rule below. (CSLB Licensing Classifications: Heating and air conditioning; Cal. Health & Safety Code § 19825 (owner-builder declaration, summarizing Bus. & Prof. Code § 7044))
Roofing: Yes. CSLB licenses roofing contractors (C-39). Owners can do their own work under the owner-builder rule below. (CSLB Licensing Classifications: Roofing; Cal. Health & Safety Code § 19825 (owner-builder declaration, summarizing Bus. & Prof. Code § 7044))

Before you sign with a contractor

Home improvement contracts over $500 must be in writing. You and the contractor must sign before work starts.
You can usually cancel within three business days after you get a signed and dated copy. Seniors get five business days. If you made the deal at the contractor's place of business, the contract does not have to include this cancel notice. So ask before you sign whether you can cancel.
You can cancel by email, mail, fax, or by delivering a written notice to the contractor.
Was your home damaged in a declared emergency? You get seven business days to cancel a contract to fix it.
The down payment may not be more than $1,000 or 10 percent of the price, whichever is less.
A contractor may not collect payment for work not yet done or for materials not yet delivered.

Sources: (Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 7159(b) (home improvement contract defined); Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 7159(d) (written, signed contract); Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 7159(e)(6)(B)(i) (right to cancel); Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 7159(e)(6)(A) (seniors; place-of-business exception); Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 7159(e)(7) (disaster repairs); Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 7159(d)(8) (down payment); Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 7159(d)(9) (progress payments))

Doing the work yourself

You may build or improve your own property without a license if the work is not meant or offered for sale. You or your paid employees may do the work.
If you sell or offer to sell within one year after the work is done, the law presumes you did it to sell. You would have to prove you did not.
You may also act as your own general contractor if you hire only licensed contractors for each trade.
If you pay helpers who are not licensed contractors and the job is worth $500 or more, you may count as their employer. Then you must withhold payroll taxes and provide workers' comp insurance.
You still need permits. On the permit application, you sign a statement that you are exempt as an owner-builder.

Sources: (Cal. Health & Safety Code § 19825 (owner-builder declaration, summarizing Bus. & Prof. Code § 7044); Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 7044(b)(1) (sale within one year); Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 7044(a)(2)(A) (owner hiring licensed trades); Cal. Health & Safety Code § 19825 (Owner's Acknowledgment, item 5); Cal. Health & Safety Code § 19825 (Owner's Acknowledgment, item 6); Cal. Health & Safety Code § 19825 (Owner-Builder Declaration on permit applications))

Check a license in California

California Contractors State License Board

Ask for the license number, then look it up yourself. Check that the name and the license type match the work. See how to check any contractor's license.

Common jobs: who should do them

These are the tool's answers for each job. The California rules above decide who may do it. Tap a job to see why, where to stop, and what to ask.

Job	Who should do it
Replace a toilet	It depends
Replace a kitchen or bathroom faucet	DIY
Replace a water heater	Pro
Replace a dishwasher	It depends
Replace a light fixture	It depends
Put a ceiling fan where a light was	It depends
Replace an outlet or light switch	It depends
Replace your old thermostat	It depends
Patch a hole in drywall	It depends
Paint a room	It depends
Replace a few cracked ceramic tiles	Handyman
Put in new flooring	It depends
Replace an interior door	It depends
Clean the gutters	It depends
Replace an outside window or door	Pro
Replace the roof	Pro

Common questions

What is the handyman limit in California?: A worker with no contractor license may only take a job that costs less than $1,000 in total, counting labor and materials. The job must not need a building permit, and the worker must work alone.
Can a worker without a license advertise in California?: Only for jobs under $1,000, and the ad must say the worker is not licensed.
How long do I have to cancel a home improvement contract in California?: Usually three business days after you get a signed copy. Seniors get five business days. Repairs after a declared disaster get seven business days.

Sources

Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 7048 — California Legislative Information (California Legislature)the aggregate contract price for labor, materials, and all other items is less than one thousand dollars ($1,000), that work or operation being considered of casual, minor, or inconsequential nature, and the work or operation does not require a building permit
Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 7048(c)(2) — California Legislative Information (California Legislature)Employs another person to perform, or assist in performing, the work or operation.
CSLB Industry Bulletin #24-07 (Dec. 31, 2024): minor work license exemption — Contractors State License Boardthe work cannot require a permit, and the unlicensed person cannot employ anyone for the project.
Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 7027.2 (advertising by unlicensed persons) — California Legislative Information (California Legislature)a person who is not licensed pursuant to this chapter may advertise for construction work or a work of improvement covered by this chapter only if the aggregate contract price for labor, material, and all other items on a project or undertaking is less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) and the person states in the advertisement that the person is not licensed under this chapter.
CSLB Licensing Classifications: General Building Contractor — Contractors State License Board(B) General Building Contractor
CSLB Licensing Classifications: Electrical — Contractors State License BoardC-10 - Electrical Contractor
CSLB Licensing Classifications: Plumbing — Contractors State License BoardC-36 - Plumbing Contractor
CSLB Licensing Classifications: Heating and air conditioning — Contractors State License BoardC-20 - Warm-Air Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning Contractor
CSLB Licensing Classifications: Roofing — Contractors State License BoardC-39 - Roofing Contractor
Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 7159(b) (home improvement contract defined) — California Legislative Information (California Legislature)if the aggregate contract price specified in one or more improvement contracts, including all labor, services, and materials to be furnished by the contractor, exceeds five hundred dollars ($500)
Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 7159(d) (written, signed contract) — California Legislative Information (California Legislature)A home improvement contract and any changes to the contract shall be in writing and signed by the parties to the contract prior to the commencement of work covered by the contract
Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 7159(e)(6)(B)(i) (right to cancel) — California Legislative Information (California Legislature)You, the buyer, have the right to cancel this contract within three business days. You may cancel by emailing, mailing, faxing, or delivering a written notice to the contractor at the contractor’s place of business by midnight of the third business day after you received a signed and dated copy of the contract that includes this notice.
Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 7159(e)(6)(A) (seniors; place-of-business exception) — California Legislative Information (California Legislature)entitled “Three-Day Right to Cancel,” or entitled “Five-Day Right to Cancel” for contracts with a senior citizen, shall be provided to the buyer unless the contract is: (i) Negotiated at the contractor’s place of business.
Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 7159(e)(7) (disaster repairs) — California Legislative Information (California Legislature)The following notice entitled “Seven-Day Right to Cancel” shall be provided to the buyer for any contract that is written for the repair or restoration of residential premises damaged by any sudden or catastrophic event for which a state of emergency has been declared
Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 7159(d)(8) (down payment) — California Legislative Information (California Legislature)THE DOWNPAYMENT MAY NOT EXCEED $1,000 OR 10 PERCENT OF THE CONTRACT PRICE, WHICHEVER IS LESS.
Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 7159(d)(9) (progress payments) — California Legislative Information (California Legislature)IT IS AGAINST THE LAW FOR A CONTRACTOR TO COLLECT PAYMENT FOR WORK NOT YET COMPLETED, OR FOR MATERIALS NOT YET DELIVERED.
Cal. Health & Safety Code § 19825 (owner-builder declaration, summarizing Bus. & Prof. Code § 7044) — California Legislative Information (California Legislature)The Contractors’ State License Law does not apply to an owner of property who, through employees’ or personal effort, builds or improves the property, provided that the improvements are not intended or offered for sale.
Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 7044(b)(1) (sale within one year) — California Legislative Information (California Legislature)proof of the sale or offering for sale of a structure by or for the owner-builder within one year after completion of the structure constitutes a rebuttable presumption affecting the burden of proof that the structure was undertaken for purposes of sale
Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 7044(a)(2)(A) (owner hiring licensed trades) — California Legislative Information (California Legislature)The owner directly contracts with licensees who are duly licensed to contract for the work of the respective trades involved in completing the project.
Cal. Health & Safety Code § 19825 (Owner's Acknowledgment, item 5) — California Legislative Information (California Legislature)I understand if I employ or otherwise engage any persons, other than California licensed Contractors, and the total value of my construction is at least five hundred dollars ($500), including labor and materials, I may be considered an “employer” under state and federal law.
Cal. Health & Safety Code § 19825 (Owner's Acknowledgment, item 6) — California Legislative Information (California Legislature)I understand if I am considered an “employer” under state and federal law, I must register with the state and federal government, withhold payroll taxes, provide workers’ compensation disability insurance, and contribute to unemployment compensation for each “employee.”
Cal. Health & Safety Code § 19825 (Owner-Builder Declaration on permit applications) — California Legislative Information (California Legislature)I hereby affirm under penalty of perjury that I am exempt from the Contractors’ State License Law for the reason(s) indicated below

Checked October 20, 2026. We used AI-assisted research, then separate review passes that tried to prove each claim wrong against the law and agency pages above. This is general information, not legal advice. Rules can change; confirm with the state board or your local building department before you hire or start work. See a mistake? Email [email protected].

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