How to Verify a Window Contractor's License in California

Verification is a two-minute check

Under California's Contractors State License Law, work valued at $500 or more in combined labor and materials requires a licensed contractor. Window replacement is nearly always above that threshold.

What to verify

1. License number and status. Look it up directly on the Contractors State License Board site. "Active" is the only acceptable status.
2. Classification. Window and door installation is commonly performed under a C-17 Glazing license, or by a B General Building contractor. Verify the classification matches the work.
3. Bond. A contractor's bond must be on file and current.
4. Workers' compensation. If the contractor has employees, coverage must be current. An exemption on file means no employees — ask who will actually be on your property.
5. Business name match. The name on the contract, the license, and the permit application should be the same entity.

Home improvement contract requirements

California law sets specific requirements for residential home improvement contracts, including a written contract, a limit on the down payment, a schedule of payments tied to work completed, and notice of the right to cancel. A contract that asks for a large deposit before delivery or that has no defined payment schedule does not comply.

Permit accountability

The contractor should pull the building permit in their own license name. If a contractor asks the homeowner to pull an owner-builder permit for work the contractor is performing, that shifts code and liability responsibility to the homeowner. It is a recognized warning sign.

Practical questions worth asking

• Will installation be retrofit or full-frame nail-fin, per opening?
• Who prepares the Title 24 CF1R, and what NFRC values will be on it?
• Which openings require tempered glass, and is that priced?
• Are bedroom egress dimensions verified after the retrofit insert?
• Is the crew employed by the contractor or subcontracted?
• What is covered by labor warranty, separately from the product warranty?

About referrals

Orange County Window Replacement is an independent consumer information and contractor-referral service. We do not perform construction services, quote projects, or hold contractor licenses. Verifying license status is the homeowner's responsibility on any project, including work performed by a contractor introduced through a referral.