California Handyman Law RAISED for 2025

Great! More unqualified people destroying homes and businesses! There is enough unqualified Contractors as it is! Did you know,if a homeowner or business hire an unlicensed contractor and he injures himself or herself, then the person that hired them is responsible for the insurance or cash to cover their injuries!

So you don’t need an electrician Lic to do electrical. If under a number?

Is there a Handyman Lic? B2? Do you have to have it?

you are so wrong.. you only need a ccl if you are bidding a job as a contract. You can charge time and material for as much as you want and even give estimates as long as you claim it to the IRS.

In all seriousness ? Why not get a license ? It’s not difficult ? And like me I just do carpentry (finish) . Charge what you want, and be protected ?

Hey everyone listen I'm not trying to create an argument! I am a licensed contractor that have been audited by IRS and used a retired IRS auditor of 40 years for a tax accountant. He explained to me how it works so that's what I go by experience, not trying to find loopholes do what you want. I'm trying to prevent other people from getting into challenging problems, non-licensed people be careful out there they do set up stings to catch people Contracting in certain counties. I personally know some people that have gone to jail for that for 30 days and had to pay thousands in fines then they got their license. People listen to experience! I'm trying to help not argue. I am retired now I want other people to succeed and not cheat the system. Licensing is not hard just go out and do it!! A license does not make you a good contractor, good people skills and quality work will.But remember take pride in what you do and have fun!!!!!!! I did.

What about tree work?

It's not that hard to get a general contractor license.

This is awesome.
I’m a handyman part time, full time union roofer. A decent amount of roof repairs can run past $500.
I’m interested in that San Diego event, sounds cool.
Thanks for sharing!

Our handyman is great! I am glad he can make a living and we will still be able to call him. License Contractors are gougers.

Get a contractors license. Keeps the rif raf out.

WTF

Yet I'm required to buy a CSLB B license,
bond and insurance to work as a ..

.self employed. "carpenter"... ...to work .

There must be a catch... if Comiefornia does something that helps the normal person? it is like hens teeth and for sure has a catch. I have lived here for over 70 years and in the last 50 things suck.... the only way to survive here is to do a 'workaround' and/or live in rural areas of NorCal. The election of Trump could not make me happier.

Beware

"A quick review of the California Business and Professions Code section 7031 shows that unlicensed contractors are prohibited from taking legal action to enforce contracts for services requiring a valid contractor license – so if they don’t have a license, they can’t sue you!"

It should reflect inflation since the $500 limit was set......but it didnt.......

Just get licensed

Great! Here comes all the butchers creating repair work for me!!

Another stupid CA law. Really losing it.

Great little to the point video! Very handy… 😎

Wish I knew this was coming in 2024. I would’ve scheduled a handy man for a whole bunch of projects. 😂

Unelected bureaucrats cannot create law....

ty

A video I watched earlier he was talking about the 500.00 limit because it was an old video and he was saying that it is per project or per day. I am curious how accurate that is

Total bs I'll work anyways get r done

While I cannot stand the idiocy of California government, I also don’t buy the argument that a handyman should earn more, because. It diminishes the skill and experience required to be a licensed contractor and sabatoges the market. Most handymen don’t carry E&O insurance or general liability. Thinking someone is experienced enough to run a legitimate start up whilst protecting the public because they’ve installed a sink faucet is like giving someone the presidential medal of freedom award now…

Just make the customer pay from materials and only charge them labor

One good step for California maybe they finally realized it is better than playing unemployment to let people actually work

Commiefornia

Why wouldnt you get a license in California? If you're breathing and have a heart beat you can get a B contractors license. The bar is set extremely low compared to other states.

Handyman are for retired people or non compliant individuals.

It’s should increase with inflation. I’ve been getting hosed with the cost of materials going up so much.

Nancy Pelosi’s hairdresser probably charges over $500. 🤷

Licence is just another tax period.

Why is the state involved at all?

What if the customer provides materials? Then, you're just doing the labor, and I think $1,000 can go a long way there. Is there a minimum time between projects in the same room? If so, break the bathroom job into smaller projects on separate days. Demo is one project. Plumbing is a separate project. Tile is another project. Paint and finish can be a fourth.

California is allowing 5 million illegal aliens to be in the state. I wouldn’t worry to much with California handyman laws.

The law never meant to apply to Illegal alie....Oh I mean undocumented hero's.

Wait! You’re getting paid $1000 to install a fan in a ceiling which will probably not take more than a half hour!

I am a General contractor and an expert witness in construction defects as well as a former judge for the CSLB arbitration and mediation program.

You are giving partial information here.

1 - If a permit is required you CANNOT do the work - if you do, you lose the exemption protection
2 - You CANNOT use another person/helper to do the job or the exemption is lost - you must do the work personally.
QUOTE FROM THE LAW : "the exemption would NOT apply to a person who employs another person to perform, or assist in performing, the work or operation."
this means is you hire people to do work, you lose the protection of the exemption

3 - "the person states in the advertisement that the person is not licensed under this chapter."- if you do not state that you are UNLICENSED the exemption is lost

4 - NEVER rely on what an instructor/CSLB members opinion of the law is. It is illegal to give legal advise unless you are an attorney at law, so you might as well ask the janitor.

If you want to know the law look up what the California Appellate Courts have rules against unlicensed contractors. It's NOT pretty, they DO NOT LIKE unlicensed contractors.
EXAMPLE - RULING: no license, no money. the courts have ruled that if you DO NOT have a license, the customer is not obligated to pay you, and you have NO STANDING IN ANY COURT ROOM.
there's more but you get the idea. don't stray and follow the law or an audit could make your life miserable

Great news! Good for handymen and good for mom and pop landlords!

Lol. I thought it was $600 the whole time. $1000 is good.

So technically you should not charge over $1000 for an attic ladder installation...

good

I do not want anybody working on my property without a contractor’s license 🤔

Cool! A lot of folks could really use some help with these smaller projects.

A better idea is for people to rise up against the Democratic elite that have made everyone broker than ever in that blue state....

A license the contractor more than the homeowner

Awesome news! Thanks!

Thats awesome