CSLB Insurance Requirements
by License Class — California 2026
CSLB requirements can vary by license class, entity, employees, and current guidance. Use this reference to identify the coverage questions to review with a California licensed broker.
Insurance Review Paths for California Contractors
These are common requirements and review paths; the applicable rules depend on your license, entity, employees, and current CSLB guidance.
Contractor License Bond
$25,000 filing amount
Confirm current CSLB filing and business-structure requirements
Learn more →Workers' Compensation
Review coverage or exemption
Classification-specific rules may apply regardless of employee count
Learn more →General Liability
Review applicable limits
Entity, license class, contracts, and operations affect the review.
Learn more →Insurance Requirements by License Class
Use the license-class reference below to identify questions about workers’ compensation, liability limits, bonds, and classification-specific rules.
| License Class | Trade | GL Reference | Workers' Comp | Bond | Ghost Policy Eligibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | General Engineering Contractor Grading, paving, bridges, pipelines, dams | $1M/$2M | Required if employees | $25,000 | ✗ |
| B | General Building Contractor Residential and commercial construction | $1M/$2M | Required if employees | $25,000 | ✗ |
| C-2 | Insulation & Acoustical Insulation, soundproofing, acoustical tile | $500K/$1M | Required if employees | $25,000 | ✓ |
| C-4 | Boiler, Hot Water Heating & Steam Fitting Boilers, steam systems, hot water heating | $500K/$1M | Required if employees | $25,000 | ✓ |
| C-5 | Framing & Rough Carpentry Wood framing, rough carpentry | $500K/$1M | Required if employees | $25,000 | ✓ |
| C-7 | Low Voltage Systems Security, fire alarm, data, AV systems | $500K/$1M | Required if employees | $25,000 | ✓ |
| C-8 SB 216 | Concrete Concrete flatwork, foundations, tilt-up | $500K/$1M | Required (SB 216 Phase 1) | $25,000 | ✗ |
| C-9 | Drywall Drywall installation, taping, finishing | $500K/$1M | Required if employees | $25,000 | ✓ |
| C-10 | Electrical Electrical wiring, panels, service upgrades | $500K/$1M | Required if employees | $25,000 | ✓ |
| C-12 | Earthwork & Paving Grading, excavation, asphalt paving | $500K/$1M | Required if employees | $25,000 | ✓ |
| C-13 | Fencing Wood, chain link, vinyl, ornamental fencing | $500K/$1M | Required if employees | $25,000 | ✓ |
| C-15 | Flooring & Floor Covering Hardwood, tile, carpet, LVP flooring | $500K/$1M | Required if employees | $25,000 | ✓ |
| C-16 | Fire Protection Sprinkler systems, fire suppression | $500K/$1M | Required if employees | $25,000 | ✓ |
| C-17 | Glazing Windows, glass, storefronts, curtain walls | $500K/$1M | Required if employees | $25,000 | ✓ |
| C-20 SB 216 | HVAC Heating, ventilation, air conditioning | $500K/$1M | Required (SB 216 Phase 1) | $25,000 | ✗ |
| C-21 | Building Moving/Demolition Demolition, building moving, wrecking | $500K/$1M | Required if employees | $25,000 | ✓ |
| C-22 SB 216 | Asbestos Abatement Asbestos removal, hazmat abatement | $500K/$1M | Required (SB 216 Phase 1) | $25,000 | ✗ |
| C-23 | Ornamental Metal Railings, gates, structural steel, ornamental iron | $500K/$1M | Required if employees | $25,000 | ✓ |
| C-27 | Landscaping Landscaping, irrigation, tree service | $500K/$1M | Required if employees | $25,000 | ✓ |
| C-28 | Lock & Security Equipment Locksmithing, access control, security hardware | $500K/$1M | Required if employees | $25,000 | ✓ |
| C-29 | Masonry Brick, block, stone, stucco masonry | $500K/$1M | Required if employees | $25,000 | ✓ |
| C-31 | Construction Zone Traffic Control Traffic control, flagging, lane closures | $500K/$1M | Required if employees | $25,000 | ✓ |
| C-32 | Parking & Highway Improvement Parking lots, striping, highway improvements | $500K/$1M | Required if employees | $25,000 | ✓ |
| C-33 | Painting & Decorating Interior/exterior painting, wallcovering | $500K/$1M | Required if employees | $25,000 | ✓ |
| C-34 | Pipeline Underground pipelines, sewer, water mains | $500K/$1M | Required if employees | $25,000 | ✓ |
| C-35 | Lathing & Plastering Lath, plaster, stucco, EIFS | $500K/$1M | Required if employees | $25,000 | ✓ |
| C-36 | Plumbing Plumbing, gas lines, water heaters | $500K/$1M | Required if employees | $25,000 | ✓ |
| C-38 | Refrigeration Commercial refrigeration, cold storage | $500K/$1M | Required if employees | $25,000 | ✓ |
| C-39 SB 216 | Roofing Roofing, waterproofing, sheet metal roofing | $500K/$1M | Required (SB 216 Phase 1) | $25,000 | ✗ |
| C-42 | Sanitation System Septic systems, cesspools, sewage disposal | $500K/$1M | Required if employees | $25,000 | ✓ |
| C-43 | Sheet Metal Sheet metal fabrication, HVAC ductwork | $500K/$1M | Required if employees | $25,000 | ✓ |
| C-45 | Sign Sign installation, electrical signs, billboards | $500K/$1M | Required if employees | $25,000 | ✓ |
| C-46 | Solar Solar panel installation, battery storage | $500K/$1M | Required if employees | $25,000 | ✓ |
| C-47 | General Manufactured Housing Manufactured home installation, setup | $500K/$1M | Required if employees | $25,000 | ✓ |
| C-50 | Reinforcing Steel Rebar installation, post-tensioning | $500K/$1M | Required if employees | $25,000 | ✓ |
| C-51 | Structural Steel Structural steel erection, welding | $500K/$1M | Required if employees | $25,000 | ✓ |
| C-53 | Swimming Pool Pool construction, spa, water features | $500K/$1M | Required if employees | $25,000 | ✓ |
| C-54 | Ceramic & Mosaic Tile Tile installation, natural stone, mosaic | $500K/$1M | Required if employees | $25,000 | ✓ |
| C-57 | Well Drilling Water wells, monitoring wells, geothermal | $500K/$1M | Required if employees | $25,000 | ✓ |
| C-60 | Welding Structural welding, pipe welding, fabrication | $500K/$1M | Required if employees | $25,000 | ✓ |
| D-49 SB 216 | Tree Service Tree trimming, removal, stump grinding | $500K/$1M | Required (SB 216 Phase 1) | $25,000 | ✗ |
* Ghost-policy eligibility depends on business structure, employee status, classification, and current CSLB guidance. It is not a substitute for required active workers’ compensation coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What insurance does a California contractor need?
A California contractor’s obligations can include a $25,000 contractor license bond, workers' compensation coverage or an accepted exemption where allowed, and additional requirements based on license class, business entity, employees, and current CSLB guidance. Certain classifications may require active workers' compensation coverage regardless of employee count.
What is the CSLB bond requirement in California?
The CSLB contractor license bond is generally filed in the amount of $25,000. Some business structures may have additional bond requirements. The bond protects consumers and other protected parties; filing and eligibility details should be confirmed against current CSLB guidance.
What is SB 216 and which trades does it affect?
SB 216 changed workers' compensation documentation requirements for California contractor licensees. The applicable rule depends on classification, employee status, exemption eligibility, and current CSLB guidance. Verify the current requirement for your license before relying on an exemption.
Review Your CSLB Coverage Path
We specialize in California contractor insurance. Share your license class, business details, and coverage needs for a licensed review.
Requirements can change; confirm current rules with CSLB and review coverage with a licensed professional.