California Contractor Insurance

C-35 Lathing and Plastering Contractor License: What It Covers and the Insurance It Needs

Asena Capital Insurance Services — California-licensed insurance brokerage serving contractors statewide. Phone: (858) 925-9555. Email: info@asenainsurance.com.

What a C-35 license allows

CSLB defines the C-35 Lathing and Plastering Contractor classification as follows: “(a) A lathing and plastering contractor coats surfaces with a mixture of sand, gypsum plaster, quick-lime or hydrated lime and water, or sand and cement and water, or a combination of such other materials that create a permanent surface coating, including coatings for the purpose of soundproofing and fireproofing. These coatings are applied with a plasterer's trowel or sprayed over any surface which offers a mechanical means for the support of such coating, and will adhere by suction. This contractor also installs lath (including metal studs) or any other material prepared or manufactured to provide a base or bond for such coating. (b) A lathing and plastering contractor also applies and affixes wood and metal lath, or any other material prepared or manufactured to provide key or suction bases for the support of plaster coatings. This classification includes the channel work and metal studs for the support of metal or any other lathing material and for solid plaster partitions. (c) Effective January 1, 1998, or as soon thereafter as administratively feasible, all C-26 licensees will …” Source: cslb.ca.gov licensing classifications.

C-35 licenses in California by the numbers

As of September 2026, CSLB lists 1,770 current licenses that include C-35. 62% have workers' comp on file, 33% are filed exempt, and 86 were issued in the last 12 months.

Ownership: 42% sole owners, 54% corporations, 3% LLCs. Suspensions today: 20 for workers' comp, 57 for bonds.

California cities with the most active C-35 licenses — CSLB public license file, September 2026.
LicensesWith WC policyExemptNew (12 mo)
Bakersfield4947%39%2
San Diego4363%28%0
Riverside3650%47%5
Sacramento3284%16%2
Fresno3165%32%3
Oxnard2763%33%5
Escondido2673%23%1
Anaheim2669%15%0
San Jose2580%16%0
Stockton2343%48%0

Insurance and bonds a C-35 contractor needs

  • $25,000 contractor license bond — required for every active license.
  • Workers' comp — A license with employees must carry workers' comp. With no employees you can currently file an exemption; from January 1, 2028 (SB 1455), CSLB will require workers' comp for all active licenses except joint ventures.
  • LLC licenses — liability insurance of at least $1 million (up to $5 million by member count) plus a $100,000 employee/worker bond.
  • General liability and commercial auto — not required by CSLB for most licenses, but required by nearly every GC, owner and public agency contract.

Carriers underwrite based on the work you actually perform under this classification, your residential/commercial mix, subcontracting and claims history.

Get a quote

Asena Capital Insurance Services compares multiple markets for lathing and plastering contractors and requests additional insured endorsements for you when a contract calls for them. Call (858) 925-9555 or request a quote — only your name, phone and email are required. CA License #6008596.

Frequently asked questions

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