California Contractor Insurance

C-57 Well Drilling 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-57 license allows

CSLB defines the C-57 Well Drilling Contractor classification as follows: “A well drilling contractor installs and repairs water wells and pumps by boring, drilling, excavating, casing, cementing and cleaning to provide a supply of uncontaminated water.” Source: cslb.ca.gov licensing classifications.

C-57 licenses in California by the numbers

As of September 2026, CSLB lists 646 current licenses that include C-57. 61% have workers' comp on file, 35% are filed exempt, and 18 were issued in the last 12 months.

Ownership: 34% sole owners, 57% corporations, 6% LLCs. Suspensions today: 3 for workers' comp, 18 for bonds.

California cities with the most active C-57 licenses — CSLB public license file, September 2026.
LicensesWith WC policyExemptNew (12 mo)
Bakersfield1867%28%0
Madera1527%60%2
Fresno1267%17%1
Yuba City850%50%0
Visalia875%12%0
San Jose771%29%0
Paso Robles757%43%0
Santa Rosa683%17%0
Salinas6100%0%0
Sacramento683%0%0

Insurance and bonds a C-57 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 well drilling 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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