California contractor licence classes, and the insurance behind each one

The CSLB licenses contractors by classification: A and B for general work, C classes for trades, D classes for limited specialties. The class tells a producer what the business does, what coverages it must carry, and which WCIRB workers' comp classes an underwriter will assign. Counts are active licences holding each class statewide, from CSLB records.

General Building

B General Building Contractor

WCIRB 5403, 5645

102,776

B-2 Residential Remodeling Contractor

WCIRB 5645

1,589

General Engineering

A General Engineering Contractor

WCIRB 6217, 5506, 6307

14,704

Electrical

C-7 Low Voltage Systems Contractor

WCIRB 5190, 7605

4,687

C-10 Electrical Contractor

Plumbing

C-34 Pipeline Contractor

WCIRB 6306

534

C-36 Plumbing Contractor

WCIRB 5183, 5187

17,330

C-42 Sanitation System Contractor

WCIRB 6306

960

C-55 Water Conditioning Contractor

WCIRB 5183

293

HVAC

C-4 Boiler, Hot Water Heating and Steam Fitting Contractor

WCIRB 5183

683

C-20 Warm-Air Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning Contractor

WCIRB 5538, 5183

11,429

C-38 Refrigeration Contractor

WCIRB 5538

1,586

D-62 Air and Water Balancing

115

Roofing

C-39 Roofing Contractor

WCIRB 5552, 5553

5,482

Concrete/Masonry

C-8 Concrete Contractor

WCIRB 5201, 5222

5,231

C-29 Masonry Contractor

WCIRB 5027

2,039

C-50 Reinforcing Steel Contractor

WCIRB 5057

256

C-51 Structural Steel Contractor

WCIRB 5040

1,489

D-06 Concrete-Related Services

WCIRB 5201

1,434

Framing/Carpentry

C-5 Framing and Rough Carpentry Contractor

WCIRB 5403, 5645

1,025

C-6 Cabinet, Millwork and Finish Carpentry Contractor

WCIRB 2812, 5437

4,249

D-41 Siding and Decking

WCIRB 5645

407

Painting/Finish

C-33 Painting and Decorating Contractor

WCIRB 5474, 5482

15,363

C-35 Lathing and Plastering Contractor

168

D-38 Sand and Water Blasting

416

Landscaping

C-27 Landscaping Contractor

WCIRB 0042, 0106

11,984

D-59 Hydroseed Spraying

WCIRB 0042

—

Earthwork/Paving

C-12 Earthwork and Paving Contractor

WCIRB 6217, 5506

2,401

C-31 Construction Zone Traffic Control Contractor

WCIRB 5506

461

C-32 Parking and Highway Improvement Contractor

488

Solar

C-46 Solar Contractor

WCIRB 5190, 5552

1,135

Fire Protection

C-16 Fire Protection Contractor

WCIRB 5183

2,203

Pool

C-53 Swimming Pool Contractor

WCIRB 5183, 5201

2,830

D-35 Pool and Spa Maintenance

WCIRB 9015

1,620

Drywall

C-9 Drywall Contractor

WCIRB 5446

3,165

D-50 Suspended Ceilings

WCIRB 5446

139

Flooring

C-15 Flooring and Floor Covering Contractor

WCIRB 5478

6,672

Tile

C-54 Ceramic and Mosaic Tile Contractor

WCIRB 5348

6,019

Insulation

C-2 Insulation and Acoustical Contractor

WCIRB 5479

1,161

D-65 Weatherization and Energy Conservation

WCIRB 5479

Sheet Metal

C-43 Sheet Metal Contractor

WCIRB 5538

1,256

Glazing

C-17 Glazing Contractor

WCIRB 5467

2,992

Tree Service

C-49 Tree and Palm Trimming and Removal Contractor

593

Demolition

C-21 Building Moving and Demolition Contractor

WCIRB 5701

1,801

Fencing

C-13 Fencing Contractor

WCIRB 6400

1,804

Ornamental Metal

C-23 Ornamental Metal Contractor

Elevator

C-11 Elevator Contractor

WCIRB 5160

209

Lock/Security

C-28 Lock and Security Equipment Contractor

WCIRB 7605

358

D-16 Hardware, Locks and Safes

270

Well Drilling

C-57 Well Drilling Contractor

WCIRB 6204

707

Welding

C-60 Welding Contractor

WCIRB 3365

1,063

Manufactured Housing

C-47 General Manufactured Housing Contractor

WCIRB 5403

445

Asbestos/Environmental

C-22 Asbestos Abatement Contractor

WCIRB 5473

311

ASB Asbestos Certification

778

HAZ Hazardous Substance Removal Certification

1,788

Specialty

C-61 Limited Specialty (D classifications)

—

D-03 Awnings

523

D-09 Drilling, Blasting and Oil Field Work

161

D-12 Synthetic Products

WCIRB 0042

1,716

D-21 Machinery and Pumps

WCIRB 3724

1,040

D-28 Doors, Gates and Activating Devices

WCIRB 5102

2,774

D-34 Prefabricated Equipment

1,363

D-39 Scaffolding

WCIRB 5403

284

D-40 Service Station Equipment and Maintenance

139

D-42 Non-Electrical Sign Installation

416

D-52 Window Coverings

1,462

D-63 Construction Clean-up

WCIRB 9008

832

D-64 Non-specialized

641

How producers use the class

A licence class is the fastest read on an account. A C-39 needs roofing comp classes, a hot-work endorsement and completed operations; a C-10 needs a service-fleet auto policy and, increasingly, cyber; a B with five subcontractors needs certificates from all of them. The class also predicts the carrier: State Fund holds most roofing, the specialty comp carriers fight for electrical and plumbing. Each class page below shows counts, workers' comp coverage rates, renewal months and carriers for that class statewide, plus the coverages a producer should expect to place.

WCIRB codes listed are the governing classes most often assigned for the trade. They must be verified per account with the WCIRB classification search; several split by wage threshold or by shop versus field work. 74 classes have 50 or more active licences and their own page.

General Building Contractor: B is held by 102,776 active licences. Counts refreshed weekly from CSLB records.