A crucial credential for professionals looking to oversee and manage construction projects in residential and commercial settings, a general contractors license is issued by the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) in California.
A general building contractor is a professional who supervises and coordinates construction projects that involve two or more unrelated trades, ensuring compliance with construction industry standards and regulations of the state. Unlike specialized contractors, such as electricians or plumbers, a general license contractor is responsible for the overall execution and completion of a structure. These specialists typically work on the following:
- Residential and commercial buildings;
- New construction and home improvement projects, including remodels and renovations;
- Multi-trade projects that cover framing, carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, HVAC installations, and more;
- Structural and non-structural construction projects.
General building contractors not only coordinate trades but also manage project planning, budgeting, and scheduling and hire subcontractors for specialized works. However, a general contractors license in California does not allow contractors to perform specialized trades as standalone jobs. For instance, they cannot bid on a job that involves only electrical work unless it is part of a larger construction project.
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Business & Professions Code
Division 3, Chapter 9. Contractors, Article 4. Classifications
7057. (a) Except as provided in this section, a general building contractor is a contractor whose principal contracting business is in connection with any structure built, being built, or to be built, for the support, shelter, and enclosure of persons, animals, chattels, or movable property of any kind, requiring in its construction the use of at least two unrelated building trades or crafts, or to do or superintend the whole or any part thereof.
This does not include anyone who merely furnishes materials or supplies under Section 7045 without fabricating them into, or consuming them in the performance of the work of the general building contractor.
(b) A general building contractor may take a prime contract or a subcontract for a framing or carpentry project. However, a general building contractor shall not take a prime contract for any project involving trades other than framing or carpentry unless the prime contract requires at least two unrelated building trades or crafts other than framing or carpentry, or unless the general building contractor holds the appropriate license classification or subcontracts with an appropriately licensed specialty contractor to perform the work. A general building contractor shall not take a subcontract involving trades other than framing or carpentry, unless the subcontract requires at least two unrelated trades or crafts other than framing or carpentry, or unless the general building contractor holds the appropriate license classification. The general building contractor may not count framing or carpentry in calculating the two unrelated trades necessary in order for the general building contractor to be able to take a prime contract or subcontract for a project involving other trades.
(c) No general building contractor shall contract for any project that includes the "C-16" Fire Protection classification as provided for in Section 7026.12 or the "C-57" Well Drilling classification as provided for in Section 13750.5 of the Water Code, unless the general building contractor holds the specialty license, or subcontracts with the appropriately licensed specialty contractor.
(Amended by Stats. 1997, Chapter 812 (SB 857).)
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