Carpentry

CSLB C-5 Framing and Rough Carpentry: 'A framing and rough carpentry contractor performs any form work, framing or rough carpentry necessary to construct framed structures; installs or repairs individual components of framing systems and performs any rough carpentry or associated work, including but not limited to the construction or installation of: sub-flooring, siding, exterior staircases and railings, overhead doors, roof decking, truss members, and sheathing.' Authority B&P Code sections 7008 and 7059. The qualifier must document four years of journeyman-level or higher experience in the classification within the last 10 years, verified by a qualified person, then pass the trade exam plus the law and business exam. Note the interaction with the B General Building classification: a B contractor may take a prime contract or subcontract for framing or carpentry alone, but may not count framing or carpentry toward the two-unrelated-trades test that the B classification otherwise requires.

CSLB licenses Class A (General Engineering), Class B (General Building), Class B-2 (Residential Remodeling) and specialty C-classes running C-2 through C-61. Class B, B&P 7057(a): structures 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'. Framing/carpentry exception, 7057(b): a general building contractor may take a prime contract or subcontract for framing or carpentry alone, but 'shall not count framing or carpentry in calculating the two unrelated trades'. Class B-2, 7057.5(a): improvements to an existing residential wood frame structure requiring 'at least three unrelated building trades or crafts for a single contract'. Qualifying individual (B&P 7068(b)): RME, RMO, responsible managing manager or member, general partner, or personal appearance, qualified in the same classification. Experience per CSLB: four years within the last ten as journeyperson, foreperson, supervising employee, contractor or owner-builder. B&P 7068.1: the qualifier 'shall be responsible for exercising supervision and control of their employer's or principal's construction operations' and 'may act as the qualifier for no more than three firms in any one-year period' (more only with 20 percent common ownership, subsidiary or joint-venture relationships). Bonds: contractor's bond 25,000 dollars (B&P 7071.6), running in favour of the State of California for homeowners and others damaged by the licensee and for unpaid employee wages (7071.5) so it protects third parties, not the contractor; bond of qualifying individual 25,000 dollars (7071.9) where the qualifier is an RME or an RMO holding under 10 percent of voting stock; LLC employee/worker bond 100,000 dollars (7071.6.5). Licensing threshold, B&P 7048 as amended by AB 1170 (Stats. 2025, Ch. 67, operative 2026-01-01): exemption applies where 'the aggregate contract price for labor, materials, and all other items is less than one thousand dollars (1,000 dollars)' and the work is casual or minor and needs no building permit; it does not apply where the work is part of a larger operation, where contracts are split to evade licensure, where the person advertises as a contractor, or where they employ others. Workers' compensation is required of employers with even one employee, and unconditionally for active C-8, C-20, C-22, C-39 and C-61/D-49 licensees. General liability of at least 1,000,000 dollars aggregate is mandated for LLCs only (7071.19). B&P 7031 bars an unlicensed contractor from suing for compensation and lets the customer 'recover all compensation paid to the unlicensed contractor'.