• Building Officials
• Enforcement Procedures
• Complaints Against Unlicensed Contractors

Complaints Against Unlicensed Contractors

This section provides some information regarding unlicensed activity, CSLB's involvement in preventing unlicensed activity and underground economy, and provides links to filing complaints.

In California it is a misdemeanor to engage in the business or act in the capacity of a contractor without a contractor's license unless the contractor meets the criteria specified in Sections 7040 through 7054.5 of the Business and Professions Code.

SWIFT and EEEC

Statewide Investigative Fraud Team (SWIFT)

The SWIFT unit is a statewide unlicensed activity program that focuses on underground economy and unlicensed operators. Consumers and legitimate contractors face real threats from these individuals who don't pay taxes, don't have workers' compensation insurance on their employees or don't have to pay other costs that legitimate contractors do.

They are part of a $60 to $140 billion dollar underground economy that takes money away from healthcare, roads and schools. SWIFT works throughout the state conducting sting operations and sweeps. The unit has the authority to visit any job site without evidence, and ask contractors to produce proof of licensure in good standing, citing those who are not properly licensed.

The Economic & Employment Enforcement Coalition (EEEC)

The Economic & Employment Enforcement Coalition (EEEC) is a unique partnership of state and federal agencies, each expert in their own field, which combat California's underground economy. EEEC actively targets non-compliant employers while also providing concentrated outreach and education to employers and workers. EEEC members vigorously pursue unscrupulous businesses, while helping to level the business playing field and restore competitive advantage to law-abiding businesses and their employees.

The team consists of investigators and auditors from the Department of Industrial Relations'Division of labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE) and Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH), the Employment Development Department (EDD), and the Department of Consumer Affairs' Contractors State License Board (CSLB). The United States Department of Labor (USDOL) is also a strong partner in working toward combating the underground economy.

Funding for this partnership was proposed by Governor Schwarzenegger and provided through a three-year limited-term Legislative act, beginning in July 2005 and ending June 30, 2008.

For more information regarding the EEEC please refer to the Department of Industrial Relations.

CALBO/CSLB Guidelines

CALBO/CSLB Guidelines provide information about how all Building Department personnel can help identify and resolve problems created by licensed and unlicensed contractors.

Complaint process

• For information on filing a complaint against an unlicensed contractor, if there is a contractual agreement, please see the Consumer section Filing a Construction Complaint of this site.
• For information on reporting unlicensed activity, please refer to Report Unlicensed Activity within this site for further information.