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MMBONDING
Licensing

California Contractor License Classifications (A, B & C)

California groups contractors into Class A, Class B, and dozens of C-## specialty trades. A common worry is that a specialty class means a different bond. For the license bond, it does not. Here is what actually changes.

Illustration for the guide: California Contractor License Classifications (A, B & C)

What a CSLB classification is

A CSLB classification is the scope of work your license lets you contract for. When you pass the trade exam, you are licensed in one or more classifications, and you can only bid and perform work that falls within them. The classification defines your trade, not your bonding.

The groups: A, B, and C

  • Class A, General Engineering. Fixed works that take specialized engineering knowledge: roads, bridges, grading, pipelines, and heavy civil work.
  • Class B, General Building. Structures that involve two or more unrelated trades. A general builder framing a home and coordinating the trades is a classic Class B.
  • Class B-2, Residential Remodeling. A newer general classification for residential remodel work involving at least three unrelated trades.
  • Class C, Specialty. Single-trade licenses, each identified by a number, for contractors who specialize in one craft.
  • Class D, Limited Specialty. Narrow specialty work that does not fall under a standard C classification.

Common C classifications

  • C-10 Electrical. Wiring, panels, and electrical systems.
  • C-36 Plumbing. Water, gas, and drainage piping and fixtures.
  • C-20 HVAC. Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems.
  • C-39 Roofing. Installing and repairing roof coverings.
  • C-27 Landscaping. Grounds, irrigation, and outdoor improvements.
  • C-8 Concrete. Forming, pouring, and finishing concrete.
  • C-33 Painting. Surface preparation and coatings.
  • C-46 Solar. Solar energy systems and installation.

Do different classifications need different bonds?

For the license bond, no. Every classification carries the same $25,000 contractor license bond under BPC §7071.6. A C-10 electrician, a Class A engineer, and a Class B builder file the identical bond. Your classification does not raise or lower it, and it does not set your premium. Credit does.

What changes by trade is the project and permit bonds a specific job requires. A contractor bidding public works may need a bid, performance, and payment bond. A trade pulling a city permit or working in the public right of way may need a permit or encroachment bond. Those are job-driven, not classification-driven.

See bonds by trade

Because the project bonds differ trade to trade, we break them down by craft. See bonds by trade to find what your specific classification tends to need on a job, then start a quote for your license bond.

Questions

FAQs

Reviewed by Michael Melshenker, CEO. Updated June 2026.

Do different contractor classifications need different bonds?
Not for the license bond. Every California classification, Class A to any C-##, carries the same $25,000 contractor license bond. What changes by trade is the contract and permit bonds a specific job requires.
What is the difference between a Class A, B, and C license?
Class A is general engineering (infrastructure and heavy civil work), Class B is general building (structures with two or more unrelated trades), and each C classification is a single specialty trade like electrical or plumbing.
Does my classification change my license bond amount?
No. The $25,000 amount is set by BPC §7071.6 and applies to every licensee regardless of classification. Only your credit affects your premium, not your trade.
Which bonds change depending on my trade?
Project and permit bonds. A roofer pulling a city permit, an engineering firm bidding public works, and an excavator working in the public right of way each need different bonds for those specific jobs.