Do you need a state license in California?
California licenses painting work at the state level through the California Contractors State License Board. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
The California license for this work
There is one license to aim for here.
| License | What it covers |
|---|---|
| C-33 Painting and Decorating | Surface prep by scraping or sandblasting, then paints, papers, textures, stains, varnishes and similar coatings on structures |
Steps to get licensed in California
- Apply to the CSLB for the C-33 Painting and Decorating classification.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
The license to apply for. C-33 Painting and Decorating Contractor.
California painting contractor exams
Trade exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
What it costs in California
We could not confirm the current fee schedule on an official page. Check with the board before you budget: California Contractors State License Board.
Insurance and bond
Insurance. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Bond. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
After you are licensed
The license lets you take the work. Getting the work is the next job.
- Register the business. If you work under a name other than your own, register it where your state asks (often the Secretary of State, sometimes the county), and keep the name the same on your license, your truck and your invoices.
- Claim your Google Business Profile. It is the listing people see when they search for a painter near them. Fill in your service area, hours and real photos of your work.
- Put up a website that shows the license. Customers look for it before they call. Koira builds a contractor website for you and keeps it current.
- See where you stand. The free Koira report checks how your business shows up in search and on maps against shops near you.
Where this comes from
Every fact on this page comes from the California Contractors State License Board and the official pages below, checked October 9, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.
More for your trade: how painting companies run on Koira.