SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - The Contractors State License Board (CSLB) recently completed a statewide operation of stings and sweeps to uncover unlicensed activity in the construction industry as part of a multi-agency effort organized by the National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies (NASCLA).

The efforts resulted in 229 legal actions, largely for unlicensed contracting and illegal advertising. Unlicensed contracting puts consumers at risk in many ways, including failure to meet minimum competency requirements, lack of a license bond, or workers' compensation insurance.

Over two weeks, the Contractors State License Board joined forces with local law enforcement to conduct four undercover sting operations in Ventura, Sutter, Contra Costa and Riverside counties. The stings targeted unlicensed contractors, with investigators contacting the suspects through their advertisements.

During the sting operations, suspected unlicensed individuals arrived at designated locations to bid on various projects, such as drywall, bathroom remodel, turf installation, framing, flooring, exterior and interior painting, concrete, tree removal, landscaping, and plumbing. As a result, 10 legal actions were filed, and 42 individuals may face misdemeanor criminal charges for contracting without a license.

The individuals involved submitted bids that exceeded the legal limit of $500. The bid amounts ranged from $800 to $12,000. California laws prohibit unlicensed contractors from bidding and/or contracting for construction work that exceeds $500 in value, including labor and materials. All may now face legal consequences, which can include substantial fines and potential jail time.

A total of 79 sweep operations were conducted in 23 counties, 1,147 sites visited, 34 cases referred to local district attorneys, 37 licensee citations, 80 non-licensee citations, 26 Letters of Admonishments, 38 stop work orders and 281 advisory notices.

“Unlicensed contractors pose a significant danger to consumers,” said Contractors State License Board Registrar David Fogt. “CSLB’s Statewide Investigative Fraud Team performs sweeps and stings every week, and we are proud to be a top-performing agency in this year’s NASCLA’s coordinated enforcement effort.”

Fogt added, “Nationwide enforcement operations are crucial in educating consumers about the risks of not checking a contractor's license. It only takes a few seconds to verify a contractor's license information on CSLB's website.”

During the stings and sweeps, multiple individuals were cited for requesting an excessive down payment. It is illegal in California for a home improvement project's down payment to exceed 10 percent of the contract total or $1,000, whichever is less. This misdemeanor charge carries a maximum penalty of six months in jail and/or a fine of up to $5,000. Subsequent payments cannot exceed the value of the work being performed or materials delivered.

Unlicensed individuals cited during the operations were provided with information on how to obtain a license and were invited to attend one of the Contractors State License Board's Get Licensed to Build workshops.

For further information or to report suspected unlicensed contractor activities, please visit the Contractors State License Board website at www.cslb.ca.gov or contact Contractors State License Board toll-free at 1-800-321-CSLB (2752). For ongoing information and updates from the Contractors State License Board, connect with us on Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

The Contractors State License Board operates under the umbrella of the Department of Consumer Affairs and licenses and regulates about 285,000 contractors in California.