California regulates painters more closely than most states. That gives you simple checks to run before you hire anyone. The license and payment facts below come from the Contractors State License Board, CSLB.
This page is general information for California property owners. It is not legal advice. For a ruling on your own property, ask the agency named or a lawyer.
How do I find a good painter?
To find a good painter, start with people who have seen the work: neighbors, friends and local reviews. Then check each name with the state before you spend time on a quote.
- Look up the license on the CSLB website.
- Ask for recent jobs like yours and go and look at one if you can.
- Meet the painter at your house. A good one looks closely at the surfaces and asks questions.
- Compare written quotes that list prep, coats and products.
Does a painter need a license in this state?
Yes. In California a painter needs a license from CSLB for any job that totals $1,000 or more in labor and materials. The classification is C-33, Painting and Decorating.
The limit rose from $500 to $1,000 on January 1, 2025. Below $1,000, unlicensed work is allowed only if the job needs no building permit and the person has no employees. Anyone with employees must be licensed whatever the size of the job. The Santa Rosa Painting Company is licensed and insured.
How do I check a painter's license and insurance in this state?
Check the license on the CSLB website, cslb.ca.gov, or by phone on 800-321-CSLB (2752). Search by license number, business name or personal name.
The record shows whether the license is active, its classifications, the bond and the workers' compensation status. Make sure the name matches the person you are dealing with. For liability insurance, ask the painter for a certificate from their insurer.
How many quotes should I get?
Get at least three. That is CSLB's own advice to consumers. Three written quotes for the same scope show you the going price and expose a number that is far too high or too low.
Give each painter the same list of rooms, surfaces and expectations, or the quotes cannot be compared.
What should a painting estimate include?
A painting estimate should include enough detail that someone else could do the job from it.
- Each room or area and the surfaces to be painted: walls, ceilings, trim, doors, closets.
- The prep: washing, scraping, patching, sanding, caulking, priming.
- The number of coats, the product line and the sheen.
- Who moves furniture and how floors and plants are protected.
- Repairs priced separately, clean-up and the total price.
- The contractor's name, license number and payment terms.
What should be in a painting contract?
A painting contract should set out the full scope, the materials, the price, the payment schedule, the start date and the expected finish, all in writing and signed. CSLB advises that every expectation be spelled out, including clean-up and debris removal.
It should also show the contractor's license number. Any change to the work or the price should be written down and agreed before that work is done. Keep copies of everything.
How much deposit should I give a painter?
In California the deposit on a home improvement job cannot be more than $1,000 or 10% of the contract price, whichever is less. That is state law, and CSLB publishes it. On any job of $10,000 or more, the most a contractor may ask up front is $1,000.
After that, payments should follow the work. Progress payments may not run ahead of the work finished or the materials delivered.
A painter wants half up front in cash. Is that a red flag?
Yes. Half up front is far more than California law allows, and CSLB advises consumers to avoid paying in cash. Cash leaves no record if the painter does not return.
Pay by check or card and get a receipt each time.
Should I hire a painter who wants all the money up front?
No. Do not hire anyone who wants all of the money up front. It is against the down payment limit, and it removes the painter's reason to finish.
Hold the last payment until the job is done and you have walked through it together.
What are the red flags?
The main red flags are about paperwork and pressure.
- No license number, or one that does not match the name on the CSLB record.
- A deposit above the legal limit, or cash only.
- No written quote or contract.
- A price that is good only if you sign today.
- A quote far below the others with no detail on prep.
- No mention of lead-safe work on a house built before 1978.
- Door-to-door offers with leftover paint from another job.
A painter says they can start tomorrow. Is that a red flag?
It can be, though not always. A painter who can start tomorrow may have had a job cancelled or be between jobs. Good painters are often booked ahead, most of all for exterior work in the dry season.
Treat it as a prompt to check the license, look at past work and get the contract in writing before anyone opens a can.
What should I ask a painter before hiring?
These are the questions to ask a painter before hiring.
- What is your CSLB license number?
- Do you carry liability insurance and workers' compensation?
- Who will be at my house each day, and are they employees?
- What prep is included, and how many coats?
- Which products will you use, and why?
- Is my house old enough for lead rules to apply, and are you certified for that work?
- How are payments scheduled?
- What do you do if I find a problem after you finish?
Do painters give a warranty, and what should it cover?
Many painters give a written warranty on their workmanship, and you should ask for the terms before you sign. A useful warranty covers peeling, blistering and flaking caused by the prep or the application, and says for how long.
It will not cover damage from leaks, moisture in the building, movement cracks or normal wear. Paint makers also have product warranties of their own. Ask us what applies to your job.
What if a painter damages my floors or furniture?
If a painter damages your property, tell them at once, in writing and with photos. A professional puts it right, either directly or through liability insurance, which is why you check for insurance before work starts.
If a licensed contractor will not deal with it, you can file a complaint with CSLB online or by phone. Good protection prevents most of this. We cover floors and furniture before any paint is opened.
A free estimate with a written quote is the only way to get a real price for your job. Call or text (707) 205-3959.