California regulates painting contractors more closely than most states. That gives you simple checks to run before you hire anyone. This page is general information, not legal advice. The Contractors State License Board, known as CSLB, is the state agency for all of it.
How do I find a good painter?
To find a good painter, check the license first, then ask for a written quote and recent local references. A good painter looks at the job in person, explains the prep and puts the price in writing.
- Ask neighbors whose paint job you like who did it.
- Look the license up on the CSLB website.
- Ask for proof of liability insurance and workers' compensation.
- Compare written quotes for the same scope.
- Be wary of door-to-door offers and prices that are good for today only.
Does a painter need a license in California?
Yes. In California a painter needs a license from the Contractors State License Board for any job of $1,000 or more in labor and materials combined. The painting license is the C-33 Painting and Decorating classification.
The limit was $500 until January 1, 2025, when a state law raised it to $1,000. The small job exemption does not apply if the work needs a permit or if the person has employees. The Modesto Painters is licensed and insured. Ask for the license number when we give you your estimate.
How do I check a painter's license and insurance in California?
Check the license on the CSLB website, cslb.ca.gov, using the Check a License search, or call the board. Enter the license number or the business name.
The record shows whether the license is active, the classification, the bond and whether workers' compensation insurance is on file. The name should match the name on your quote. For liability insurance, ask the painter for a certificate from their insurer.
How many quotes should I get?
Get at least three. That is the CSLB's own advice to consumers. Three written quotes for the same scope show you what the job is worth.
Give every painter the same list: which rooms or walls, how many coats, what repairs. Otherwise the prices cannot be compared.
What should a painting estimate include?
A painting estimate should include the surfaces to be painted, the prep, the number of coats, the paint and the total price.
- Each room or each exterior surface, including ceilings, trim and doors if they are part of the job.
- Prep: washing, scraping, patching, caulking, priming.
- Paint product, sheen and colors, and who supplies the paint.
- Number of coats.
- What is excluded, such as wood repair.
- Start date, expected length and payment terms.
What should be in a painting contract?
A painting contract should set out the full scope, the price, the payment schedule and the dates. In California a home improvement job over $500 must have a written contract, and the contractor's license number must be on it.
Read it before you sign. Changes agreed during the job should be written down as change orders with a price. Keep a copy of everything.
How much deposit should I give a painter?
In California the deposit on a home improvement job is limited by law. The CSLB states that a down payment cannot exceed 10 percent of the project price or $1,000, whichever is less.
After that, payments should follow the work as it is completed. They should not run ahead of it.
A painter wants half up front in cash. Is that a red flag?
Yes. Half up front is more than California law allows for a down payment, and a demand for cash is a warning sign in itself. The CSLB tells consumers not to pay cash.
Pay by check or card so there is a record. A contractor who insists on a large cash deposit may be unlicensed.
Should I hire a painter who wants all the money up front?
No. Do not pay all the money up front. In California a contractor may not ask for it on a home improvement job. Once you have paid in full, you have nothing left to hold if the work is late or poor.
Pay the final amount when the job is finished and you have walked it.
What are the red flags when hiring a painter?
The main red flags are no license number, no written quote and pressure to decide on the spot.
- No license number on the card, quote or vehicle.
- A deposit above the legal limit, or cash only.
- A price far below every other quote.
- No mention of prep or the number of coats.
- No proof of insurance.
- A name on the quote that does not match the license record.
A painter says they can start tomorrow. Is that a red flag?
Not always, but ask why. A painter who can start tomorrow may have had a job cancel. It can also mean there is no other work, which is worth a second look in the busy season.
Run the same checks whatever the start date: license, insurance, written quote and references.
What should I ask a painter before hiring?
Ask a painter these questions before hiring:
- What is your CSLB license number?
- Do you carry liability insurance and workers' compensation?
- Who will be on the job each day, employees or subcontractors?
- What prep is included, and how many coats?
- Which paint will you use?
- If my home was built before 1978, are you an EPA Lead-Safe Certified Firm?
- Do you give a written warranty, and what does it cover?
- What is the payment schedule?
Do painters give a warranty, and what should it cover?
Many painters give a written warranty on their work. It should cover peeling, blistering and flaking caused by poor prep or application, and it should state how long it lasts.
A warranty normally does not cover damage from leaks, sprinklers, structural movement or normal fading. Paint makers have their own product warranties. Ask any painter for the warranty in writing. Ask us what applies to your job when we quote it.
What if a painter damages my floors or furniture?
Tell the painter at once, take photos and put the damage in writing. A professional painter fixes or pays for what they damage, and their liability insurance exists for larger losses.
This is why insurance matters. If a licensed contractor will not put things right, you can file a complaint with the Contractors State License Board.
Where do I complain about a painting contractor in California?
Complaints about contractors go to the Contractors State License Board. The board takes complaints against licensed contractors and also acts against unlicensed ones. Forms are on cslb.ca.gov.
Try to settle the problem with the painter in writing first, and keep your contract, photos and payment records.
The Modesto Painters is licensed and insured. For a free estimate and a written quote, call or text (209) 231-7078.