A California contractors license bond is basically a promise made by a bond company to pay a claim made against a contractor for violating the terms of the Contractors State License Law. A license bond is different than contractors liability insurance California because you, as the contractor, have to pay the money back to the bond company. In California, the Contractors State License Board has the power to levy administrative, criminal, and civil sanctions against violators of the Contractors State License Law.
As a contractor, you should get a California contractors bond quote online because you never know when you may need the license bond. The Contractors State License Board has up to four years from the date of violation to notify you that a complaint has been filed against your contractors license and in the case of certain hidden structural defects, up to 10 years.
Mandatory arbitration is used by the Contractors State License Board for complaints where the damages are limited to $12,500 or less, the amount of most California contractor’s license bonds. Since you have to pay the bod company back, why should you pay for a bond? If you don’t pay the judgment ordered by the License Board, they will automatically revoke your contractors license. Since your contractors license is your livelihood, you’ll want the bond for insurance against any surprise judgments against you, plus it’s mandatory.
