“These undercover operations work to protect consumers from those participating in unlicensed contracting activities.  Unlicensed contractors have not submitted to a background check or passed state tests to prove they know what they are doing.” – CSLEA President Alan Barcelona

EL DORADO COUNTY – On June 8, 2023, the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) announced the results of an undercover sting operation it conducted with the El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office in the Lake Tahoe area in late May.

The operation resulted in seven unlicensed persons receiving a Notice to Appear in criminal court for allegedly acting in the capacity of a contractor without the required license. These suspects now face legal consequences, including fines and potential imprisonment.

As part of the operation, the suspects were invited to submit bids for various residential construction projects at a designated property.

Seven people were cited for submitting bids that exceeded the legal limit of $500. The bid amounts varied, ranging from $1,500 to more than $8,000. In accordance with California contractor state license laws, any bids exceeding the limit are considered violations of contracting without a license. Contracting without a valid license is a misdemeanor offense in California, carrying penalties of fines of up to $15,000 and potential imprisonment.

During the operation, some of the individuals demanded excessive down payments prior to commencing work. Under California law, contractors are limited to requesting no more than 10% of the project cost or $1,000, whichever amount is lower. Violating this provision constitutes a misdemeanor offense, punishable by fines of up to $5,000 or a potential one-year county jail sentence, or both.