HUMBOLDT COUNTY – On February 13, 2024, the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) announced the results of a recent sting operation it conducted in the Eureka area targeting unlicensed contractors. CSLB, along with the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office, cited four individuals for allegedly conducting contracting activities without the required license.

The four individuals were cited for submitting bids that exceeded the legal limit of $500. The bids ranged from $1,400 for an interior paint project to $12,000 for deck work.  According to California law, if unlicensed individuals advertise for construction contracting services, they must clearly state they are unlicensed and cannot bid on a contract for work valued at more than $500, including labor and materials.  

After the sting operation, one individual faces an additional recommended obstruction of justice charge. Investigators say this person posted information about the sting operation on social media right after leaving the sting site despite being told not to do so. 

“Unlicensed contractors put homeowners at risk.  They have not passed the necessary tests, including a background check, to show they have the knowledge and skills, as well as a clean criminal record, to enter someone’s home and correctly complete a home improvement project,” said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) President Alan Barcelona.