# CSLB Contractor License Scraper (`crawlerbros/cslb-contractor-license-scraper`) Actor Look up California contractor licenses on the CSLB (Contractors State License Board) public license check tool. Search by license number, business name, personnel name, or HIS registration number. Get license status, classifications, bond and workers' compensation info, and expiration dates. - **URL**: https://apify.com/crawlerbros/cslb-contractor-license-scraper.md - **Developed by:** [Crawler Bros](https://apify.com/crawlerbros) (community) - **Categories:** Automation, Developer tools, Integrations - **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing from $3.00 / 1,000 results This Actor is paid per event and usage. You are charged both the fixed price for specific events and for Apify platform usage. Since this Actor supports Apify Store discounts, the price gets lower the higher subscription plan you have. Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event ## What's an Apify Actor? Actors are a software tools running on the Apify platform, for all kinds of web data extraction and automation use cases. In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours, and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store. In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server. Actors are written with capital "A". ## How to integrate an Actor? If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects. You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready. The best way to integrate Actors is as follows. In JavaScript/TypeScript projects, use official [JavaScript/TypeScript client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js.md): ```bash npm install apify-client ``` In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python.md): ```bash pip install apify-client ``` In shell scripts, use [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): ````bash # MacOS / Linux curl -fsSL https://apify.com/install-cli.sh | bash # Windows irm https://apify.com/install-cli.ps1 | iex ```bash In AI frameworks, you might use the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/platform/integrations/mcp.md). If your project is in a different language, use the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md). For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below. For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt). # README ## CSLB Contractor License Scraper Look up California contractor licenses on the **CSLB (Contractors State License Board)** public "Check A License" tool. Search by license number, business name, personnel name, or Home Improvement Salesperson (HIS) registration number. Get license status, trade classifications, bond and workers' compensation information, and expiration dates. HTTP-only against `cslb.ca.gov` -- no login, no API key, no CAPTCHA. ### What this actor does - **Four search modes:** `byLicenseNumber`, `byBusinessName`, `byPersonnelName`, `byHISNumber` - **Full license detail:** business info, entity type, issue/expiration dates, current status - **44+ classification codes:** every CSLB trade classification (A, B, B-2, C-2 through C-60) with full titles - **Bond and workers' compensation info:** surety company, bond number/amount, insurer, policy number, effective/cancellation dates (or the exemption reason when a license has none) - **Status and classification filters:** narrow results to a specific license status or trade - **Empty fields are omitted** ### Output per license (mode = `byLicenseNumber` / `byBusinessName` / `byPersonnelName`) - `licenseNumber` -- CSLB license number - `businessName`, `dba` -- registered name and DBA (if any) - `addressLine1`, `addressLine2`, `city`, `state`, `zip`, `phone` - `entityType` -- Sole Ownership / Partnership / Corporation / LLC / Joint Venture - `issueDate`, `expireDate` - `licenseStatus` -- CSLB's own status sentence - `licenseStatusCode` -- normalized: `active` / `expired` / `inactive` / `revoked` / `suspended` / `cancelled` / `other` - `classifications[]` -- `{ code, title }`, e.g. `{"code": "C-10", "title": "Electrical Contractor"}` - `bond` -- `{ bondStatus, suretyCompany, bondNumber, bondAmount, effectiveDate, cancellationDate }` -- `bondStatus` is CSLB's own plain-language sentence (e.g. "filed a Contractor's Bond with X", "No bond information on file for this license"); the rest are only present when CSLB shows structured bond details - `workersComp` -- `{ workersCompStatus, insuranceCompany, policyNumber, effectiveDate, cancellationDate }` -- `workersCompStatus` is CSLB's own sentence (e.g. an exemption reason); the rest are only present when CSLB shows a structured policy - `matchedBusinessName`, `matchedNameType` -- which business-name search result this record came from (mode=`byBusinessName` only) - `personnelName`, `personnelNameType`, `personnelAssociationStatus` -- which person and association this record came from (mode=`byPersonnelName` only) - `personnel[]` -- `{ name, title, associationDate, classification }` for every owner/officer/RMO/RME associated with the license (e.g. `SOLE OWNER`, `CFO`, `RMO`); included when `includePersonnel` is on (default) - `sourceUrl` -- the license's canonical `cslb.ca.gov` page - `recordType: "license"`, `scrapedAt` ### Output per HIS registration (mode = `byHISNumber`) - `hisNumber`, `name`, `addressLine1`, `city`, `state`, `zip`, `phone` - `issueDate`, `expirationDate` - `registrationStatus`, `registrationStatusCode` - `currentEmployers[]` / `formerEmployers[]` -- `{ licenseNumber, businessName, phone, effectiveDates }` - `sourceUrl`, `recordType: "hisRegistration"`, `scrapedAt` ### Input | Field | Type | Default | Description | |---|---|---|---| | `mode` | string | `byLicenseNumber` | `byLicenseNumber` / `byBusinessName` / `byPersonnelName` / `byHISNumber` | | `licenseNumbers` | array | `["1100000"]` | License numbers to look up (mode=byLicenseNumber) | | `businessName` | string | `Swinerton` | Business name search (mode=byBusinessName) | | `personnelLastName` | string | `Smith` | Last name search (mode=byPersonnelName) | | `personnelFirstName` | string | `John` | Optional first name to narrow the search (mode=byPersonnelName) | | `hisNumber` | string | `100000` | HIS registration number (mode=byHISNumber) | | `statusFilter` | string | `any` | Only emit records with this license/registration status | | `classificationFilter` | string | `any` | Only emit license records carrying this trade classification | | `includePersonnel` | boolean | `true` | Attach owners/officers/RMO/RME to each license record | | `maxItems` | int | `20` | Hard cap on emitted records (1-200) | | `proxyConfiguration` | object | off | Optional Apify proxy (not required; CSLB has no CAPTCHA) | #### Example: look up specific license numbers ```json { "mode": "byLicenseNumber", "licenseNumbers": ["1100000", "801206", "993242"] } ```` #### Example: search by business name, active licenses only ```json { "mode": "byBusinessName", "businessName": "Swinerton", "statusFilter": "active", "maxItems": 25 } ``` #### Example: search by personnel name, filtered to a trade ```json { "mode": "byPersonnelName", "personnelLastName": "Garcia", "personnelFirstName": "Maria", "classificationFilter": "B", "maxItems": 15 } ``` #### Example: HIS registration lookup ```json { "mode": "byHISNumber", "hisNumber": "100000" } ``` ### Use cases - **Vendor / subcontractor vetting** -- verify a contractor's license is active before signing a contract - **Insurance and surety due diligence** -- check bond and workers' compensation coverage on file - **Lead generation** -- pull active licensed contractors by trade classification - **Compliance monitoring** -- periodically re-check a portfolio of license numbers for status changes - **Background checks** -- confirm a qualifying individual's licensing history by personnel name ### Data source / limitations - Data comes from CSLB's public "Check A License" tool (`cslb.ca.gov/OnlineServices/CheckLicenseII`). This actor is not affiliated with CSLB or the State of California. - `businessName` and `personnelLastName` searches match CSLB's own alphabetical "starts here" browse behavior (the same behavior as the live site's search box), narrowed down to names that actually start with your query so a nonsense query cleanly returns 0 records instead of unrelated alphabetical neighbors. - HIS "by name" search (a 5th CSLB search mode, mechanically similar to `byPersonnelName` but against the separate Home Improvement Salesperson registry) is out of scope for this version; use `byHISNumber` if you already have the registration number. - Bond and workers' compensation history (beyond the currently-on-file entry) is not included -- only the current bond/WC record shown on the license detail page. - `classificationFilter` and `statusFilter` only affect records that actually carry that data; records CSLB doesn't return a classification or status for always pass through. ### FAQ **Is this an official CSLB tool?** No. This is a third-party actor that reads the same public, unauthenticated "Check A License" pages available to anyone at cslb.ca.gov. **Do I need a login or API key?** No. CSLB's license lookup requires no account, no API key, and has no CAPTCHA. **How fresh is the data?** Every run fetches live pages from cslb.ca.gov -- data is as current as CSLB's own database at request time. **Why do some licenses have no bond number or policy number?** CSLB's license classifications determine bonding/insurance requirements. Some licenses (e.g. certain exempt or inactive licenses) show only a plain status sentence instead of structured bond/insurance data -- in that case `bond.bondStatus` / `workersComp.workersCompStatus` still carries CSLB's own wording (e.g. an exemption reason) even though the structured sub-fields are absent. **What does `classifications` mean?** Each license can carry one or more of CSLB's ~46 official trade classifications (general engineering, general building, and dozens of C-series specialty trades like electrical, plumbing, or roofing). See the `classificationFilter` dropdown for the full list. **Why did my business name / personnel name search return fewer results than I expected?** CSLB's own search is a "starts here" alphabetical browse, not a full-text search. Try fewer letters (e.g. `Swinerton` instead of `Swinerton Builders Inc`) if you don't find the license you're looking for. # Actor input Schema ## `mode` (type: `string`): Which CSLB search to run. ## `licenseNumbers` (type: `array`): CSLB contractor license numbers to look up (1-8 digits each; letters/punctuation are stripped automatically). ## `businessName` (type: `string`): Business name to search for. CSLB matches from this name alphabetically forward (type fewer letters if you don't find the license, e.g. `Swinerton` instead of `Swinerton Builders Inc`). ## `personnelLastName` (type: `string`): Last name of a qualifying individual, owner, or officer associated with a license. ## `personnelFirstName` (type: `string`): Optional first name to narrow a personnel name search. ## `hisNumber` (type: `string`): Home Improvement Salesperson (HIS) registration number (1-8 digits; the site's "SP" suffix is added automatically). ## `statusFilter` (type: `string`): Only emit records whose current status matches. Records with no detectable status always pass through. ## `classificationFilter` (type: `string`): Only emit license records that carry this CSLB classification. Records with no classification data always pass through. Ignored in mode=byHISNumber. ## `includePersonnel` (type: `boolean`): Attach the owners/officers/RMO/RME associated with each license (name, title, association date, classification). Adds a few extra requests per license. ## `maxItems` (type: `integer`): Hard cap on emitted records. ## `proxyConfiguration` (type: `object`): Optional. CSLB's search form has no CAPTCHA and works reliably without a proxy; this is offered for extra resilience only. ## Actor input object example ```json { "mode": "byLicenseNumber", "licenseNumbers": [ "1100000" ], "businessName": "Swinerton", "personnelLastName": "Smith", "personnelFirstName": "John", "hisNumber": "100000", "statusFilter": "any", "classificationFilter": "any", "includePersonnel": true, "maxItems": 20, "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": false } } ``` # Actor output Schema ## `licenses` (type: `string`): Dataset containing all scraped CSLB license and HIS registration records. # API You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup. ## JavaScript example ```javascript import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client'; // Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token // Replace the '' with your token const client = new ApifyClient({ token: '', }); // Prepare Actor input const input = { "mode": "byLicenseNumber", "licenseNumbers": [ "1100000" ], "businessName": "Swinerton", "personnelLastName": "Smith", "personnelFirstName": "John", "hisNumber": "100000", "statusFilter": "any", "classificationFilter": "any", "includePersonnel": true, "maxItems": 20, "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": false } }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("crawlerbros/cslb-contractor-license-scraper").call(input); // Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any) console.log('Results from dataset'); console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`); const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems(); items.forEach((item) => { console.dir(item); }); // 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs ``` ## Python example ```python from apify_client import ApifyClient # Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token # Replace '' with your token. client = ApifyClient("") # Prepare the Actor input run_input = { "mode": "byLicenseNumber", "licenseNumbers": ["1100000"], "businessName": "Swinerton", "personnelLastName": "Smith", "personnelFirstName": "John", "hisNumber": "100000", "statusFilter": "any", "classificationFilter": "any", "includePersonnel": True, "maxItems": 20, "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": False }, } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("crawlerbros/cslb-contractor-license-scraper").call(run_input=run_input) # Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any) print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"]) for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items(): print(item) # 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start ``` ## CLI example ```bash echo '{ "mode": "byLicenseNumber", "licenseNumbers": [ "1100000" ], "businessName": "Swinerton", "personnelLastName": "Smith", "personnelFirstName": "John", "hisNumber": "100000", "statusFilter": "any", "classificationFilter": "any", "includePersonnel": true, "maxItems": 20, "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": false } }' | apify call crawlerbros/cslb-contractor-license-scraper --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=crawlerbros/cslb-contractor-license-scraper", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "CSLB Contractor License Scraper", "description": "Look up California contractor licenses on the CSLB (Contractors State License Board) public license check tool. Search by license number, business name, personnel name, or HIS registration number. Get license status, classifications, bond and workers' compensation info, and expiration dates.", "version": "1.0", "x-build-id": "gSKPEhU4DoxHHd9Dk" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/crawlerbros~cslb-contractor-license-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-crawlerbros-cslb-contractor-license-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for its completion, and returns Actor's dataset items in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } }, "/acts/crawlerbros~cslb-contractor-license-scraper/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-crawlerbros-cslb-contractor-license-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK", "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema" } } } } } } }, "/acts/crawlerbros~cslb-contractor-license-scraper/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-crawlerbros-cslb-contractor-license-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } } }, "components": { "schemas": { "inputSchema": { "type": "object", "required": [ "mode" ], "properties": { "mode": { "title": "Mode", "enum": [ "byLicenseNumber", "byBusinessName", "byPersonnelName", "byHISNumber" ], "type": "string", "description": "Which CSLB search to run.", "default": "byLicenseNumber" }, "licenseNumbers": { "title": "License numbers (mode=byLicenseNumber)", "type": "array", "description": "CSLB contractor license numbers to look up (1-8 digits each; letters/punctuation are stripped automatically).", "default": [ "1100000" ], "items": { "type": "string" } }, "businessName": { "title": "Business name (mode=byBusinessName)", "type": "string", "description": "Business name to search for. CSLB matches from this name alphabetically forward (type fewer letters if you don't find the license, e.g. `Swinerton` instead of `Swinerton Builders Inc`)." }, "personnelLastName": { "title": "Personnel last name (mode=byPersonnelName)", "type": "string", "description": "Last name of a qualifying individual, owner, or officer associated with a license." }, "personnelFirstName": { "title": "Personnel first name (mode=byPersonnelName)", "type": "string", "description": "Optional first name to narrow a personnel name search." }, "hisNumber": { "title": "HIS registration number (mode=byHISNumber)", "type": "string", "description": "Home Improvement Salesperson (HIS) registration number (1-8 digits; the site's \"SP\" suffix is added automatically)." }, "statusFilter": { "title": "License / registration status filter", "enum": [ "any", "active", "expired", "inactive", "revoked", "suspended", "cancelled", "other" ], "type": "string", "description": "Only emit records whose current status matches. Records with no detectable status always pass through.", "default": "any" }, "classificationFilter": { "title": "Classification (trade) filter", "enum": [ "any", "A", "B", "C", "B-2", "C-2", "C-4", "C-5", "C-6", "C-7", "C-8", "C-9", "C-10", "C-11", "C-12", "C-13", "C-15", "C-16", "C-17", "C-20", "C-21", "C-22", "C-23", "C-27", "C-28", "C-29", "C-31", "C-32", "C-33", "C-34", "C-35", "C-36", "C-38", "C-39", "C-42", "C-43", "C-45", "C-46", "C-47", "C-49", "C-50", "C-51", "C-53", "C-54", "C-55", "C-57", "C-60" ], "type": "string", "description": "Only emit license records that carry this CSLB classification. Records with no classification data always pass through. Ignored in mode=byHISNumber.", "default": "any" }, "includePersonnel": { "title": "Include personnel (owners/officers)", "type": "boolean", "description": "Attach the owners/officers/RMO/RME associated with each license (name, title, association date, classification). Adds a few extra requests per license.", "default": true }, "maxItems": { "title": "Max items", "minimum": 1, "maximum": 200, "type": "integer", "description": "Hard cap on emitted records.", "default": 20 }, "proxyConfiguration": { "title": "Proxy configuration", "type": "object", "description": "Optional. CSLB's search form has no CAPTCHA and works reliably without a proxy; this is offered for extra resilience only.", "default": { "useApifyProxy": false } } } }, "runsResponseSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "data": { "type": "object", "properties": { "id": { "type": "string" }, "actId": { "type": "string" }, "userId": { "type": "string" }, "startedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "finishedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "status": { "type": "string", "example": "READY" }, "meta": { "type": "object", "properties": { "origin": { "type": "string", "example": "API" }, "userAgent": { "type": "string" } } }, "stats": { "type": "object", "properties": { "inputBodyLen": { "type": "integer", "example": 2000 }, "rebootCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "restartCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "resurrectCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "computeUnits": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "options": { "type": "object", "properties": { "build": { "type": "string", "example": "latest" }, "timeoutSecs": { "type": "integer", "example": 300 }, "memoryMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 1024 }, "diskMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 2048 } } }, "buildId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultKeyValueStoreId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultDatasetId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultRequestQueueId": { "type": "string" }, "buildNumber": { "type": "string", "example": "1.0.0" }, "containerUrl": { "type": "string" }, "usage": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 1 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "usageTotalUsd": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "usageUsd": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } } } } } } } } } ```