# California Contractor License Lookup & Verify (CSLB) (`scrapebench/california-contractor-license-lookup`) Actor Verify any California contractor by license number or name — status, classifications, bond & workers' comp — from the official CSLB registry. - **URL**: https://apify.com/scrapebench/california-contractor-license-lookup.md - **Developed by:** [ScrapeBench](https://apify.com/scrapebench) (community) - **Categories:** Lead generation - **Stats:** 5 total users, 2 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing $0.004 / dataset-item This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events. 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 ## California Contractor License Lookup & Verify (CSLB) ### Pain points - Verifying a contractor on the CSLB site is one manual lookup at a time. - A plain name search won't surface every license a person is tied to across different businesses. - Registry pages aren't structured for compliance workflows or CRM enrichment. ### What we solve - Verify any California contractor by license number, business name, or person — one search. - Name search matches business AND owner/personnel names, so you find every license a person is on (deduped). - Returns status, classifications, bond, and workers' comp from the official CSLB registry. - Enrich a name or license number into a full record; pay per match, empty searches free. ### Summary Look up and verify any California contractor from a single search — type a CSLB license number, a business name, or a person's name and get back the licensed business, status, trade classifications, contractor's bond, and workers' comp, straight from the official CSLB registry. A name search matches both business names AND personnel/owner names (so you find every license a person is listed on), unioned and deduped. Built for fast verification, compliance checks, and enriching a name or license number into a full record. ### Who it's for - GCs and hiring managers vetting California subcontractors - Insurance underwriters and lenders running KYC on contractors - Compliance teams and marketplaces verifying CSLB licenses - Recruiters and investigators tracing an owner's licenses ### How to use Set the input, run the actor, and collect results from the run's dataset (export to JSON/CSV/Excel, or pull via the Apify API). Example input: ```json { "query": "Ransome Company", "includeDetails": true, "maxResults": 25 } ```` See **Inputs** below for every available field. ### What you get One row per record: | Field | Description | |---|---| | `license_number` | CSLB license number | | `business_name` | Licensed business name | | `name_type` | How the name is held (e.g. DBA) — from name searches | | `matched_by` | Which search surfaced this match: 'license\_number' or 'business\_name' | | `status` | License status (e.g. 'Active', 'Expired', or the detail status sentence) | | `city` | Business city | | `has_detail` | True when the full license detail was fetched and merged | | `business_type` | Entity type — Sole Owner, Corporation, LLC, Partnership… (detail) | | `address` | Business street address (detail) | | `state` | State (detail) | | `zip_code` | ZIP code (detail) | | `phone` | Business phone (detail) | | `issue_date` | Original license issue date (detail) | | `expiration_date` | License expiration date (detail) | | `classifications` | Classification codes held, e.g. \["A","C10"] (detail) | | `surety_company` | Contractor's bond surety company (detail) | | `bond_number` | Contractor's bond number (detail) | | `bond_amount` | Contractor's bond amount (detail) | | `workers_comp_type` | Workers' comp coverage type — Insurance / Exempt (detail) | | `workers_comp_company` | Workers' comp insurance carrier (detail) | | `source_url` | Link to the official CSLB license detail page | Sample: ```json { "license_number": "22726", "business_name": "RANSOME COMPANY", "name_type": "DBA", "matched_by": "business_name", "status": "This license is current and active.", "city": "SAN LEANDRO", "has_detail": true, "business_type": "Corporation", "address": "1933 WILLIAMS STREET", "state": "CA", "zip_code": "94577", "phone": "(510) 686-9900", "issue_date": "07/01/1932", "expiration_date": "10/31/2027", "classifications": [ "A", "C10" ], "surety_company": "HARCO NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY", "bond_number": "354811", "bond_amount": "25,000", "workers_comp_type": "Insurance", "workers_comp_company": "TRAVELERS PROPERTY CASUALTY COMPANY OF AMERICA", "source_url": "https://www.cslb.ca.gov/onlineservices/checklicenseII/LicenseDetail.aspx?LicNum=22726" } ``` ### Inputs | Field | Required | Type | Default | Description | |---|---|---|---|---| | `query` | yes | string | `"22726"` | A CSLB license number (digits only, e.g. '22726') OR a name. Numbers are looked up directly. A name is searched against BOTH the business-name index AND the personnel/owner-name index, and the results are unioned (deduped by license #). For a person, enter 'First Last' (e.g. 'Phil Ransome') or 'Last, First' with a comma. | | `includeDetails` | no | boolean | `true` | When on (default), each match is enriched with its full license record — entity type, issue/expiry dates, classifications, contractor's bond, and workers' comp. Turn off for a faster, lighter result list (license #, name, city, status only). | | `maxResults` | no | integer | `50` | Cap on the number of matches returned (and enriched) in a single run. This is a lookup, not a bulk export — defaults to 50. | | `proxyConfiguration` | no | object | `{"useApifyProxy": false}` | Optional. CSLB is usually reachable directly; enable a proxy (e.g. residential) only if a run is blocked or served a CAPTCHA challenge. | ### Pricing (Pay Per Event) You pay per result (`dataset-item`) — **no charge for empty runs**. Example: **100 verified license records** at *$0.004/result* ≈ **$0.40**. Illustrative — the final per-result price is set at publish time. Apify platform usage (compute) is billed separately per your plan. ### Use cases - License verification — confirm a California contractor's status, classifications, bond, and workers' comp before hiring or onboarding. - Owner / personnel search — recruiters or investigators find every license a person holds, even under different business names. - Record enrichment — turn a license number or name into a full structured record for a CRM, marketplace, or vetting workflow. - Lender / insurer due diligence — pull authoritative CSLB data on demand. ### Why this actor - Straight from the official CSLB registry — authoritative, not a stale third-party copy. - Name search matches business AND owner/personnel (RMO/RME) names and dedupes — finds every license a person is on. - Pay per match; searches with no results are free. ### Limitations & updates Covers California's CSLB public registry only (public record under Business & Professions Code §7000 et seq.). Results reflect the live registry and change as it updates. A name search unions the business-name and personnel/owner-name indexes; personnel matches return the licenses a person is currently associated with. Runs are bounded (default 50 results) — refine a broad name to narrow it. ### FAQ **Where does the data come from?** The official California CSLB 'Check a License' registry — public, authoritative license data. **Can I find every license a person holds?** Yes — a name search matches both business names and owner/personnel records (RMO/RME) and dedupes, so you see every license that person is listed on. **What fields do I get?** License number, business name, status, classifications, issue/expiration, plus contractor's bond and workers' comp where CSLB publishes them. **How am I charged?** Pay-per-result — per license match returned. No charge for searches with no results. **Is this personal data?** It's public professional-license data (business and license-holder records as CSLB publishes them); we add no personal/PII enrichment. **How current is it?** It reflects the live CSLB record at lookup time. ### Which actor to choose Part of the contractor-license verification suite — pick the one that fits your goal: - **Florida Contractor License Lookup & Verify (DBPR)** — You're verifying a Florida contractor or tradesperson — type, status, expiration, county (DBPR). - **Louisiana Contractor License Lookup** — You want the full Louisiana roster — 50,000+ commercial, residential & specialty licenses as data (LSLBC). - **Multi-State Contractor & Trade License Lookup** — You don't know the state, or want the same contractor checked across WA, OR, TX & CT in one run. - **Nevada Contractor License Lookup & Verify (NSCB)** — You need a Nevada contractor's status, trade classifications, bond & principals (NSCB). - **New Mexico Contractor License Lookup & Verify (NM CID)** — You're verifying a New Mexico contractor — license #, status, city/ZIP, expiry (NM CID). - **North Carolina Contractor License Lookup & Verify (NCLBGC)** — You're verifying a North Carolina general contractor — classification, status, expiration (NCLBGC). - **Oregon Contractor License Lookup & Verify (CCB)** — You're verifying an Oregon contractor — status, bond, insurance & RMI (CCB). - **South Carolina Contractor License Lookup & Verify (SC LLR)** — You're searching or verifying South Carolina contractors — by name, license, city, or classification (SC LLR). - **Tennessee Contractor License Lookup & Verify (TN DOCI)** — You're verifying a Tennessee contractor or tradesperson — type, status, city & county (TN DOCI). - **Texas Contractor & Trade License Lookup (TDLR)** — You're verifying a Texas electrician, HVAC or trade license — type, expiration, county & owner (TDLR). - **Virginia Contractor License Lookup (DPOR Bulk)** — You want the full Virginia roster — 50,000+ Class A/B/C and trade licenses as bulk data (DPOR). - **Washington Contractor License Lookup & Verify (L\&I)** — You're verifying a Washington contractor — type, status, expiration, principal (L\&I). - **Alabama Contractor License Lookup & Verify (LBGC)** — You're verifying an Alabama general contractor — classification, city, phone, expiration (LBGC). - **Arkansas Contractor License Lookup & Verify (ACLB)** — You're verifying an Arkansas contractor — validity, type, expiration, city & county (ACLB). - **Michigan Contractor License Lookup & Verify (LARA)** — You're verifying a Michigan builder or trade contractor — type, status, expiration (LARA). - **Minnesota Contractor License Lookup & Verify (DLI)** — You're verifying a Minnesota residential contractor — subtype, status, expiration, enforcement flags (DLI). - **Massachusetts Construction License Lookup & Verify (CSL)** — You're verifying a Massachusetts Construction Supervisor License — type, status, expiration (CSL). ### Guides & use cases Written up on **[scrapebench.dev](https://scrapebench.dev)** — the bench that runs and verifies this actor against the live source every night: - **How-to:** [How to run California Contractor License Lookup & Verify (CSLB)](https://scrapebench.dev/guides/how-to-california-contractor-license-lookup/) - **Use case:** [Check a California Contractor's Bond & Workers' Comp](https://scrapebench.dev/use-cases/check-california-contractor-bond-workers-comp/) - **Use case:** [Find Every CSLB License an Owner Holds by Name](https://scrapebench.dev/use-cases/find-cslb-licenses-by-owner-name/) - **Use case:** [Verify a California Contractor by License Number](https://scrapebench.dev/use-cases/verify-california-contractor-by-license-number/) More actors, coverage and nightly verification results: **[scrapebench.dev](https://scrapebench.dev)** # Actor input Schema ## `query` (type: `string`): A CSLB license number (digits only, e.g. '22726') OR a name. Numbers are looked up directly. A name is searched against BOTH the business-name index AND the personnel/owner-name index, and the results are unioned (deduped by license #). For a person, enter 'First Last' (e.g. 'Phil Ransome') or 'Last, First' with a comma. ## `includeDetails` (type: `boolean`): When on (default), each match is enriched with its full license record — entity type, issue/expiry dates, classifications, contractor's bond, and workers' comp. Turn off for a faster, lighter result list (license #, name, city, status only). ## `maxResults` (type: `integer`): Cap on the number of matches returned (and enriched) in a single run. This is a lookup, not a bulk export — defaults to 50. ## `proxyConfiguration` (type: `object`): Optional. CSLB is usually reachable directly; enable a proxy (e.g. residential) only if a run is blocked or served a CAPTCHA challenge. ## Actor input object example ```json { "query": "22726", "includeDetails": true, "maxResults": 50, "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": false } } ``` # Actor output Schema ## `matches` (type: `string`): The matched licenses — status, classifications, bond and workers' comp when enriched. # 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 = { "query": "22726" }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("scrapebench/california-contractor-license-lookup").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 = { "query": "22726" } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("scrapebench/california-contractor-license-lookup").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 '{ "query": "22726" }' | apify call scrapebench/california-contractor-license-lookup --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=scrapebench/california-contractor-license-lookup", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "California Contractor License Lookup & Verify (CSLB)", "description": "Verify any California contractor by license number or name — status, classifications, bond & workers' comp — from the official CSLB registry.", "version": "0.1", "x-build-id": "zoVkn7zRFpl31SsY2" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/scrapebench~california-contractor-license-lookup/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-scrapebench-california-contractor-license-lookup", "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": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } }, "/acts/scrapebench~california-contractor-license-lookup/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-scrapebench-california-contractor-license-lookup", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$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": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema" } } } } } } }, "/acts/scrapebench~california-contractor-license-lookup/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-scrapebench-california-contractor-license-lookup", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$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": [ "query" ], "properties": { "query": { "title": "Search query", "type": "string", "description": "A CSLB license number (digits only, e.g. '22726') OR a name. Numbers are looked up directly. A name is searched against BOTH the business-name index AND the personnel/owner-name index, and the results are unioned (deduped by license #). For a person, enter 'First Last' (e.g. 'Phil Ransome') or 'Last, First' with a comma." }, "includeDetails": { "title": "Include full license detail", "type": "boolean", "description": "When on (default), each match is enriched with its full license record — entity type, issue/expiry dates, classifications, contractor's bond, and workers' comp. Turn off for a faster, lighter result list (license #, name, city, status only).", "default": true }, "maxResults": { "title": "Maximum results", "minimum": 1, "maximum": 1000, "type": "integer", "description": "Cap on the number of matches returned (and enriched) in a single run. This is a lookup, not a bulk export — defaults to 50.", "default": 50 }, "proxyConfiguration": { "title": "Proxy configuration", "type": "object", "description": "Optional. CSLB is usually reachable directly; enable a proxy (e.g. residential) only if a run is blocked or served a CAPTCHA challenge.", "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 } } } } } } } } } } ```