This checklist follows the order of a real hiring decision: the license, the questions, the contract, then the warning signs. The license, bid and contract rules below come from the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) or the California code it enforces, with links so you can check them yourself.
The checklist in brief
- Look up the license number on the CSLB site: active status, the right classification, a bond and workers' compensation or an exemption.
- Get at least three written bids on the same plans and scope.
- Ask who pulls the permits, who supervises, and which trades are subcontracted.
- Read the contract for the down payment, the payment schedule, the right to cancel and the lien notice.
- Walk away from pressure to sign today, a deposit above the legal cap, or a request that you take out the permit yourself.
What license does a kitchen remodeling contractor need?
In California, anyone who contracts for work that needs a building permit, uses employees, or takes a job above a small dollar threshold must hold a current CSLB license. A kitchen remodel that moves plumbing, gas, wiring or walls needs a permit, so the license question applies to the contractors you talk to.
CSLB's own example is a kitchen: if the remodel involves plumbing, electrical and carpentry under one contract, hire a licensed "B" General Building contractor. A B contractor may do the work or subcontract parts of it to licensed specialty contractors. A single-trade job, such as replacing a water line, can go to a contractor licensed in that specialty instead. Whichever class fits, ensure they are licensed and insured.
How do you check a contractor's CSLB license?
Use the CSLB Check a License page and read the record in this order:
Find the number
California requires the license number on contractor ads, business cards, bids and contracts. If it is missing, CSLB lets you search by business or personal name.
Confirm the status and the class
The status should read current and active, and the classification should fit the job (B for a multi-trade kitchen).
Read the bond and workers' compensation lines
The record shows the contractor's bond and whether workers' compensation insurance or an exemption is on file. A crew working in your home without coverage is a risk you carry.
Check the history
CSLB shows complaint disclosures and disciplinary history on the same record.
Match the person to the license
At the estimate, ask to see the pocket license with a photo ID. A salesperson must be registered with CSLB as a Home Improvement Salesperson.
Our own record is public too: CSLB license #1145233, class B General Building.
Questions to ask before you hire a kitchen contractor
A license tells you the contractor may do the work. These questions tell you how the job will run.
Who pulls the permits?
The contractor should apply for them and say so in the contract. Ask which inspections the job needs and who meets the inspector.
Who is on site every day?
Ask who supervises, who you call with a question, and how often you get an update on the schedule.
Which trades are subcontracted?
Plumbing, electrical and countertop fabrication can be separate companies. Ask who they are and whether they hold their own licenses.
What is an allowance and what is specified?
A bid that names cabinet line, door style and countertop material can be priced. An allowance is a placeholder until you choose.
How are changes priced?
Ask how a change order is written, priced and approved before work on it starts. California requires changes in writing.
Can I see finished kitchens?
Ask for references from previous clients and review their portfolios. Photos of real projects and homeowners you can call show the finish quality and how the crew left the house.
What California requires in a kitchen remodel contract
A written home improvement contract is required for all but the smallest jobs, and Business and Professions Code section 7159 spells out what goes in it. Check for these parts before you sign:
- The contractor's name, address and license number, and the name of any salesperson.
- A description of the work and the materials, specific enough to check. CSLB's example: "install oak kitchen cabinets, manufactured by Company XYZ, model 01381A, as per the plan," not just "install kitchen cabinets."
- The down payment, capped by law at 10 percent of the contract price or a fixed dollar limit in the same section, whichever is less.
- A schedule of progress payments tied to phases of work. The required contract text reads: "It is against the law for a contractor to collect payment for work not yet completed, or for materials not yet delivered."
- The approximate start date and completion date, and what counts as starting the work.
- A Three-Day Right to Cancel notice (five days for a senior citizen) unless the contract was negotiated at the contractor's place of business, plus a Mechanics Lien Warning.
- Who obtains the building permits, so nobody is surprised at the first inspection.
Red flags when hiring a kitchen remodeling contractor
No license number, or one that does not match
A number on a truck or a card is not proof. If the name on the CSLB record differs from the person in front of you, stop there.
A bid far below the others
CSLB warns that a bid substantially lower than the rest probably means a mistake or missing work, and can lead to a dispute.
Money ahead of the work
A deposit above the legal cap, or a payment for materials that have not arrived, goes against the payment rules above.
"Pull the permit yourself"
A permit in your name makes you the owner-builder. CSLB warns homeowners to be wary of anyone who talks them into it as a way to save money.
Pressure to sign today
A contract signed under pressure, without the cancellation notice, removes the time the law gives you to think.
A vague scope
"Remodel kitchen" with one total and no materials list leaves every decision, and every price, open after you sign.
Compare bids on the same scope
Give every contractor the same written list: layout changes, cabinet and counter choices, appliances, lighting and finishes. Then compare line by line, including what each bid excludes. Our guide to kitchen remodel cost in Los Angeles explains which lines move the total and why, and the 2026 kitchen trends guide helps you settle finishes before the bids come back.
Questions homeowners ask about kitchen contractors
What kind of contractor do I need for a kitchen remodel in California?
For a kitchen remodel that combines plumbing, electrical and carpentry under one contract, CSLB points homeowners to a licensed "B" General Building contractor, who can do the work or subcontract parts of it to licensed specialty contractors. A single-trade job, such as plumbing only, can go to a contractor licensed in that specialty.
How many bids should I get for a kitchen remodel?
CSLB recommends at least three written bids, all based on the same plans, specifications and scope of work. Bids written on different scopes cannot be compared, so give every contractor the same list of what you want done.
How much can a contractor ask for up front in California?
California caps the down payment on a home improvement contract at 10 percent of the contract price or a fixed dollar limit set in Business and Professions Code section 7159, whichever is less. After that, payments may not run ahead of the work completed or the materials delivered.
How do I find a reputable kitchen remodel contractor in Los Angeles?
Look for contractors with a strong portfolio of kitchen projects, check references, verify licenses and insurance, and ensure clear communication and a detailed contract. Then run the CSLB license lookup described above before you sign.
Should I pull the permit myself to save money?
Usually not. A permit in your own name makes you the owner-builder, with responsibilities that would otherwise sit with the contractor, and CSLB warns homeowners to be wary of anyone who talks them into it as a way to save money.
Put us through the same checklist
Alpha Dream Construction is a licensed class B General Building contractor (CSLB #1145233) remodeling kitchens across Los Angeles County, Orange County and Riverside County. See our kitchen remodel Los Angeles service and selected projects, then send us your project details or use the call button on this page.
