Is Contractor Lookout the same as CSLB?

No. Contractor Lookout is an independent site. It isn't affiliated with CSLB or the State of California. It republishes CSLB's free public license file.

Which one is more up to date?

CSLB's Instant License Check. It is the live record, while our pages come from a file we refresh weekly, so a status can change before we show it.

Which one should I trust before I hire?

CSLB's Instant License Check. Use Contractor Lookout to browse and narrow your list, then confirm the license on CSLB before you sign or pay.

Contractor Lookout vs CSLB Instant License Check

By Contractor Lookout · Updated November 6, 2026

CSLB’s Instant License Check is the live, official record. Contractor Lookout is an independent site built from CSLB’s public file, which we refresh weekly. Use our pages to browse and compare, then confirm any contractor on CSLB before you sign or pay.

If the two ever disagree, go with CSLB. The current file on this site is dated November 1, 2026.

How they compare

	CSLB Instant License Check	Contractor Lookout
Run by	California’s Contractors State License Board	An independent site, not affiliated with CSLB
How current	The live record	A weekly copy of CSLB’s public file
Search by	License number, business name, personnel name, HIS registration number or HIS name	Business name or license number
Browse by city and trade	Not in this tool, but CSLB’s Find A Licensed Contractor searches by city or ZIP code; see the note below	Yes, by county, city and trade
Status wording	CSLB’s own wording	CSLB’s status, plus a plain-English explainer
Complaint disclosure	Yes, within the limits set by law	No, it isn’t in the file
Cancelled and revoked licenses	Check the number here	Not in the file
Changes over time	Not in the file	Changes we detect between weekly files
Availability	Offline Sunday 8 p.m. to Monday 6 a.m.	Pages stay up, but show the weekly file
Cost	Free	Free

CSLB also offers its own city and ZIP search, called Find A Licensed Contractor. It lists contractors by license classification within a city or ZIP code. To reach it, open CSLB’s license-check page and use the Find A Licensed Contractor link, or the link in the line about creating a list of licensed contractors “by City or ZIP code.” Whichever CSLB tool you use, CSLB’s live official record takes precedence over our weekly copy.

When to use CSLB

Use Instant License Check when the answer has to be current:

Right before you sign a contract or make a payment
When you need to see complaint disclosure
When you’re checking a Home Improvement Salesperson. See HIS registration explained.
When a license doesn’t appear in our search. CSLB’s public file leaves out cancelled and revoked licenses, and expired licenses that can no longer be renewed.

When to use Contractor Lookout

Use this site when you’re still deciding who to call:

Browsing licensed contractors in your area from the counties and cities index
Comparing a trade in one city, such as electricians in San Jose or roofers in Sacramento
Reading what a license status means in plain English
Working out which license type fits your job

What we can’t tell you

Our badges summarize CSLB’s file. They aren’t a rating of anyone’s work, and a clean record isn’t a guarantee. A bond can lapse or a suspension can be lifted between our weekly updates. Our methodology page lists what the file leaves out, and our license check guide covers the rest of what to review before you hire.

Sources

CSLB Instant License Check: https://www.cslb.ca.gov/OnlineServices/CheckLicenseII/CheckLicense.aspx
CSLB Public Data Portal: https://www.cslb.ca.gov/onlineservices/dataportal/
CSLB Find A Licensed Contractor, reached from the license-check page: https://www.cslb.ca.gov/OnlineServices/CheckLicenseII/CheckLicense.aspx