Ventura County Sting Operation Uncovers 12 Unlicensed Contractors

Sacramento, CA – The Contractors State License Board (CSLB), in partnership with the California Department of Insurance and Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, held an undercover sting operation in Fillmore targeting unlicensed contractors.

The two-day operation on October 23-24 resulted in 12 individuals receiving notices to appear in criminal court for allegedly contracting without a license. The individuals placed bids ranging from $800 for flooring work to $10,300 for a painting, all without a valid contractor’s license. California law mandates that any contractor advertising or contracting for work valued at $500 or more (including labor and materials) must be licensed. These individuals advertised their services without disclosing their unlicensed status.

Consequences for unlicensed contracting in California are severe, with penalties reaching up to $15,000 in administrative fines, misdemeanor charges, potential jail time of up to six months, and criminal fines as high as $5,000. Repeat offenders face escalated penalties, including a mandatory 90-day jail sentence and a fine of $5,000 or 20 percent of the contract value – whichever is greater.

 

The sting also revealed that two individuals requested excessive down payments before starting work. California law restricts contractors from asking for more than 10 percent of the project cost or $1,000, whichever is less. Demanding more is a misdemeanor, punishable by fines up to $5,000 and/or up to a year in county jail.

“CSLB is dedicated to protecting homeowners from the risks of unlicensed contractors,” said David Fogt, CSLB Registrar. “We encourage consumers to verify a contractor’s license before starting any construction project in California, as it’s a simple step to help safeguard their investment.”

 

CSLB will continue to work with law enforcement agencies across the state to address unlicensed contracting in its consumer protection efforts.