Frequently asked questions
What license does a California pool builder need?
The Contractors State License Board's C-53 Swimming Pool license covers building and remodeling pools, including plastering. A B General Building contractor may take on a pool as part of a larger project. Every business in this directory holds a C-53 license, checked against CSLB records.
Does a new or remodeled pool need a permit and safety features?
Yes, a building permit, and in California a permit to build or remodel a pool or spa at a single-family home requires at least two of the seven drowning-prevention safety features listed in Health and Safety Code section 115922. Ask the builder which two are in the price.
How much can a pool builder ask for as a down payment?
On a California home improvement contract, no more than $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less. Progress payments should not run ahead of the work actually done.
How are builders listed here?
Every contractor holding a C-53 license in the CSLB public files is listed, grouped by the city on its CSLB mailing address and sorted alphabetically. Nothing is rated or ranked, and every page shows the date of the data.
Do you charge builders to be listed?
No. No builder pays to appear, and the publisher receives nothing for any referral. The site is supported by Randy Beard's pre-contract review service for homeowners.
What does "suspended" mean on a listing?
CSLB has suspended the license, usually because a bond was cancelled, insurance lapsed or a judgment went unpaid. A suspended contractor may not contract for or perform work until CSLB reinstates the license. Check the license live on the day you sign.
What does "workers' comp exempt" mean?
The contractor has certified to CSLB that it has no employees. If a crew shows up to build your pool, ask whose employees they are and for proof of workers' compensation coverage.
Is the $25,000 contractor's bond enough protection?
Rarely. It is the legal minimum, and it is shared by everyone with a claim against that license. On a pool that costs ten times that, the contract is your real protection.
Why isn't a builder I know listed?
It may not hold a C-53 license, its license may be inactive or expired, or it may have been left off because it is involved in a matter Randy Beard is working on as an expert. The publisher's own license is not listed either.
How do I correct my listing?
Listings repeat CSLB records. Email rb@varx1.com with your license number and the page will be checked against CSLB and fixed. To change the record itself, contact CSLB.
Can someone review my pool bid before I sign?
Yes. Randy Beard, a licensed pool contractor and construction defect expert witness, reviews pool contracts and plans before you sign, at $350 an hour. Most reviews take one to two hours.