Free check: does this tree job need a licensed contractor?
Based on California's contractor license law (sources below). Nothing you enter is saved or sent.
The 5-minute background check before you hire
- Get the license number and look it up. Ask for it in writing, then search it at cslb.ca.gov. Check three things: the status says active, the business name matches the one on your quote, and the classification fits. Tree work is the C-49 Tree and Palm class (contractors licensed before 2024 may hold the older D-49 Tree Service class, which CSLB treats as the same work). If they hold a different class, ask what it covers.
- Look at workers' comp on the same CSLB page. It shows whether the business has workers' compensation on file or claims an exemption, which means no employees. A company that shows up with a crew but claims an exemption is a red flag. Tree work is dangerous.
- Ask for a certificate of liability insurance. A dropped limb can damage a roof, fence, pool, or car. Call the insurer on the certificate if anything looks off.
- Ask whether an ISA Certified Arborist is on the team for pruning or health questions. It isn't required by law, but it shows training. You can verify a credential on the ISA website.
- Get a written contract that lists every tree, the work on each, stump grinding (yes or no), cleanup and haul-away, and the price.
Red flags
- A big deposit. For most California home improvement contracts the down payment can't be more than $1,000 or 10% of the price, whichever is less (CSLB).
- Door-knockers after a storm offering a cash discount to start today.
- No license number on a quote of $1,000 or more.
- "Topping" a healthy tree to make it smaller. Ask an arborist first.
- Work near power lines by anyone other than a crew qualified for it. See the power line section in our tree cost guide.
How we vet the companies we send requests to
Before we share any request, we check the company's license on CSLB (active status and a tree classification), ask for a current liability insurance certificate, and look at public reviews. We stop sending requests to anyone who doesn't show up or isn't straight with a homeowner. We're a free quote-matching service, not a tree company: we never do the work.
Town guides
Sources (checked October 15, 2026)
- CSLB: minor work license exemption rises from $500 to $1,000 (AB 2622, effective Jan 1, 2025)
- CSLB: C-49 Tree and Palm Contractor classification
- CSLB: new C-49 class replaces D-49 for new applicants (Jan 1, 2024)
- CSLB: home improvement contracts and down payments
- ISA: verify an arborist credential
Questions
Does a tree service need a license in California?
Yes for most jobs. Since January 1, 2025, only jobs under $1,000 that need no building permit and are done by someone with no employees are exempt. Tree work is the CSLB C-49 Tree and Palm class, or the older D-49 Tree Service class.
How do I check a tree company's license?
Ask for the license number and search it at cslb.ca.gov. Confirm the status is active, the business name matches your quote, and the classification covers tree work. The same page shows workers' compensation status.
Is an ISA Certified Arborist the same as a license?
No. ISA certification is a professional credential that shows training in tree care. A CSLB license is the legal permission to contract for the work. Good companies often have both.
How much deposit can a tree company ask for?
For most California home improvement contracts, no more than $1,000 or 10% of the price, whichever is less, per CSLB.