Nearly 100 San Diego County homeowners claim a Chula Vista-based contractor took out roughly $15 million in construction loans in their names for ADU projects that, in most cases, never even started. The company, Multitaskr, was licensed to work in California. It abruptly shut its doors in late 2024, its office closed, phones disconnected, homeowners left holding loans for work that was never done.
That case is a real, reported example, not a hypothetical scare story, and it's a useful reminder that a license alone doesn't guarantee a project goes well. It does, however, give you a genuine paper trail to check before you sign anything, and knowing how to actually use it is worth ten minutes of your time on any project, especially one as large as an ADU build.
How to Use the CSLB License Lookup Tool
The Contractors State License Board runs a free public lookup tool at cslb.ca.gov. Here's how to actually read what it tells you.
Step 1: Search by License Number or Name
You can search by the contractor's license number, business name, or individual name. If you're searching by name and it includes a first and last name, try the last name first (for example, search "Smith John Construction" as "Smith John Con"). If you have the license number, it can be up to 8 digits.
Step 2: Check the Status Field First
This is the single most important field. If it says anything other than "Active," Inactive, Suspended, Revoked, or Cancelled, treat that as a stop sign. An inactive or suspended license means the contractor isn't currently authorized to take on new work, regardless of what they tell you in person.
Step 3: Confirm the Bond
Every active California contractor license carries a contractor's bond with a surety company. The lookup tool shows whether a current bond is on file. This bond is also your recovery path if something goes wrong, more on that below.
Step 4: Check Workers' Compensation Status
If the field shows "Exempt," the contractor is claiming they have no employees. That's normal for a true sole proprietor, but if a full crew shows up to your property and the license shows exempt status, that's worth asking about directly.
Step 5: Confirm the License Classification Matches Your Project
An ADU build typically calls for a general contractor's Class B license, since it spans multiple trades. Scroll down on the lookup page to also check for any complaints, legal actions, or disciplinary history on file.
Red Flags Worth Knowing, Especially for ADU Projects
A license check is the baseline, not the whole picture. Several practical warning signs are worth watching for on any project, and they showed up repeatedly in the Multitaskr case:
- Door-to-door or unsolicited outreach: a licensed contractor generally doesn't need to cold-solicit jobs by showing up at your property uninvited
- Pressure to sign the same day: a legitimate contractor will let you take a bid home, compare it against others, and think it over
- A demand for a large upfront deposit: California law limits how much a contractor can collect as a down payment on a home improvement or ADU project, commonly cited as $1,000 or 10% of the contract price, whichever is less. A contractor asking for significantly more than that upfront is worth a closer look, and it's worth confirming the current requirement directly with CSLB rather than taking any single source's word for the exact figure
- Reluctance to share license or insurance information: any contractor confident in their standing will provide this without hesitation
- No portfolio or verifiable references: a contractor who's done real work is generally proud to show it. Hesitation here is worth noting
- Going quiet after a deposit is paid: in cases like Multitaskr, a common pattern was cashing deposits quickly, promising work would start "soon," then going dark, ignoring calls, texts, and emails once questions started
What to Do If Something Looks Wrong
If you already have a signed contract or have already paid a deposit and something feels off, a few concrete steps are worth knowing:
- File a CSLB complaint: it's free, can be done online, by mail, or by phone, and generally needs to be filed within 4 years of the incident or when you discovered the problem
- Consider a bond claim: every licensed contractor carries a bond, and CSLB arbitration for claims up to $15,000 is free and typically faster than going through court
- Document everything: contracts, payment records, texts, and photos of any completed (or incomplete) work all matter if you need to file a complaint or pursue recovery
CSLB investigates complaints and has the authority to suspend or revoke a license, issue citations, or refer a case for criminal prosecution when warranted.
A License Check Is a Starting Point, Not a Guarantee
Verifying a license and checking for complaints reduces risk, but it doesn't eliminate it entirely, since even licensed contractors can run into financial trouble or take on more work than they can deliver. That's part of why getting more than one bid, checking references from actual recent clients, and being cautious of a deposit that seems large for the work involved all matter alongside the license check itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check if a contractor is licensed in California?
Use the free lookup tool at cslb.ca.gov, searching by license number, business name, or individual name. Check that the status shows "Active," and review the bond, workers' compensation status, and any complaints or disciplinary history on file.
What does it mean if a contractor's CSLB status isn't "Active"?
Any status other than Active, including Inactive, Suspended, Revoked, or Cancelled, means the contractor isn't currently authorized to take on new licensed work. Treat this as a reason to stop and ask questions before proceeding, regardless of what you're told verbally.
Is it normal for a contractor to ask for a large deposit upfront?
No. California law limits contractor down payments on home improvement and ADU projects, commonly cited as $1,000 or 10% of the contract price, whichever is less. It's worth confirming the current exact requirement directly with CSLB, but a demand well above that range is a legitimate reason for caution.
What happened in the Multitaskr case?
Multitaskr, a Chula Vista-based, CSLB-licensed contractor, was reported to have taken out roughly $15 million in construction loans under the names of nearly 100 San Diego County homeowners for ADU projects, most of which never started. The company closed abruptly in late 2024. It's a real, reported case, useful context for why license checks and cautious deposit practices matter even with a licensed contractor.
What are common red flags beyond checking the license?
Unsolicited door-to-door outreach, pressure to sign the same day, a deposit request well above the typical legal cap, reluctance to share license or insurance details, no verifiable portfolio or references, and going unresponsive after a deposit is paid are all worth treating as warning signs.
What can I do if I think a contractor has scammed me?
File a free CSLB complaint (online, by mail, or by phone, generally within 4 years of the incident), and consider a bond claim, since every licensed contractor carries a bond that can be claimed against. CSLB arbitration for claims up to $15,000 is free and generally faster than court.
Does a licensed contractor guarantee my project won't go wrong?
No. Licensing reduces risk and gives you a real paper trail and recovery options if something goes wrong, but it doesn't guarantee a project's success. Getting multiple bids, checking real references, and being cautious of an unusually large deposit request all matter alongside a license check.
How does Wrkbid help with vetting a contractor?
Wrkbid lets you collect and compare bids from multiple contractors for the same project, rather than relying on a single in-person pitch, which naturally reduces pressure-to-sign-today tactics. Running your own CSLB check on any contractor before signing is still worth doing regardless of how you found them.