Handyman vs. Licensed Contractor: When to Hire Each in California

One of the most common questions we get is some version of: “Is this something you can do, or do I need a contractor?”

It’s a smart question — and the answer matters for both legal and practical reasons. In California, the rules about who can do what work changed again with AB 2622 in 2024. Here’s a plain-English breakdown.

The Two-Minute Summary

Hire a handyman for: small repairs, maintenance tasks, and projects under $1,000 in combined labor and materials that don’t require a permit.

Hire a licensed contractor for: projects that exceed $1,000, require a building permit, involve work inside electrical panels or on gas lines, structural repairs, or full trade work (HVAC, roofing, plumbing beyond minor fixtures).

What California Law Says (AB 2622, Effective Jan 1, 2025)

As of January 1, 2025, California’s unlicensed handyman exemption allows handyman services on projects where the combined total of labor and materials is $1,000 or less, AND:

• The project doesn’t require a building permit
• The handyman has no employees

This is a real threshold — it’s not per task, it’s per project. If your project total exceeds $1,000, the person doing the work needs a CSLB license.

Who Needs a Contractor’s License?

California’s Contractors State License Board (CSLB) licenses contractors in specific classifications — general building (B), electrical (C-10), plumbing (C-36), and dozens of specialty trades. A licensed contractor:

• Has passed a trade exam and law exam
• Carries workers’ comp and general liability insurance
• Is subject to CSLB discipline and consumer protection
• Can legally do projects exceeding $1,000
• Can pull building permits and have work inspected

Work That Requires a Licensed Contractor

Always hire a licensed contractor for:

Electrical

• New circuits or circuit upgrades
• Panel replacement or service upgrade
• Any work requiring an electrical permit

Plumbing

• Water heater installation or replacement
• Gas line work (always licensed)
• Main line repair or replacement
• Drain line rerouting inside walls

Structural

• Load-bearing wall modifications
• Foundation repair
• Deck rebuilds requiring a permit (most decks over 30" above grade)
• Earthquake retrofitting

General work over $1,000

• Full bathroom or kitchen remodels
• Roof replacement
• Addition or ADU construction
• Window or door replacement where structural header work is needed

Work That’s Fine for a Handyman

A legitimate handyman — operating within California’s $1,000 exemption — can handle:

• Drywall patching and texture repair
• Door adjustment and simple installation (pre-hung, existing opening)
• TV mounting
• Furniture assembly
• Fixture swaps at existing electrical boxes
• Minor plumbing (faucet cartridges, flappers, showerheads at existing connections)
• Fence and gate repair
• Deck board replacement (not structural rebuilds)
• Gutter cleaning
• Caulking and weatherstripping
• Honey-do list visits

What Happens If You Hire an Unlicensed Contractor?

If someone performs work over $1,000 without a CSLB license, they’re acting as an unlicensed contractor — which is illegal in California. The risk falls on you as the homeowner too: you may not be able to file an insurance claim, and in some cases the work could fail inspection and need to be redone.

Legitimate handyman services like Bay Bilt operate within the legal threshold and won’t take on work that requires a license.

The Honest Handyman Difference

Part of what separates a good handyman from a bad one is honesty about scope. A handyman who says yes to everything — replumbing a bathroom, opening an electrical panel, framing a new wall — is either overstepping their legal scope or lying about their license.

Bay Bilt tells you clearly when your project needs a licensed trade. We’d rather refer you to the right professional than do work we’re not legally or technically qualified to do.

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Questions about whether your project is in scope? Call us or fill out our contact form — we’ll give you a straight answer.