What changed
A new state law, SB 517, added a checkbox to the home improvement contract that California already requires for most jobs over $500. The box asks whether a subcontractor will do part of the work. It is a plain yes or no.
An earlier version of the bill would have made contractors name any subcontractor doing more than half the job up front. That part was dropped. What passed is the checkbox, plus your right to get the subcontractor details when you ask.
Why it matters for a kitchen, bathroom or roof
Most remodels use subcontractors somewhere. On a kitchen it is often the countertop fabricator, the electrician or the plumber. On a bathroom it can be the tile setter or the glass company. On a roof, some companies sell the job and a separate crew installs it.
That is normal and often good. A specialist sub can do better work than a generalist. The problem is not knowing. If the person who measured your kitchen is not the company that installs it, you want to know before you sign, not when a stranger shows up with a tile saw.
Four questions to ask before you sign
- Is the subcontractor box checked yes or no? If it says no, ask who exactly will be on site.
- If yes, who are they? Ask for each one’s name, license number and trade. You are entitled to it.
- Are they licensed for that trade? Look up every license number on the CSLB license search at cslb.ca.gov. Check that it is active and that the classification fits the work, for example C-10 for electrical or C-36 for plumbing.
- Who do I call when something goes wrong? The answer should be the contractor who signed your contract. The law keeps them responsible for completing the job as written.
Know the scope before anyone comes out
The checkbox tells you who will do the work. It does not tell you whether the price is fair for that work. Before the first sales visit, price your project on GetProEstimate: kitchen remodel costs in San Diego, bathroom remodel costs or roof replacement costs. Then compare every bid to the same scope. We set up a visit with one licensed local contractor, who quotes to the same scope you saw.