MarinCountyGuide

Top 10 Best General Contractors in Marin County, California (Updated 2026)

This list shows the best general contractors near you in Marin County, California, with the address, phone number and website for each.

By town

Show 80 more

General contractors in California are licensed by the Contractors State License Board (CSLB). Anyone who contracts for work valued at $1,000 or more, work that needs a building permit, or work done with employees must hold a CSLB license, so look up the license number before you sign. Census Bureau figures show about three in four housing units in Marin County were built before 1980, and remodeling an existing house is the work the B and B-2 license classes describe.

When a contractor needs a California license

Anyone who contracts for work valued at $1,000 or more in combined labor and materials must hold a current license from the Contractors State License Board. The same applies at any price if the project requires a building permit or the person uses employees or other workers. CSLB explains the rule on its page about what kind of contractor you need.

Below $1,000, an unlicensed person who advertises must say in the ad that they are not licensed. Small repair jobs of that kind are covered on the handyman page.

California contractor license classes

CSLB licenses contractors by classification, and the class decides which jobs a contractor may take. The specialty trades have their own pages in the home services section.

Class Name What it covers
A General Engineering Fixed works that require specialized engineering knowledge and skill, such as roads, bridges and sewers
B General Building Structures that require at least two unrelated building trades or crafts
B-2 Residential Remodeling Improvements to an existing residential wood frame structure, where one contract requires at least three unrelated trades
C Specialty A single trade, such as C-39 Roofing or C-20 Warm-Air Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning

A B General Building contractor may take a framing or carpentry contract on its own. For other trades, the contract must require at least two unrelated trades, and framing and carpentry do not count toward the two. Otherwise the B contractor must hold the specialty license or subcontract to a licensed specialty contractor.

A B contractor may not contract for C-16 Fire Protection or C-57 Well Drilling work without holding that license or subcontracting it. A roofing job sold as a standalone contract must go to a C-39 contractor, which is why the directory lists roofers separately. A B-2 contractor may not make structural changes to load bearing parts of a building. The full descriptions are on CSLB's license classifications page.

The Census Bureau's American Community Survey, table B25034, shows about three in four housing units in Marin County were built before 1980. The directory also lists architects in Marin County.

How to check a general contractor's license

Contractors must put their license number on business cards, bids, contracts and all advertising. CSLB points out that a printed number does not prove the license is valid.

  1. Ask to see the contractor's pocket license and a photo ID.
  2. Enter the number in CSLB's license check, or search by business name or the contractor's name.
  3. Read the record for the license status, the address of record, insurance information and complaint disclosure.

Every licensed contractor must carry a $25,000 contractor license bond. CSLB warns that the bond is often not enough for a project worth more than the bond. A contractor with employees must carry workers' compensation insurance. Commercial general liability insurance is not required, but the written contract must give you information about both.

Home improvement contracts and down payments

California requires a written contract for every home improvement project over $500 in combined labor and materials. CSLB's page on contracts and binding agreements says the contract should state the work, the price, the payment dates, who gets the building permits and the finish date.

Rule What CSLB says
Down payment No more than 10 percent of the contract price or $1,000, whichever is less
Later payments Cannot exceed the value of the work performed
Changes A written change order, signed by both sides before the change
Cancellation Three days after signing, in writing. Five days for people 65 and older

The one exception to the down payment limit is a contractor with a Blanket Performance and Payment Bond on file with CSLB, which the license check shows. The three-day right does not cover a contract negotiated at the contractor's place of business.

Building permits in Marin come from the city or town where the property is, or from the County of Marin for unincorporated areas. Local offices are listed on the Marin County government and services page.

Mechanics liens and preliminary notices

A mechanics lien is a hold against your property, recorded with the county recorder by an unpaid contractor, subcontractor, laborer or material supplier. CSLB warns that the owner is legally responsible for payment, even after paying the direct contractor.

Subcontractors and suppliers must send a preliminary notice to keep the right to file a lien. CSLB's guide on how to prevent a mechanics lien lists these steps.

  1. Save each preliminary notice and note the date it arrived.
  2. Before each payment, get a signed conditional release from possible lien claimants. After you pay, get an unconditional release.
  3. File a Notice of Completion with the county recorder within 15 days of completion.

The Notice of Completion cuts the time to record a lien from 90 days to 60 for the contractor, and from 90 days to 30 for subcontractors and suppliers.

Filing a complaint against a contractor

CSLB takes construction complaints against licensed and unlicensed contractors for up to four years from the date of the act. The form can be filed online or by mail.

CSLB states that an investigation does not guarantee restitution, and that people whose main goal is money should consider the courts. Against an unlicensed person CSLB can cite and fine, but it cannot require repairs.

Questions about general contractors in Marin County

Who licenses general contractors in Marin County?

The California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) licenses every contractor in the state, including those in Marin County. There is no separate county contractor license. A general contractor who builds or remodels houses holds a class B General Building license, and a remodeling contractor may hold a class B-2 Residential Remodeling license instead.

Does a contractor need a license for a small job in California?

A license is required when the work is valued at $1,000 or more in combined labor and materials. It is also required at any price when the project needs a building permit or the person uses employees or other workers. Unlicensed people who advertise must say in the ad that they are not licensed.

How do I check a California contractor's license?

Use the license check on the Contractors State License Board website, or call (800) 321-CSLB (2752). You can search by license number, business name or the contractor's name. The record shows the license status, the address of record, insurance information and complaint disclosure. Contractors must print their license number on ads, bids and contracts.

How much can a contractor ask for as a down payment in California?

On a home improvement job the down payment cannot be more than $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less. CSLB says there are no exceptions for special-order materials. The only exception is a contractor with a Blanket Performance and Payment Bond on file with CSLB, which the license check shows.

How do I file a complaint against a contractor in California?

File a complaint form with the Contractors State License Board online or by mail. CSLB handles complaints against licensed and unlicensed contractors for up to four years from the date of the act. CSLB states that an investigation does not guarantee you will receive restitution, and it points people who mainly want money back toward the courts.

What is a preliminary notice on a construction job?

It is a notice from a subcontractor or supplier saying they have provided, or will provide, goods or services to improve your property and could file a lien if they are not paid. Subcontractors and suppliers who do not send it lose the right to file a mechanics lien. Laborers and the direct contractor do not have to send one.

How this list is put together

Listings come from public business profiles and from businesses that add themselves. We leave out profiles that show signs of being lead-generation fronts and not local firms, and businesses that have closed. Listings marked "Claimed" are run by the business itself, which checked its own details, and they appear first. If your business is missing, add it here.

More home services categories