Our standards · Updated October 17, 2026

How we vet providers

We're a referral service, so the most important thing we do is decide who we send homeowners to. Here's exactly what we check, and what we don't. We'd rather be precise than impressive.

What we require

• An active California contractor license from the Contractors State License Board (CSLB), in a classification that fits the work, wherever California requires a license for that work
• Current general liability insurance, shown with a certificate of insurance
• Workers' compensation coverage on file with CSLB if the business has employees (or a valid exemption that matches how the business actually operates)
• Agreement to our homeowner standards: prompt response, clear written estimates, no high-pressure sales, and honesty about what is and isn't needed

What we check

• License status on CSLB's website. We look up each provider with the CSLB license check to confirm the license is active, the classification fits, the business name matches, and to review the bond, workers' comp status and any public disciplinary actions CSLB displays.
• Insurance. We review the certificate of insurance and note its expiration date.
• Periodic rechecks. Licenses and insurance can lapse, so we recheck them periodically and when we hear about a problem.
• Homeowner feedback. If a homeowner tells us about a problem with a provider, we follow up, and we stop sending requests to providers who don't meet our standards.

What we don't do

• We don't perform the work, inspect the work, or guarantee a provider's work, pricing or schedule.
• We don't run criminal background checks.
• We don't publish reviews or ratings for providers, and we never write reviews ourselves.

What you should still do

Our screening is a starting point, not a substitute for your own judgment. Before you hire anyone:

1. Look up the license yourself on CSLB's website and make sure the name on your contract matches.
2. Ask for a certificate of insurance and call the insurer to confirm it.
3. Get a written estimate and scope of work, and read any contract before you sign it.
4. Be wary of pressure to sign immediately, large cash deposits, or offers to cover your insurance deductible.
5. Read CSLB's consumer guidance in its Hire a Licensed Contractor section.

Questions or concerns

If you have a concern about a provider we referred you to, call or text us at (628) 336-1777. We take reports seriously.

This guide is general information, not legal, insurance or medical advice. Sources are linked in the text. North Bay Pros is a referral service and doesn't perform the work.