Correction: This page previously presented D-49 as the current new-application route and used the old $500 threshold. It also repeated an incorrect 2026 deadline for all classifications to carry workers' compensation. Those statements have been corrected.
CSLB's classification bulletin says that applications received after December 31, 2023 for the former C-61/D-49 category are processed as C-49 applications. C-49 applicants must take a trade examination. Existing D-49 holders may retain their classification; do not assume the old limited-specialty application or examination rules apply to a new applicant.
Check the license record and the classification appropriate to the scope. If the work involves landscaping, utility lines or another specialty, ask CSLB and the responsible qualified professionals about the boundary. A contractor license does not replace safety training or utility authorization.
CSLB's current application guidance describes an exemption only when the combined project cost is less than $1,000, no permit is required and no employee labor is used. A larger project cannot be divided into smaller contracts to meet that limit. Advertising restrictions also apply. For a particular job, confirm applicable permit, licensing and local requirements before bidding.
CSLB's workers' compensation guidance specifically lists C-61/D-49 among classifications requiring insurance or valid self-insurance certification even without employees. Contractors with employees have separate legal coverage obligations. Ask CSLB about the filing required for a C-49 license or any combination of classifications rather than assuming an old D-49 record answers the question.
The no-employee exemption did not end for all classifications in January 2026. Current section 7125 retains an exemption for eligible contractors, and the broader change was postponed to January 1, 2028. Recheck the rule when circumstances or the law change.
| Record | Review question |
|---|---|
| Contractor license bond | Does the principal match the licensed entity and required bond record? |
| Workers' compensation | Do the actual employees, duties and required filing match the submission? |
| General liability | Are removals, cranes, utility exposure and subcontracted work described accurately? |
| Auto and equipment | Are chip trucks, lifts, rented equipment and hauling operations addressed? |
The contractor bond is a regulatory obligation, not protection against every injury or property-damage claim. CSLB publishes the current bond requirements. Contractual insurance limits vary by customer and project. Compare those requests with the policy's actual exclusions, including utility-related restrictions.
Provide the license record, ownership information, payroll and duties, removal versus pruning mix, vehicles, equipment and subcontracting arrangements. Explain planned changes before accepting a job outside the declared operations. Ask for pricing based on those facts; a generic annual estimate does not confirm availability or coverage.
Bring your current classification record and actual work description to a bond and insurance review. Confirm coverage and the license status before relying on them.
Request a quoteGeneral information, not legal or coverage advice. Confirm current requirements with CSLB and qualified advisers. Tree Trimming Insurance is operated by Thrive Risk Management Insurance Solutions, Inc., CA License #6012320.