B General Building Licenses in Oakland: Bond, Workers' Comp & Compliance

B compliance in Oakland — CSLB data

Oakland: 825 active B licenses per CSLB (September 2026). Workers' comp on file — 41%. Exempt — 57%.

43 of them are suspended (8 workers' comp / 35 bond) — a suspended license cannot legally contract.

County-wide, Alameda County has 3,532 B licenses, with 35 workers' comp and 137 bond suspensions.

39% of Oakland's B licenses are 20+ years old, 19% are newer than three years (median 16.0 years). 58 were issued in the last 12 months.

5% are LLCs, which carry extra CSLB insurance and bond rules (below).

What CSLB requires for a B license

• License bond: $25,000 on file with CSLB.
• Workers' comp: required with employees; mandatory for all active licenses from January 1, 2028 (SB 1455).
• LLC licenses: $1M+ liability insurance and a $100,000 employee/worker bond.

Get a quote

Asena Capital Insurance Services compares multiple markets for Oakland contractors and requests additional insured endorsements for you when a contract calls for them. Call (858) 925-9555 or request a quote — only your name, phone and email are required. CA License #6008596.

Frequently asked questions

How many B licenses in Oakland are suspended?

As of September 2026, 8 for workers' comp and 35 for bond issues, out of 825 active B licenses based in Oakland.

How many new B licenses were issued in Oakland last year?

58 in the 12 months to September 2026. Each needed a $25,000 bond on file before CSLB issued the license.

Do general contractors need workers' comp with no employees?

Today a B license with no employees can file an exemption. Beginning January 1, 2028 (SB 1455), CSLB will require workers' comp for all active licenses, except joint ventures.

Related pages

• Insurance For General Contractors California
• Contractor Insurance Oakland
• General Contractor Insurance Oakland