California Contractor Insurance

C-36 Plumbing Licenses in Los Angeles: Bond, Workers' Comp & Compliance

Asena Capital Insurance Services — California-licensed insurance brokerage serving contractors statewide. Phone: (858) 925-9555. Email: info@asenainsurance.com.

C-36 compliance in Los Angeles — CSLB data

Of the 651 C-36 contractors licensed in Los Angeles, 40% carry workers' comp and 57% claim the no-employee exemption (CSLB, September 2026).

Right now 10 are suspended for workers' comp and 25 for a bond problem.

Los Angeles County totals: 4,611 C-36 licenses; 37 suspended for workers' comp, 175 for bonds.

Median time licensed: 15.0 years. 19% are under three years old; 38% have 20+ years. 43 were issued in the last 12 months.

2% are LLCs, which carry extra CSLB insurance and bond rules (below).

What CSLB requires for a C-36 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 Los Angeles 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 C-36 licenses in Los Angeles are suspended?

As of September 2026, 10 for workers' comp and 25 for bond issues, out of 651 active C-36 licenses based in Los Angeles.

How many new C-36 licenses were issued in Los Angeles last year?

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

Do C-36 plumbers need workers' comp?

Yes if you have employees. With no employees you can currently file an exemption; beginning January 1, 2028, CSLB will require workers' comp for all active licenses under SB 1455, except joint ventures.

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