California Contractor Insurance

C-36 Plumbing Licenses in San Diego: 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 San Diego — CSLB data

San Diego: 488 active C-36 licenses per CSLB (September 2026). Workers' comp on file — 45%. Exempt — 51%.

Right now 3 are suspended for workers' comp and 18 for a bond problem.

San Diego County totals: 1,639 C-36 licenses; 15 suspended for workers' comp, 56 for bonds.

Experience mix: median 10.1 years licensed, 25% new (<3 yrs), 30% veterans (20+ yrs). 48 were issued in the last 12 months.

6% 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 San Diego 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 San Diego are suspended?

As of September 2026, 3 for workers' comp and 18 for bond issues, out of 488 active C-36 licenses based in San Diego.

How many new C-36 licenses were issued in San Diego last year?

48 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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