C-5 framing licenses in California: who is insured today
CSLB lists 988 active C-5 licenses (CSLB license file, September 2026). 51% show a workers' comp policy on file, and 45% (449) have filed a workers' comp exemption, which means no employees. 48% are sole owners. The most licenses are in Los Angeles (161), San Diego (98), Riverside (85).
If your license is one of the exempt ones, the rule changes on January 1, 2028: SB 216, as delayed by SB 1455, requires every active California contractor license to carry workers' comp, except joint ventures with no employees. A one-person shop will need a policy to keep the license active, even with no employees. Ask us early so the policy is in place before CSLB checks it.
| CSLB workers' comp status | Licenses | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Workers' comp policy on file | 504 | 51% |
| Exempt (no employees) | 449 | 45% |
| Other (leasing firm, self-insured, out of state, no current W/C) | 35 | 4% |
Note: Source: CSLB master license file, September 2026, licenses with CLEAR status. A license can hold more than one classification.
What CSLB requires
- Every active license needs the $25,000 CSLB contractor license bond. LLC licenses also need a $100,000 employee/worker bond and $1M-$5M of liability insurance.
- Workers' comp: required as soon as you have an employee, and for every active license from January 1, 2028 (SB 216, as delayed by SB 1455), except joint ventures with no employees.
- General liability is not required by CSLB (except for LLCs), but general contractors and builders require it.
Workers' comp class codes for carpentry and framing (WCIRB, effective 9/1/2026)
| Code | Description | Wage threshold | Rate per $100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5403 | Carpentry, hourly wage under threshold | Under $46/hr | $12.075 |
| 5432 | Carpentry, hourly wage at or above threshold | $46/hr or more | $5.321 |
| 5632 / 5633 | Light-gauge steel framing (low / high wage) | $46/hr | $12.075 / $5.321 |
Note: Advisory pure premium rates per $100 of payroll effective 9/1/2026, before each carrier's own rating. The lower code applies when the employee's regular hourly wage is under the threshold, the higher-wage code at or above it. Your actual premium depends on the carrier, payroll, class and experience.
What underwriters look at for framing and rough carpentry
- Ground-up residential, tract, condo and townhome framing: many markets decline it, and some need a specialty (surplus-lines) market
- Building height: work above three stories narrows the market further
- Falls from roofs, floors and open edges, and your fall-protection program
- Framing vs. finish carpentry: finish and trim work is an easier liability class
- Subcontractors, labor brokers and 1099 crews: certificates and proof of workers' comp
- Years in business and 3-5 years of loss history
Why framing is harder to place than other trades
Several liability markets exclude framers outright, and some workers' comp markets have no framing class code, so a quote request to the wrong carrier ends in a decline. We route framing, rough carpentry and finish carpentry to the markets that actually write each one.
Coverage we quote for this trade
- General liability (written through several admitted and surplus-lines markets)
- Workers' compensation (we check which markets take your class code and payroll)
- Commercial auto and hired/non-owned auto
- CSLB license bond and contract bonds
- Tools and equipment (inland marine)
- Umbrella/excess liability
What to have ready for a quote
- Annual revenue and payroll (employees vs. subcontractors)
- Framing vs. finish carpentry split
- Residential/commercial, tract or condo work
- Tallest building you frame
- Current policy and 3-5 years of losses
Get a quote
Call (858) 925-9555 or request a review online — only your name, phone and email are required; we collect project details by phone. Asena Capital Insurance Services, CA License #6008596.
Frequently asked questions
What workers' comp code do framers and carpenters use in California?
WCIRB class 5403 when the hourly wage is under $46 and 5432 at $46 or more. The 9/1/2026 advisory pure premium rates are $12.075 and $5.321 per $100 of payroll.
Why is carpentry workers' comp expensive?
Falls and strains drive claims in framing, so the lower-wage code 5403 carries one of the higher construction rates. The higher-wage code 5432 is less than half as much.
Is framing the same license as carpentry?
C-5 is the CSLB Framing and Rough Carpentry classification. Finish carpentry, cabinets and millwork fall under C-6, and general carpentry work can also be done under a B General Building license.
Do framing contractors need workers' comp with no employees?
Until 2028 you need it as soon as you have an employee. From January 1, 2028, every active license needs workers' comp, except joint ventures with no employees.