Updated
Does California require a septic license?
Yes. California requires septic installers to hold a state credential issued by the Contractors State License Board (CSLB). California has no license named for septic work; septic systems fall under the C-42 Sanitation System classification. Counties issue system permits.
Who licenses septic contractors in California?
Contractors State License Board (CSLB).
California's septic credentials:
- C-42 Sanitation System contractor license
How to check a septic contractor's license in California
- Open the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) lookup.
- Search by the contractor's name, the license holder's name or the license number.
- Check the license type covers your job (installation, pumping or inspection) and that the status is active.
- If the contractor's business name doesn't come up, ask which person on staff holds the license: several states license individuals, not companies.
Septic permits in California
A contractor license says who may do septic work; a permit authorizes a specific system. In California, permits for new systems, replacements and most repairs come from the local health department or the state agency office that covers the property. Ask your installer to pull the permit and include the fee in the quote.
Licensed septic companies in California
The Septic Guide lists 1,006 septic companies and licensed professionals in California, 938 matched to the state's published list. Source list: CSLB license data, classification C-42. This is what we could match as of October 2026, not an official count.
- Los Angeles County (175)
- Riverside County (93)
- San Bernardino County (79)
- Alameda County (75)
- San Diego County (50)
- Contra Costa County (41)
- Santa Clara County (39)
- Orange County (34)
All septic companies in California →
California septic licensing: common questions
Do you need a license to install septic systems in California?
Yes. California requires septic installers to hold a state credential issued by the Contractors State License Board (CSLB). California has no license named for septic work; septic systems fall under the C-42 Sanitation System classification. Counties issue system permits.
Who issues septic licenses in California?
The Contractors State License Board (CSLB) issues California's septic credentials: C-42 Sanitation System contractor license.
How do I check a septic contractor's license in California?
Open the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) lookup. Search by the contractor's name, the license holder's name or the license number. Check the license type covers your job (installation, pumping or inspection) and that the status is active. If the contractor's business name doesn't come up, ask which person on staff holds the license: several states license individuals, not companies.
How many licensed septic contractors are in California?
The Septic Guide lists 1,006 septic companies and licensed septic professionals in California, 938 of them matched to the California Contractors State License Board list (data as of October 2026). This counts what we could match; it is not an official total.
Do you need a permit for a septic system in California?
New septic systems, replacements and most repairs need a permit before work starts. The permit comes from the local health department or the state agency office that covers your property, and the permit, not the contractor license, is what authorizes a specific job.
Sources: Contractors State License Board (CSLB); state license lists loaded into The Septic Guide. See how we verify licenses.