Solar Contractor Verification - Page 26

California requires all contractors performing solar work valued at $500+ to hold a valid CSLB C46 license. Of the 1,261 licensed solar contractors in the state, 96% currently hold active licenses and 5.7% have at least one federal compliance record.

Manual vetting takes 45+ minutes per contractor and routinely misses violations in databases most people don't know to check. SiteVetter runs CSLB status, SAM.gov debarment, DOL wage violations, OSHA safety citations, and EPA environmental records in seconds—creating a timestamped compliance artifact.

Verification Checklist for Solar Contractors

• Verify the contractor license is active and in good standing
• Request proof of insurance and bonding
• Get at least 3 written quotes before selecting a contractor
• Check federal databases: SAM.gov, OSHA, DOL, and EPA records
• Confirm bond: California requires $25,000+ contractor bond (SB 607)

Why Verification Matters for Solar Work

Under California's "Controlling Employer" doctrine, general contractors face liability for subcontractor safety violations. For solar work specifically, 5.7% of licensed contractors have federal records that a standard CSLB license check wouldn't reveal. SiteVetter's 5-database check catches what a single-source verification misses.