How many tree service contractors are licensed in California?

California has 3,060 contractors with a D49 (Tree Service) license from the Contractors State License Board. 2,805 (92%) hold active licenses. SiteVetter checks each against SAM.gov, OSHA, DOL, and EPA databases.

What does a D49 license cover in California?

A California D49 license covers tree service contractors for trimming, removal, and arborist services. Any contractor performing tree service work valued at $500 or more must hold this license. The CSLB issues and regulates all contractor licenses in the state.

What percentage of tree service contractors have federal violations?

1.1% of California tree service contractors (35 out of 3,060) have at least one record in federal databases. These include SAM.gov debarments, DOL wage violations, OSHA safety citations, and EPA environmental violations.

Verify Tree Service Contractors (D49) - Page 21 | CSLB + Federal Check

How to Verify a Tree Service Contractor (D49) in California

California requires all contractors performing tree service work valued at $500+ to hold a valid CSLB D49 license. Of the 3,060 licensed tree service contractors in the state, 92% currently hold active licenses and 1.1% 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 Tree Service 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 Tree Service Work

Under California's "Controlling Employer" doctrine, general contractors face liability for subcontractor safety violations. For tree service work specifically, 1.1% 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.

Tree Service Contractor Verification - Page 21

About D49 License

Tree Service Contractors

How to Verify a Tree Service Contractor (D49) in California

Verification Checklist for Tree Service Contractors

Why Verification Matters for Tree Service Work