C-10 vs. C-7 Licenses: Who Can Do Electrical and AV Work

Quick answer

In California, line-voltage electrical work needs a CSLB C-10 electrical contractor, and the electricians a C-10 contractor employs must hold state certification from the Department of Industrial Relations. A C-7 low-voltage contractor covers communication and low-voltage systems of 91 volts or less, but not fire alarms. Any job of $1,000 or more, or any job that needs a permit, requires a licensed contractor (CSLB, 2025).

Who to call: Coachella Valley Remodeling connects you with our licensed C-10 electrical / C-7 low-voltage partner contractor, who visits and gives you a written price. Free to you. Tell us about your project or call (760) 766-2218.

Updated November 7, 2026 · Typical published ranges, not a quote.

Home technology projects blur trades. A media room needs new circuits, speaker wire, a network rack and a TV mount; a smart home touches light switches, Wi-Fi and cameras; a battery ties into the panel and an app. California's licensing rules sort that out by voltage and by job size, and getting it right protects you if something goes wrong.

The classifications at a glance

Classification	Covers	Examples
C-10 Electrical	Wires, fixtures, apparatus, raceways and solar PV that generate, transmit, transform or use electricity, in any form	Panel upgrades, new circuits and outlets, EV chargers, lighting circuits, generator transfer switches, battery interconnection
C-7 Low Voltage Systems	Communication and low-voltage systems, energy limited, 91 volts or less	Speaker and theater wiring, TV and satellite, network and data cabling, cameras, intercoms, low-voltage landscape lighting
B General Building	Multi-trade projects involving at least two unrelated trades, or framing	A media room remodel with framing, drywall, electrical and finishes

Definitions come from the Contractors State License Board: C-10 and C-7. CSLB's C-7 page states that low-voltage fire alarm systems are not included; fire alarm work has its own requirements.

Where the line falls in real projects

Home theater. Speaker wire, HDMI runs, the equipment rack and the network inside it are low-voltage. The dedicated circuits that feed the amplifiers and projector, recessed lighting and any new outlet behind the screen are line-voltage C-10 work. A contractor holding both C-10 and C-7, or a C-10 doing both, keeps it under one license.
Smart home. Smart switches and dimmers replace line-voltage devices in the wall, so they're electrical work when they're part of a contracted job. Hubs, sensors, cameras and Wi-Fi access points are low-voltage.
EV chargers, panels, generators and batteries. C-10, with a permit.
Outdoor AV. Low-voltage landscape lighting and speakers are C-7 territory; the outdoor GFCI outlet and the TV's power circuit are C-10.

Certified electricians, not just a licensed company

A C-10 license belongs to the business. The people doing the wiring matter too. California's Electrician Certification Program, run by the Department of Industrial Relations under Labor Code 108 and 108.2, requires people who perform electrical work as employees of a C-10 contractor to be certified, or registered as trainees working under a certified electrician. Ask who will be on site and whether they're certified.

The $1,000 rule and permits

Since January 1, 2025, California's minor-work exemption lets an unlicensed person take a job only when the total for labor and materials is under $1,000, no permit of any kind is needed, the person works with no employees, and any ad says they aren't licensed (CSLB on AB 2622). That rules out most electrical work, because new circuits, panels, chargers and service changes need a permit whatever they cost. Splitting a bigger job into small invoices to stay under the limit isn't allowed.

What usually falls under the exemption: mounting a TV on an existing wall, setting up a soundbar, hanging a smart doorbell on existing doorbell wiring, configuring apps. What doesn't: adding an outlet behind the TV, running a new circuit for a theater, or anything touching the panel.

For the general version of this rule, see handyman or licensed contractor?.

How to check a license

Ask for the license number. California requires contractors to show it on contracts, bids and all advertising (B&P 7030.5), so it should be easy to find.
Look it up at cslb.ca.gov or call 800-321-CSLB (2752).
Check that the license is active and the classification fits the work: C-10 for line-voltage, C-7 or C-10 for low-voltage.
Check workers' compensation. If the contractor has employees, CSLB shows the policy; an exemption means it says it has none, which doesn't match a crew of three.
Check the bond and any disciplinary actions.
Make sure the name on the contract matches the license.

Our full checklist is in how to check a contractor's license and insurance.

Contract basics that apply here too

Down payment. On a home improvement contract, California caps the down payment at 10% of the price or $1,000, whichever is less. Equipment-heavy AV jobs sometimes ask for more; under the home improvement rules, payments shouldn't run ahead of the work and materials delivered. See down payment rules.
Written contract. Scope, equipment list with model numbers, permit, price, schedule and change-order process.
Cancellation. You generally have three business days to cancel a home improvement contract signed at home, five if you're 65 or older.

When one project needs both

Most media rooms and whole-home systems mix voltages, so ask at the start how the license question is handled. There are three common setups:

One contractor holding both C-10 and C-7. The simplest: one contract, one permit holder, one company responsible.
A C-10 electrical contractor doing everything. C-10 covers electrical energy in any form, which many read as including low-voltage systems. Confirm the company actually does AV work well.
A C-7 AV company plus a separate electrician. Common and fine, as long as each contract says who does which part, and the electrician pulls the permit for line-voltage work.

Red flags specific to electrical and AV

A “low-voltage only” installer offering to add a 240 V circuit.
An electrician who says a panel or charger “doesn't need a permit.”
A license number that belongs to a different business name.
A proposal with no equipment list, or programming you won't own.
Pressure to sign for a battery or solar system the same day.

How we handle electrical, home theater and smart-home work

We connect you, free, with the right licensed contractor. We don't hold a contractor license ourselves; the contractor does. Electrical, home theater and smart-home projects go to one separate partner: a CSLB-licensed C-10 electrical / C-7 low-voltage partner contractor, distinct from the partner we refer remodeling and handyman work to. We haven't signed that electrical and AV partner yet; until its name, license number and classifications appear on our partner contractor page, we won't share your details with anyone for that work. When it's signed, we'll check its license and classifications at CSLB before any referral, and require certified electricians for line-voltage work, permits where the work needs them, and a written price first.

Start with electrical work, home theater or smart home and AV.

Common questions

What does a C-10 license cover?

CSLB defines a C-10 electrical contractor as one who places, installs or connects electrical wires, fixtures, appliances, raceways, conduits and solar photovoltaic cells that generate, transmit, transform or use electrical energy. Panels, new circuits, EV chargers, lighting circuits and generator transfer switches are C-10 work.

What does a C-7 low-voltage license cover?

A C-7 contractor installs and services communication and low-voltage systems that are energy limited and don't exceed 91 volts: sound systems, cable and satellite TV, closed-circuit video, telephone and data cabling, and low-voltage landscape lighting. Low-voltage fire alarm systems are specifically excluded.

Can a handyman mount my TV?

Mounting a TV on a wall is generally not electrical work. Under California's minor-work rule, an unlicensed person can do a job under $1,000 in labor and materials that needs no permit, with no employees. Adding or moving an outlet behind the TV is electrical work for a licensed contractor.

Do electricians need their own certification in California?

Yes. Under Labor Code 108 and 108.2, people who do electrical work as employees of a C-10 contractor must be certified by the Department of Industrial Relations, or registered as trainees working under a certified electrician.

How do I check a contractor's license?

Search the license number or business name at cslb.ca.gov, or call 800-321-CSLB (2752). Confirm the license is active, the classification fits the work (C-10, C-7 or a B general building license for multi-trade work), and that workers' compensation and bond information are current.

Are you a licensed electrician?

No. We don't hold a contractor license ourselves; the contractor does. We connect you, free, with our licensed C-10 electrical / C-7 low-voltage partner contractor, which is separate from our remodeling partner.

Last reviewed November 7, 2026. Prices and rules change; confirm details with your contractor and your city or county building department.