Guide
What to do if a contractor abandons your job
The contractor stopped showing up, the kitchen is half torn out, and the calls go to voicemail. Here's what to do this week, how California's complaint process works, and the options for getting money back.
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Quick answer
California's statute sets no fixed number of days, but abandoning a job without legal excuse is grounds for CSLB discipline under Business and Professions Code 7107. If work has stopped, the contractor won't commit to a return date in writing and your written notice goes unanswered, treat the job as abandoned and talk to an attorney before hiring a replacement. Complaints go to CSLB at cslb.ca.gov or 800-321-CSLB (2752).
Who to call: Coachella Valley Remodeling connects you with our licensed partner contractor, who visits and gives you a written price. Free to you. Get a free quote or call (760) 766-2218.
In the kitchen, cabinet and countertop complaints we read, 13% involved paying a lot up front and then watching the company stall, fold or walk off. They were the largest losses in the whole sample. A refacing contract worth $46,425, paid in full, before a former employee texted that the company had closed. About $70,000 paid, then a room sitting empty for four months. A Palm Springs owner who paid $26,010 of a $27,680 job, flew in three times, and found it unfinished each time.
If you're living in the middle of one of these, this guide is the order of operations. It's general information, not legal advice; for a large loss, a California construction attorney is worth the call.
First: is it abandoned, or just late?
Jobs stall for ordinary reasons: a back-ordered cabinet, a failed inspection, an HOA that hasn't answered. Abandonment looks different:
- no one has worked on the job for days or weeks with no explanation
- calls and messages go unanswered, or you get promises with no dates
- the contractor has been paid more than the work is worth and is asking for more before returning
- tools and materials have been removed from the site
California law treats abandoning a construction project without legal excuse as grounds for discipline against the license, under Business and Professions Code 7107. Failing in a material respect to finish a project for the contract price is a separate ground, under section 7113.
This week: protect yourself
1. Stop paying
Don't make another payment because of a promise to return. California law already bars a contractor from accepting more than the value of the work performed, apart from a down payment of no more than 10% or $1,000. If you've paid more than the work is worth, you're the one carrying the risk.
2. Document the job as it is
- Photograph and video every room, with dates. Include unfinished work, materials left behind and anything damaged.
- Gather the contract, every change order, invoices, receipts, cancelled checks (front and back) and card statements.
- Save texts, emails and voicemails. Write down dates of phone calls and what was said.
- Keep any preliminary notices you've received from subcontractors or suppliers.
- Look up the license at cslb.ca.gov and save a copy of the record, including the bond company and bond number.
3. Send written notice
Send a short, factual letter by email and by certified mail to the address on the license. State what the contract required, what's done, the date work stopped, what you've paid, and a firm, reasonable date by which work must resume. Ask for a written reply. Keep it calm; it may be read later by a mediator, an arbitrator or a judge.
4. Secure the house
Make the site safe: capped plumbing, covered electrical, nothing that can hurt anyone. If the house is a second home, arrange for someone local to check it, especially in summer. If something is actively dangerous, a licensed contractor can make it safe; document what they do.
5. Watch for liens
Unpaid subcontractors and suppliers can record a mechanics lien against your home, even if you paid the contractor. Look at the preliminary notices you've received; they tell you who has lien rights. A lien generally has to be recorded within 90 days after the work of improvement is completed, or sooner if a notice of completion or cessation is recorded, and a recorded lien that isn't followed by a lawsuit within 90 days is released by law. If you're dealing with a lien, this is the moment for an attorney.
The CSLB complaint process
The Contractors State License Board licenses and disciplines contractors, and handles complaints against both licensed and unlicensed contractors. Here's how it works, according to CSLB's consumer guide to construction complaints.
How to file. Online at cslb.ca.gov, by mail with the complaint form, or by calling 800-321-CSLB (2752) to request a form. Send copies, not originals, of the contract (every page, front and back), change orders, cancelled checks and photos. CSLB asks for printed documents, not CDs or flash drives.
Where it goes. Complaints about work in Riverside County, which includes the whole Coachella Valley, go to CSLB's Norwalk Intake and Mediation Center.
Deadline. CSLB generally has jurisdiction for up to four years from the date of the suspected illegal act or omission.
What happens next:
| Stage | What CSLB does |
|---|---|
| Intake | Reviews the complaint, mails you a confirmation and sends the contractor a notice encouraging them to resolve it |
| Mediation | If the dispute isn't resolved, CSLB may mediate by phone |
| Arbitration | A mandatory program for disputes with alleged damages of $25,000 or less, and a voluntary program for $25,000 to $50,000, if the case meets CSLB's criteria |
| Investigation | An investigator gathers evidence and interviews people involved |
| Discipline | Citations with civil penalties of up to $30,000 and orders to make or pay for repairs, or suspension or revocation of the license |
CSLB gives highest priority to complaints involving a threat to health and safety, and to elder abuse. If you're a senior, or filing for a parent, say so.
Getting your money back
CSLB is clear that its involvement doesn't guarantee restitution. These are the main routes, often used together:
| Route | What it can do | Things to know |
|---|---|---|
| CSLB mediation or arbitration | Can produce an agreement or an award, including completion or repair | Only for cases that meet CSLB's criteria; arbitration covers up to $50,000 |
| Claim on the contractor's bond | The $25,000 license bond can pay certain claims | $25,000 is the total for all claimants on that license, not per customer. The bond company and number are on the CSLB record |
| Small claims court | A judgment for $12,500 or less, without a lawyer | Filed with the Riverside County Superior Court |
| Civil lawsuit with an attorney | Larger losses, liens, complicated contracts | Ask about attorney fees clauses in your contract |
| Card chargeback | Reverse recent card payments for services not provided | Card issuers have their own time limits; call quickly |
If you win a judgment or arbitration award against a licensed contractor and it goes unpaid, CSLB can suspend the license once you send proof that the case was construction-related and the judgment is unsatisfied. That's real leverage for a contractor who wants to keep working.
If the contractor was unlicensed, CSLB can cite them or refer the case to the district attorney, but recovering your money is up to you. California law generally allows a person who hired an unlicensed contractor to sue to recover what they paid. Talk to an attorney.
Finishing the job with someone new
Once you've documented everything and taken advice, you'll need a new contractor to finish. A few things make that go smoothly:
- Get a fresh scope, not “finish what the last guy started.” The new contractor should walk the job, note what has to be redone, and price it.
- Expect some rework. Work that's been exposed to weather, done badly or left unprotected may need to come out.
- Settle permits. If the original contractor pulled a permit, the city or county will need to know who's taking it over. Permits can expire after a period without an approved inspection; Palm Springs, for example, lets permits expire after 180 days without one.
- Use every protection you missed the first time: the legal deposit limit, payments tied to completed work, written change orders and lien releases.
How to make sure this never happens again
Almost every abandonment story in the complaints we read started with a payment far ahead of the work. The fix is boring and effective: a down payment of no more than 10% or $1,000, payments that follow visible progress, and a final payment held until the walkthrough. Add a license check at cslb.ca.gov before you sign and one local contact who answers.
That's exactly what our partner contractor agrees to in writing. We check license, bond, workers' comp and insurance before each introduction, and abandoning a job means immediate removal we refer. We connect you with our licensed partner contractor, free. We can't guarantee another company's work, but we can choose who gets introduced and stay in the loop while the job runs. See our standard.
Common questions
How long before a contractor has abandoned a job in California?
There's no fixed number of days in the statute. Abandonment without legal excuse is grounds for CSLB discipline under Business and Professions Code 7107. Practically, if work has stopped, the contractor won't commit to a return date in writing, and your written notice goes unanswered, treat the job as abandoned and talk to an attorney before hiring a replacement.
How do I file a complaint against a contractor in California?
File online at cslb.ca.gov, by mail with the complaint form, or call 800-321-CSLB (2752) to request a form. Send copies of the contract, change orders, cancelled checks front and back, and photos. Complaints about work in Riverside County go to CSLB's Norwalk Intake and Mediation Center.
How long do I have to file a CSLB complaint?
CSLB generally has jurisdiction over complaints for up to four years from the date of the suspected illegal act or omission. Don't wait: evidence fades, and other deadlines, like mechanics lien and court deadlines, run separately.
Can CSLB get my money back?
Sometimes, through mediation, arbitration or a citation ordering restitution, but CSLB says its involvement doesn't guarantee restitution. If money is your main goal, CSLB points homeowners to small claims court for claims of $12,500 or less and to an attorney for larger amounts.
What if the contractor wasn't licensed?
CSLB can issue a citation or refer the case to the district attorney, but it's up to you to seek restitution. California law generally lets a person who hired an unlicensed contractor sue to recover what they paid. Talk to an attorney.
Can I hire someone else to finish?
Usually, but do it carefully: document everything first, send written notice, and get legal advice so you don't hand the original contractor a breach-of-contract argument. Make sure the new contractor's scope clearly picks up where the old one left off.
Last reviewed . Prices and rules change; confirm details with your contractor and your city or county building department.