How to choose and vet a fire rebuild contractor in Altadena
Hire only a contractor with an active Contractors State License Board (CSLB) license. For a wildfire home rebuild, CSLB says that means a B – General Building license. Get more than one written bid, sign a fixed-price contract, keep the down payment small, and never pay in cash.
What the agencies recommend
Check the license first
Contractors State License Board (CSLB): Confirm the contractor holds a B – General Building license in good standing before you sign.
Insist on a fixed-price contract
CSLB: Ask for a fixed-price contract, never "time and materials" or "cost plus." The same advice applies to ADUs and solar.
Keep payments tied to finished work
CSLB: Keep the down payment small (see CSLB's guidance). Later payments should be listed in the contract and match work done or materials delivered.
Do your homework
LA County Recovers: On CSLB's site, check license status and complaint disclosures, and confirm workers' comp if the contractor has employees. Compare several bids, call references, and visit past job sites. The County's contractor list isn't an endorsement.
Read the whole contract
LA County Department of Consumer & Business Affairs (DCBA): The contract should list price and payment schedule, scope and change-order terms, timeline and permits, and the CSLB license. Keep a copy.
Pay safely and keep records
Federal Trade Commission (FTC): Pay by credit card or check, never cash or wire. Never sign your insurance check over to a contractor. Hold the final payment until the work is done and you're satisfied, and keep receipts.
Use your insurer's estimate as a benchmark
California Department of Insurance (CDI): Ask your adjuster for a repair estimate to use as a benchmark. Hire local licensed contractors when you can, get every promise in writing, and ask about liability and workers' comp insurance.
No agency picks your builder
FEMA and the City of Pasadena: Neither one hires, endorses, or suggests specific contractors. Verify whoever you choose.
Red flags agencies warn about
- •Says no license is needed. (FTC)
- •Offers a discount only if you sign now. (FTC)
- •Wants large payments up front, or cash, wire, gift cards, or apps. (FTC, Attorney General)
- •Asks you to sign over your insurance check or sign a contract with blanks. (FTC, CDI)
- •Shows up at your door with an unrealistically low estimate. (CDI)
- •Wants a progress payment bigger than the work done. (CSLB)
Where to check or report
FAQ
Want a second opinion on your rebuild? Talk with our team.
Sources (official pages, checked live in October)
- •CSLB, Disaster Help Center
- •CSLB, Important Contract and Payment Rules
- •CSLB, Check A License
- •California Attorney General, Resources for Californians Impacted by Los Angeles Fires
- •LA County Recovers, Licensed Contractors and Industry Professionals List
- •LA County DCBA, Tips About Remediation, Restoration, and Hiring Contractors
- •LA County DCBA, Rebuilding After a Disaster: Hiring a Licensed Contractor
- •FTC, How To Avoid Scams After Weather Emergencies and Natural Disasters
- •California Department of Insurance, Don't Get Scammed After a Disaster
- •FEMA and Cal OES, Wildfire Survivors: Beware of Fraud and Scams (LA County Recovers)
- •City of Pasadena, Information Related to Rebuilding