Federal solar credit ended Dec 31, 2025
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Installers · California

How to Check a Solar Installer in California

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Updated Data verified Nov 5, 2026

We do not rank or rate solar companies, and nobody pays to appear on this site. What we can do is show you how to check any installer in California yourself in about ten minutes: the license they must hold, where to look it up, and the consumer rules that protect you when you sign.

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The license a California solar installer needs

Per the Contractors State License Board (CSLB), residential PV can legally be installed by contractors holding C-46 Solar, C-10 Electrical, or B General Building (a solar system counts as two unrelated trades). C-4 Boiler/Hot-Water Heating covers solar heating within its scope. Solar sales reps generally must be registered with CSLB as Home Improvement Salespersons (HIS).[1]

Check a license with the CSLB[2]

Search by license number, business name, personnel name, or HIS registration. The page says results include complaint disclosure. Returned HTTP 200 on 2026-11-05.

Consumer protections when you buy or lease

  • Solar Energy System Disclosure Document (since Jan 1, 2019): Under B&P Code 7169 (added by AB 1070, Ch. 662, Stats. 2017), the CSLB/CPUC Solar Energy System Disclosure Document must be printed in boldface 16-point type on the front or cover page of every residential solar sale, financing or lease contract, before the sale is completed. It shows total cost (including financing), how to complain to CSLB, and the cancellation right.[3]
  • Contract in the language of the sales pitch: The disclosure document and the contract must be in the language principally used in the oral sales presentation or the marketing materials.[3]
  • 3-business-day right to cancel: CSLB says California law lets homeowners cancel a solar contract without penalty within three business days. It advises not letting construction start during that period.[1]
  • 5-business-day right to cancel for buyers 65+: CSLB's 5-day version of the disclosure (B&P 7159) applies when the buyer is 65 or older and the contract was not negotiated at the contractor's place of business. The buyer may cancel by midnight of the fifth business day.[4]
  • CPUC California Solar Consumer Protection Guide (IOU territories): Solar providers submitting interconnection applications for residential customers of PG&E, SCE and SDG&E must collect the customer's initials and signature on the CPUC's California Solar Consumer Protection Guide.[1]

A ten-minute installer check

  1. Look up the company's license by number with the official lookup above, and confirm the name and address match the contract.
  2. Ask whether the crew lead holds the NABCEP PV Installation Professional certification (check it in the NABCEP directory[5]). It is voluntary but shows tested experience.
  3. Get at least three written quotes for the same system size, with the price per watt, panel and inverter models and warranty terms spelled out.
  4. Ask who will handle the utility interconnection application and the permit, and who pays if the utility requires a meter or panel upgrade.
  5. Never sign on the first visit; check your cancellation rights and the financing terms, including dealer fees.

Installers we have verified

We only list a company after checking its license record ourselves, and we never show prices or star ratings for installers. No California installers are listed yet; use the checks above for any company you are considering.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How do I check a solar company's license in California?

Use the official lookup: Check a license with the CSLB. Search by license number, which should be on the contract and the company's ads.

Can I cancel a solar contract after signing?

Often, yes. For sales made at your home, the FTC's Cooling-Off Rule applies: you can cancel until midnight of the third business day after the sale (Saturdays count) for sales of $25 or more made at your home.[6] California adds its own rules, listed above.

sources

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Every number on this page links to one of these sources. Dates show when we last checked each one.

  1. Licensing rulecslb.ca.gov · checked Nov 5, 2026
  2. CSLB - Check a Contractor License or Home Improvement Salesperson (HIS) Registrationcslb.ca.gov · checked Nov 5, 2026
  3. Solar Energy System Disclosure Document (since Jan 1, 2019)cslb.ca.gov · checked Nov 5, 2026
  4. 5-business-day right to cancel for buyers 65+cslb.ca.gov · checked Nov 5, 2026
  5. NABCEP directoriesdirectories.nabcep.org · checked Nov 5, 2026
  6. 16 CFR Part 429, Cooling-Off Ruleecfr.gov · checked Nov 5, 2026