When to hire a handyman vs. a licensed contractor in LA

Checkpoint 1: total project value (the $500 rule)

California Business & Professions Code §7048 caps unlicensed handyman work at $500 total labor plus materials per project. This is the headline rule. If your fence repair, door install, or bathroom caulk job is under $500 all-in, a handyman can legally do it.

Once you cross $500, a CSLB-licensed contractor is legally required — even for cosmetic work. "Project" means the whole scope of work, not per visit: splitting a $1,200 fence rebuild into three $400 invoices is fraud and CSLB actively investigates and penalizes this.

Checkpoint 2: does the trade itself require a license?

Some trades need a license at any scope, regardless of job value. These override the $500 rule:

• New electrical circuits, panel work, EV charger installs — requires a C-10 licensed electrician (not a handyman swapping a fixture)
• Gas-line work of any kind — requires C-36 plumber with gas endorsement
• Re-routing water supply or drain lines — C-36 plumber
• Refrigerant-system HVAC work — C-20 HVAC contractor (EPA 608 certified)
• Roofing over 100 sq ft — C-39 roofing contractor
• Pool system work (pumps, heaters, plumbing) — C-53 pool contractor

A handyman can swap a light fixture, replace a toilet on existing plumbing, change an HVAC filter. They cannot wire a new EV charger, move a drain line, or run new refrigerant lines even if you're willing to pay cash.

Checkpoint 3: does the city require a permit?

LADBS (Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety) requires permits for most structural, electrical (new circuits), plumbing (new lines), and mechanical (HVAC) work. If a permit is required, the work must be done by a licensed contractor — handymen cannot pull permits. Common permit triggers:

• Any new electrical circuit or panel change
• Water heater replacement (yes, even like-for-like in most cases)
• EV charger installation
• Window or door replacement that changes the opening size
• Roof replacement
• Fence over 6 ft (varies by zone)

Rule of thumb: if LADBS wants a permit, you need a licensed contractor. The full license guide has trade-by-trade detail.

What a handyman can legally do in LA (practical list)

• TV mount install and picture hanging
• Furniture assembly (IKEA, PAX, Elfa)
• Drywall patch and small-area repair
• Fixture swaps: faucets, toilets, disposals (on existing plumbing)
• Light fixture, outlet, switch swaps (same amperage)
• Interior painting, single room
• Caulking, weatherstripping, minor carpentry
• Smart-device install (doorbell, thermostat, camera) on existing wiring
• Fence, gate, or deck repairs (not new builds)
• Gutter cleaning and minor section replacement

When to skip the handyman and call a contractor

• Anything structural (framing, load-bearing walls, foundation)
• New additions, room conversions, ADU builds
• Full kitchen or bathroom remodels
• New electrical circuits, service upgrades, EV charger installs
• Gas line or main drain work
• HVAC system replacement or new ductwork
• Roof replacement or large repairs
• Any job where the all-in price is clearly over $500

The gray zone: same-trade jobs just over $500

If your job is borderline ($450–700 all-in), the honest move is to scope it up: more outlets changed, more fixtures swapped, batched visits. A handyman can legitimately do a $499 day of work. They cannot do a $700 day and invoice as two $349 jobs. Many homeowners ask for this; good handymen refuse.

How we route jobs

Shatun Brothers is a handyman marketplace — we only match handyman-scope single-trade jobs under $500. If you submit a request that clearly needs a licensed C-10 or C-36, we route it to partner contractors instead. There's no fee for the re-route and no pressure to use them; we'd rather send you to the right trade than take a job our handymen can't legally finish.

Not sure where your job falls? Send us a photo + a description — we'll tell you honestly: handyman, contractor, or in-between.