C-57 Well Drilling Contractor license in California

Updated November 1, 2026 · Official name from CSLB's classification list

• 736licenses hold C-57
• 97.2%Clear (CA addresses)
• 35.3%workers' comp exempt (all: 49.6%)
• 99.9%contractor's bond on file
• 20.7 yrsmedian time licensed
• 66.6%businesses, not sole owners

Well drilling contractors build and repair water wells and pumps. CSLB lists boring, drilling, excavating, casing, cementing and cleaning, all to provide a supply of clean water.

State law treats this as a specialty that general contractors can't absorb. A B or B-2 contractor may not contract for C-57 work unless it holds the license or subcontracts to someone who does. C-57 is also one of the classes eligible for the HAZ certification.

Typical work under C-57

• Drilling new water wells
• Deepening and rehabilitating existing wells
• Well casing and sealing
• Well pump installation and repair
• Well cleaning

Work that needs a different license

• Piping from the well to the house: C-36 Plumbing
• Water softeners and filters: C-55 Water Conditioning
• A new electrical feed to the pump: C-10 Electrical

Tips before hiring

• If your builder includes a well, ask for the C-57 subcontractor's license number.
• Ask how the price is set: per foot, and what happens if the driller hits rock or a dry hole.
• Ask for the well completion report after the job.
• Ask how the driller will protect the well from surface water and nearby septic systems.

Where C-57 contractors are

The cities with the most C-57 license holders in CSLB's current file:

1. Well Drillers in Bakersfield: 22
2. Madera: 17
3. Fresno: 12
4. Paso Robles: 8
5. Yuba City: 8
6. San Jose: 7
7. Santa Rosa: 7
8. Visalia: 7
9. Chico: 6
10. Chowchilla: 6

All well drillers lists

Cities with at least 20 C-57 license holders, largest first:

• Bakersfield (22)

How to verify a C-57 license

1. Search the business or license number here and confirm C-57 is listed on the profile.
2. Check the same number on CSLB's Instant License Check.
3. Read our full guide to checking a contractor license.

Related license types

• C-55 Water Conditioning Contractor
• C-36 Plumbing Contractor
• C-42 Sanitation System Contractor
• HAZ Hazardous Substance Removal Certification

Source: CSLB public data · Updated November 1, 2026 Status can change at any time. Verify on CSLB's Instant License Check.

More license types: ← C-55 Water Conditioning Contractor · C-60 Welding Contractor →