What "Renewal Recived" means on a California contractor license
Updated November 1, 2026 · Secondary (additional) status
CSLB's license page wording: "The renewal application has been received but not yet processed."
The contractor has sent in a renewal, and CSLB has not finished processing it yet.
- 184licenses statewide
- 0.1%of all licenses in the file
- 180with a California address
This is one of the milder flags. CSLB's page says: "The renewal application has been received but not yet processed." The contractor filed the paperwork; CSLB just hasn't caught up.
California licenses run for two years from the last day of the month they were issued, under B&P Code §7140. An expired license can be renewed any time within five years of expiring (B&P Code §7141). After that, the contractor has to apply all over again.
You'll see this most often around a renewal deadline. The usual outcome is a clear license once processing is done. This flag says nothing negative about the contractor's work. In the meantime, review the rest of the record as you would for any license: classification, bond and workers' comp.
What to do if a contractor you're considering shows this status
- Note the license expiration date on CSLB's page.
- Look the license up again in a week or two to confirm the renewal went through.
- If the license shows as expired before work starts, ask the contractor about it.
Always confirm the current status on CSLB's Instant License Check; it can change between our weekly refreshes.
Legal basis
Counties with the highest rate
| County | Licenses with this status | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Shasta County | 5 | 0.3% |
| Tuolumne County | 2 | 0.3% |
| Kings County | 1 | 0.3% |
| Stanislaus County | 7 | 0.2% |
| Humboldt County | 2 | 0.2% |
| Napa County | 2 | 0.2% |
| Amador County | 1 | 0.2% |
| Imperial County | 1 | 0.2% |
| Sutter County | 1 | 0.2% |
| Los Angeles County | 36 | 0.1% |
Counties with at least 300 licenses. Rate = share of local licenses showing this status.
City and trade lists where it is most common
- Licensed plumbers in Modesto: 3 of 90 (3.3%)
- Licensed electricians in Alpine: 1 of 40 (2.5%)
- Licensed painters in South Lake Tahoe: 1 of 40 (2.5%)
- Licensed plumbers in West Covina: 1 of 42 (2.4%)
- Licensed plumbers in Poway: 1 of 43 (2.3%)
- Licensed general engineering contractors in Modesto: 1 of 45 (2.2%)
- Licensed general engineering contractors in San Luis Obispo: 1 of 45 (2.2%)
- Licensed painters in Orangevale: 1 of 48 (2.1%)
- Licensed electricians in Victorville: 1 of 48 (2.1%)
- Licensed glazing contractors in Anaheim: 1 of 47 (2.1%)
We started tracking week-to-week changes with the November 1, 2026 file. Trend data will appear here as history builds up.
Source: CSLB public data · Updated November 1, 2026 Status can change at any time. Verify on CSLB's Instant License Check.