Cleaning business license requirements in California.
California has no contractor-style cleaning license, but it does have something most owners miss: janitorial employers must register with the state every year. The Property Service Workers Protection Act (AB 1978) makes it unlawful to run a janitorial business without a valid registration from the Labor Commissioner, and the penalties for skipping it are real.
What California requires.
Janitorial employer registration (DLSE)
Required annually of janitorial businesses with employees. No employer may conduct a janitorial business in California without a valid registration.
Local business license
City or county business licensing applies as it does to any service business, separate from the state janitorial registration.
What the janitorial registration takes
- Register each year with the Labor Commissioner (Division of Labor Standards Enforcement) and pay the annual fee — $500
- Provide biennial in-person sexual violence and harassment prevention training for property service workers
- Keep detailed employee records for three years
- · Registered janitorial employers appear in a public Janitorial Contractor Registry maintained by the Department of Industrial Relations — commercial clients can and do check it.
- · Operating unregistered carries a $2,500 fine plus $100 for each day unregistered, up to a $10,000 maximum.
The official board
California Department of Industrial Relations — Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (Labor Commissioner)
Property Service Workers Protection Act (AB 1978, 2016)
Visit the boardVerified 2026-08 against the sources below. Licensing rules change — confirm with the board before relying on this page.
California cleaning licensing FAQ.
Do you need a license to run a cleaning business in California?
There is no contractor-style cleaning trade license, but janitorial businesses with employees must register annually with the Labor Commissioner under the Property Service Workers Protection Act. No employer may conduct a janitorial business in California without a valid registration, and local business licensing applies on top of that.
What is AB 1978 janitorial registration?
The Property Service Workers Protection Act, enacted in 2016. It requires janitorial employers to register yearly with the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, pay a $500 annual fee, provide biennial in-person sexual violence and harassment prevention training, and keep employee records for three years.
What happens if a California janitorial business is not registered?
It faces a $2,500 fine, plus $100 for each calendar day it remains unregistered, up to a maximum of $10,000. Registration status is also publicly searchable, so commercial clients can verify it before hiring.
How do clients verify a California janitorial contractor?
Through the online Janitorial Contractor Registry maintained by the Department of Industrial Relations, or by asking the provider for a certification of registration. Being listed is a straightforward trust signal when bidding commercial work.
CA cleaning businesses lose more jobs to slow replies than to competitors.
New-client inquiries go cold in hours; they’re price-shopping three companies.
Reschedules and skips eat the calendar without a fast reply.
One-time deep cleans rarely convert to weekly service without a nudge.
Oski answers new inquiries instantly, handles the reschedule texts, and turns one-time cleans into standing appointments.
14 days free · Setup in about 15 minutes · Cancel anytime
More for cleaning businesses
Stop losing leads while you’re busy working.
Give yourself a front desk for the next 14 days — and decide for yourself if it’s worth keeping.
14 days free · Setup in about 15 minutes · Cancel anytime