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General contractors in Palo Alto, CA

132 eligible B and B-2 licenses based in Palo Alto, per CSLB records dated Oct 16, 2026.

Checked Oct 18, 2026 Verify live on CSLB

25 of 132 Palo Alto GCs

Sorted by workers' comp policy on file, then years licensed (we don't have permit data for Palo Alto). How we rank. Payment doesn't change the order.

Bid requests come to GC Bay Area first, not straight to the contractor.

1

Vance Brown Inc

Based in Palo Alto

workers’ comp insured · licensed 75 yrs

Active · B · #122847 · Bond ✓ · Workers' comp ✓ · Verify on CSLB

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5

ADU Palo Alto

Legal name: Witt Homes Inc · Based in Palo Alto

workers’ comp insured · licensed 48 yrs

Active · B · #358324 · Bond ✓ · Workers' comp ✓ · Verify on CSLB

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10

Pete Moffat Construction Inc

Based in Palo Alto

workers’ comp insured · licensed 35 yrs

Active · B · #619306 · Bond ✓ · Workers' comp ✓ · Verify on CSLB

Workers' comp policy ends Nov 1, 2026. Ask for the renewal certificate.

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16

DJS Construction

Based in Palo Alto

workers’ comp insured · licensed 26 yrs

Active · B · #779563 · Bond ✓ · Workers' comp ✓ · Verify on CSLB

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19

McDermaid Restoration & Remodeling

Legal name: Gustavo Camolinga Inc · Based in Palo Alto

workers’ comp insured · licensed 24 yrs

Active · B-2 · #803672 · Bond ✓ · Workers' comp ✓ · Verify on CSLB

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21

Vonpete Inc

Based in Palo Alto

workers’ comp insured · licensed 21 yrs

Active · B · #857955 · Bond ✓ · Workers' comp ✓ · Verify on CSLB

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Business build-out? See commercial GCs in Palo Alto

160 active B and B-2 licenses are based in Palo Alto in the CSLB file dated Oct 16, 2026, and half of them have been licensed for 17 years or more. A kitchen or bath remodel that stays inside the footprint with no structural change can get a same-day Instant Building Permit, but only a licensed contractor with an Accela account can apply for it, not an owner-builder (City of Palo Alto, checked Oct 18, 2026).

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Check it against the same CSLB data.

Searches active and lapsed Bay Area B and B-2 licenses. Other classes: search on CSLB.

Before you hire in Palo Alto

Building permits in Palo Alto go through City of Palo Alto Development Services (Building).

Source: City of Palo Alto Development Services (Building), checked Oct 18, 2026

A Palo Alto kitchen or bath remodel that stays inside the existing footprint with no structural change can get a same-day Instant Building Permit, for detached single-family homes and duplexes. Only licensed contractors with an Accela Citizen Access (ACA) account can use it, so owner-builders can't.

Source: City of Palo Alto, Planning & Development Services, checked Oct 18, 2026

Other permits are filed through Accela Citizen Access, and the city says your first response should come within 2 to 3 business days. Final inspections can only be booked by phone.

Source: City of Palo Alto, Planning & Development Services, checked Oct 18, 2026

A new two-story house, or a second-floor addition of 150 sq ft or more, must meet every two-story objective design standard. If it doesn't, you need a discretionary Single Family Individual Review (IR) application before you can submit for the building permit.

Source: City of Palo Alto, Current Planning, checked Oct 18, 2026

If the house is more than 45 years old and a discretionary application proposes an addition, demolition or major exterior change, the city may require a Historic Resource Evaluation report. Interior work and normal maintenance usually skip historic review.

Source: City of Palo Alto, Historic Resources & Permit Review Requirements, checked Oct 18, 2026

B or B-2: which license fits your job

Both classes can act as your prime contractor. A B-2 is limited to remodels of an existing wood-frame house. If your plan changes the structure, look for a B.

JobB General BuildingB-2 Residential Remodeling
Kitchen or bath remodel in an existing houseYesYes, when the contract covers 3 or more unrelated trades
Addition or new roomsYesNo
Moving or removing a load-bearing wallYesNo
New homeYesNo
Commercial or tenant workYesNo

Sources: CSLB, class B and class B-2, checked Oct 18, 2026. More in B vs B-2.

California rules for your contract

A down payment on a home improvement contract can't be more than $1,000 or 10% of the price, whichever is less. No progress payment can be more than the work done or materials delivered.

Source: California B&P Code 7159.5, checked Oct 18, 2026

Work under $1,000 in total (labor and materials) that needs no building permit doesn't require a license. The exemption doesn't apply if the person advertises as a contractor, has employees, or splits a job to stay under the limit.

Source: California B&P Code 7048, checked Oct 18, 2026

Every licensed contractor must keep a $25,000 contractor's bond on file with CSLB. That has been the amount since January 1, 2023.

Source: CSLB, bond requirements, checked Oct 18, 2026

A contractor with employees must carry workers' comp. Until 2028, a B contractor with no employees can legally file an exemption, so check which one yours did. From January 1, 2028, a workers' comp certificate is required for every license.

Source: CSLB, workers' compensation, checked Oct 18, 2026

Complaint history isn't in CSLB's free data files, so we don't show it. Check complaints on CSLB before you sign.

Questions about hiring in Palo Alto

How many licensed general contractors are based in Palo Alto?

160 active B and B-2 licenses list Palo Alto as the business city in CSLB's records dated Oct 16, 2026. We list 132 of them; the other 28 have no bond on file or hold a specialty-trade license. Each card's "Verify on CSLB" link opens that license's live record.

Which license does a home remodel need?

A B (General Building) license can take a prime contract that involves two or more unrelated trades other than framing or carpentry. A B-2 (Residential Remodeling) license covers remodels of an existing wood-frame house with three or more unrelated trades, and it can't be used for additions, structural work or new homes.

How much can a contractor ask for as a down payment?

In California, a down payment on a home improvement contract is capped at $1,000 or 10% of the contract price, whichever is less.

Do I need a licensed contractor for a small job?

Work under $1,000 in total that needs no building permit is exempt from licensing. The exemption doesn't apply to someone who advertises as a contractor, has employees, or splits a job to stay under the limit.

What does "exempt" mean under workers' comp on a card?

The contractor told CSLB it has no employees. Until January 1, 2028, a B contractor with no employees can legally file that exemption. Ask whether anyone besides the owner will work on your property.

Where do I get a building permit in Palo Alto?

Permits are handled by City of Palo Alto Development Services (Building); the link is in "Before you hire" above. Ask your contractor who will pull the permit and have it in the contract.

General contractors near Palo Alto

Other project types in Palo Alto

How this list is built

License class, status, dates, bond and workers' comp come from the California Contractors State License Board's public data files. The Master file is dated Oct 16, 2026, the workers' comp file Oct 17, 2026, and we processed them on Oct 18, 2026. Of 160 active licenses in Palo Alto, 28 are left out: no bond on file, or a specialty-trade license. Each card's "Verify on CSLB" link opens that license's live record. Read the full method. Related: how to verify a license, bond and insurance, complaints.

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