What Jobs Can You Do With a C-27 contractor license?
The C-27 license is for individuals or companies that specialize in landscaping services.
There are a variety of jobs you can bid on if you have this license, including:
- Lawn installation
- Sunrooms and Green houses
- Agricultural fences
- Planting shrubs and flowers
- Installing planters, retaining walls and pavilions
- Soil preparation
- Gazebo and Pavilion construction
- Decks, Patios and Arbors
- Fixing leaky sprinklers
- Environmental consultations
- Artificial Turf
- BBQ Pits and Waterfalls
- Ponds and Fountains
- Plant sales
- Creating environments to attract birds, butterflies, and beneficial insects
- Container gardens
- Biodiverse solutions
- Soil Inspection
- Golf courses
- Garden Installation
- Landscape grading and Resloping
- Yard Cleaning
- Garden Design
- Garden Nurseries and Tree Farming
- Lawn maintenance
- Outdoor lighting installation
- Sustainable landscape solutions
- Shrubs, hedges and bushes
- Lawn seeding
- Tree growing
- Arbor care
- Irrigation Installation
- Landscape maintenance
- Hardscaping
C-27 Landscaping Contractors and the CSLB
The C-27 license is one of 74 classifications available in California. Contractors in the state of California are governed by the CSLB(Contractors State License Board)
There are 4 major classification categories:
Expanding your landscaping business in California
Contractors in California can hold multiple classifications.
The most common pairings for the C-27 license are:
Requirements for California C-27 Contractors
To get a C-27 license you must meet the following basic requirements:
- 18 Years of Age
- 4 Years of Journeyman Level Experience
- Social Security or ITIN #
- Not Currently on Probation or Parole
- Signature from a licensed contractor, fellow employee, supervisor, or business associate
What landscaping concepts do I need to know for the exam?
You will definitely want to be prepared for any curveballs that could come up on the C-27 contractor license exam.
You may be presented with questions related to planning and estimation, hardscape installation, and plant types that you may or may not be familiar with.
Take the time to review every possible question.
Below is a breakdown of what you need to know:
1. Planning and Estimating (26%)
- Project planning
- Botanical names of plants
- Project estimating
2. Construction Preparation (14%)
- Pre-construction site planning
- Pre-construction site demolition and preparation
- Trenching and grading
3. Hardscape Installation (16%)
- Flatwork
- Masonry
- Structures
- Water features
4. Drainage, Irrigation, Lighting, and Plant Installation (24%)
- Drainage
- Irrigation
- Lighting
- Plant installation
5. Maintenance and Repair (10%)
- Landscape maintenance
- Landscape repair
6. Safety (10%)
- Employee safety
- Job site safety
What’s the C-27 landscaping exam process like?
The exam will be:
- 115 Questions Law & Business
- 115 Questions Landscaping
- Multiple Choice
- Closed Book
- 3 Hours to Complete each section
- Taken via Computer at a proctored exam facility
- Exam centers located all over the state of California
Math SkillsÂ
There will be math on your CSLB law & business and trade exam.
On the law side, questions will be presented to you as if you are a General Building Contractor with multiple projects running simultaneously with several employees.
You can expect math questions related to:
- Arithmetic
- Cost Estimation
- Percentages and Decimals
The math you can expect on the C-27 license exam may vary. Be prepared for questions that may include:
- Geometry
- Units of measurement
Blueprint Reading Skills
Blueprint reading is a fundamental skill for all contractors.
Knowing how to interpret plans and is a key part of the job if you are working within a construction crew.
Some aspects of plan reading may also be your examination.
For a deeper look at blueprint reading concepts, check out this free blueprint reading guide.
CSLB law & business exam
Our complete course is a guide for aspiring California landscaping contractors.
A step by step break down all of the essential knowledge you need to be successful on your CSLB law & business examination.
In addition to passing your exam, those looking to get the C-27 landscaping contractor license will be equipped with a crash course on how to run a profitable business.
You will learn:
- Company organization
- How to bid effectively
- Understanding cost control
- Various contract types
- Cash management
- Estimation fundamentals
- CAL/OSHA
- Business Structures
- Worker’s Compensation and Taxes
- Insurance Types in Construction
- Labor Laws and Employee Rights
- Hiring and Firing Practices
- Contractor Bonds
- Mechanics Liens
- State Laws and Statutes
- Project Management 101
- Prevailing Wages and Public Works
- And Much More!