sundance-communications.com Forums General General Telephone & Systems Information In California, is contractor license required to install VOIP phones?

I'm in California. I plan to start installing VoIP phones systems on
hosted PBX platforms (that is, with no central PBX unit on premises).
Some of the jobs will be over $500 and thus might be contracting as
defined in California. I didn't get a straight answer over the phone
from the regulator, CSLB ( https://cslb.ca.gov ), about whether a
contractor's license is required. The classification that might apply
is Low Voltage Systems Contractor, described at

.... which says that this is anyone who "installs, services and
maintains all types of communication and low voltage systems
which are energy limited and do not exceed 91 volts. These systems
include, but are not limited to telephone systems, sound systems"
...etc. The whole thing is below.

So in California, does installing a VoIP system (where the
job exceeds $500 in total) require a contractor's license?

What about if it's just desk phones being attached to the
existing ethernet network: would that make a difference?

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C7 - Low Voltage Systems Contractor

California Code of Regulations
Title 16, Division 8, Article 3. Classifications

A communication and low voltage contractor installs,
services and maintains all types of communication and
low voltage systems which are energy limited and do not
exceed 91 volts. These systems include, but are not
limited to telephone systems, sound systems, cable
television systems, closed-circuit video systems, satellite
dish antennas, instrumentation and temperature controls,
and low voltage landscape lighting. Low voltage fire alarm
systems are specifically not included in this section.

Authority cited: Sections 7008 and 7059, Reference:
Sections 7058 and 7059 (Business and Professions Code)

I know zip on California law. That being said, get the license & you won't have to worry about it.

$500 doesn't go far these days, especially since there's no mention as to what the $500 is for: just labour, just materiel, both, including the telephone sets....

I would say that as long as all you are doing is plugging a phone into an EXISTING jack then no, you do not need a C7. You would be on par with any computer geek who I assume does not need one either. But then as far as I'm concerned they should tear the California page out of all Rand-McNallys.

-Hal

Love you too, Hal.......

You also should have contractors insurance ,Is this a business or just a hobby ?

Having just received my C7 contractors license on Saturday (CA 992448) the answer is a conditional yes.

The requirement for needing a contractors license is if the whole job exceeds $500 in time and material not just your part of it. A great example is a bathroom remodel and your asked to install a new outlet that you quote at $100.00 and the total remodeling cost is $3000.00. You would be required to have a contractors license to do this job.

You need the license to improve the property. Installing free standing bookshelves do not require a license, but screw them to the wall and you now need the license.

If you pull cable, install a rack or equipment into the rack, then you need a license. IF all you did was place the VOIP phones on a desk and plugged them in then I would say no you don't need a license unless it's part of a project that falls under needing a license.

The main point is you can't separate parts of a job to defeat the license requirement.

I am not a legal expert on contractor law or license requirements. This is just what I was taught at the contractors law class I took for my license.

I'm the original poster. Thank you for the informative replies.

I also posted the same question on two other forums. You can read
those threads here:

https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups%23!forum/ba.internet%23!forum/ba.internet#!topic/ba.internet/B5TFNedqppk

https://www.dslreports.com/forum/r2...-req-d-to-install-VOIP-systems-in-Calif-

From reading those DSL reports posts it looks like I'm not alone in my thoughts about CA.

But as far as answering your question those are probably the worst places to ask advice.

-Hal

You may not like the rules and regulations that CA has, but if you do work in the state you have to follow them. Whether you like them or not.

I just spent over two years getting my C7 license. Darn previous employer kept lying about filling out the required Certificate of Experience form.

You'll be playing Russian Roulette if you do what the state considers contracting work without a license. They are actively going after unlicensed contractors with various sting operation throughout the state and if you get caught in one, forget about getting a license for several years. Craigslist is not your friend if you are not a licensed contractor. That's their #1 source of leads for the stings.

In case you didn't know and you are doing anything involving Consumer electronics and Residential work, you have to be registered with the Bureau of Electronics and Appliance Repair (B.E.A.R). A $160.00 per year fee. It doesn't matter if you have a contractors license or not.

Now you know why I gave up doing business here in So Cal, I called the board 3 different times got 3 different people and 3 different answers.