Get Quotes from Top Carpenters in Los Angeles, CA

Are You Licensed to Practice as a Carpenter in Los Angeles?

Carpenters who wish to provide services worth $500 and above to residents of Los Angeles are required to obtain an occupational license from the California Contractors State Licensing Board before doing so. Providing any type of carpentry service in Los Angeles worth $500 and above, including the cost of labor and materials, without possessing a valid CSLB-issued license is considered a misdemeanor. First-time violators of this licensing requirement can face penalties of up to $15,000 in fines and jail time of up to six months, while repeat offenders typically face even steeper penalties.

The CSLB issues two types of specialty licenses to carpenters, namely the C-5 - Framing and Rough Carpentry Contractor and the C-6 - Cabinet, Millwork and Finish Carpentry Contractor licenses. Note that this agency also issues other woodwork-related licenses. Individuals who wish to obtain these licenses are typically required to provide acceptable and verifiable documentation proving that they have attained at least four years of journeyman-level carpentry-related experience within the last ten years. These applicants will also be required to properly complete and submit an Application for Original Contractor License Form, and also pay any applicable licensing fees. Once these documents have been reviewed and accepted, the applicants will then have to sit for and pass a licensing examination before being issued with the requested license.

However, certain portions of this licensing examination may be waived for applicants who qualify for the CSLB's reciprocity program. Queries related to this program and any other aspects of the CSLB's carpenter licensing process can be directed to (800) 321-2752. Before hiring any carpenter in Los Angeles, you should always make sure that this individual possesses a valid CSLB-issued license. You can do this by contacting the agency via phone at (800) 321-2752 or by utilizing the Check a License platform that it maintains and makes accessible to members of the public for this purpose.

How Much Do You Charge Compared to Other Carpenters in Los Angeles?

The hourly rate that carpenters in Los Angeles charge prospective clients is influenced by several factors, the most common of which are:

• The nature of the project
• The scope of this project
• The type of materials that the project will need, and the cost of these materials
• The amount of labor required to execute the project

Note that not all carpenters charge hourly rates, and some of these professionals may charge flat fees for their services. Nevertheless, it is ideal to get multiple estimates for your project from several carpenters near you, as this can help you determine the average cost of this project. Doing this also protects you from possible scammers and fraudulent contractors.

A carpenter in Los Angeles earns an annual average wage of $67,330. The table below provides a comparison of the mean hourly wage for carpenters in Los Angeles against those of carpenters in the rest of the State of California as well as across several other major American cities:

Do You Comply with the Los Angeles Building Code for Carpentry Work?

The Los Angeles Building Code and the Los Angeles Residential Code are sets of rules and regulations that are designed to ensure the safety of the lives and property of the residents of Los Angeles. These codes regulate the construction, alteration, demolition, moving, repair, use, and maintenance of buildings and structures in the city and the quality of materials used in and around these buildings and structures.

When hiring a carpenter in the city, it is important to make sure that this individual is familiar with the local building code. This is because these codes contain provisions that pertain to interior finishes, accessibility into buildings, means of egress, and other aspects of building and construction that are carpentry-related. Hiring a carpenter who is either unfamiliar with these codes or does not work per their respective provisions exposes you to possible code violations and endangers your health and safety.

While licensed carpenters are typically conversant with the requirements of the Los Angeles Building Code and the Los Angeles Residential Code, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with these codes as well before embarking on a major home improvement-related project. You can contact the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety at (213) 482-0061 to get information on the city's building and residential codes and also to find out the provisions of these codes that may apply to your intended project.

Will You Get the Home Improvement Permits as Required by the Los Angeles Code?

Building permits are typically required for building, construction, and home improvement projects in Los Angeles. These include carpentry-related projects like the installation of kitchen and bathroom cabinets, the alteration or replacement of wall framing around a doorway, the construction of wooden fences, and the replacement of window frames that are attached to walls. Nonetheless, exceptions are made for certain types of projects, such as:

• Construction, rehabilitation, or repair work on a rental-income property, provided that this work costs less than $501 and does not affect the structural stability of a building
• The repair or replacement of missing or broken cabinet doors, drawers, or shelving, or the refinishing of cabinet surfaces
• The construction of wooden fences that are 10 feet high or less

The issuance of these building permits is handled by the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS), and they can be obtained in person at any of the following locations:

Individuals who wish to obtain these permits are typically required to complete the following steps:

• Utilize the city's ZIMAS online tool to confirm that the property where the project is expected to take place falls within Los Angeles city lines
• Prepare the necessary plans for the project
• Submit the project plans and a completed Application for Building Permit or Grading and Certificate of Occupancy form at the closest LADBS location or online via the LADBS's ePlanLA portal for plan checks and reviews. However, projects that fall under the city's express permit category do not require plan checks and permits for these types of projects can be generated via a separate online portal.

Once the required documents have been submitted, they are reviewed by the LADBS before the requested permits are issued. Note that, depending on the nature and scope of the project, additional approvals may be required from other city departments and agencies.

Once the submitted documents have been reviewed and approved, the requested permits will be issued following the payment of all stipulated permit fees. After the permitted work commences, inspections must be scheduled at various stages to ensure compliance with the relevant provisions of the city's building and residential codes. These inspections are typically required before any relevant construction is concealed or covered,

You can make permitting and inspection-related queries in person at any of the LADBS's office locations between 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, and 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. on Wednesdays. Note that the South LA and San Pedro locations of this department are typically closed between the hours of 12 noon and 1:00 p.m. on these days. Building permit and inspection-related queries can also be directed to the LADBS via phone numbers 311 and (213) 473-3231 for callers within Los Angeles and outside the Los Angeles area respectively.

What Kind of Carpentry Services Do You Offer?

While carpenters in Los Angeles generally provide a wide variety of woodwork-related services, these services can be grouped into two broad categories: Rough Carpentry and Finish Carpentry. Rough carpentry involves work that is considered the skeleton of structures and is usually not visible after completion, such as rafters, beams, and posts. On the other hand, finish carpentry requires more finesse and detailing, as it generally involves carpentry work that is visible after completion, such as staircases, flooring, and trims.

Furthermore, some carpenters may focus on specific areas of their trade, such as carpentry work for new home builds or remodels, cabinet and furniture making, commercial and industrial facilities, and decorative woodwork. Therefore, before you finalize any hiring arrangements with a carpenter near you, it is essential to ensure that this carpenter specializes in the specific area of carpentry your project requires. You should also ensure that the carpenter has the proper tools and experience to perform the job to your satisfaction.

The average costs (per foot) of some carpentry services in Los Angeles are provided below:

Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Carpenters in Los Angeles?

Los Angeles carpenters do not have any statutory general liability insurance requirements. However, considering carpentry involves using potentially hazardous handheld tools, it is always in your best interest to ensure that any carpenter you hire for your project is duly insured. It is estimated that at least eight percent of all compensable workplace injuries involve hand tools, with nail guns alone accounting for over 37,000 emergency room visits annually. You can find out if your carpenter has adequate insurance to cover any bodily harm or accidental damage to your property that may occur during your project by requesting a copy of this individual's insurance certificate. You should also take a step further by contacting the insurance company that issued this certificate to verify its validity.

Note that while Los Angeles carpenters do not have to carry general liability insurance, they are required to inform you of their liability insurance status. These professionals are also required to post and maintain bonds of at least $15,000 throughout their licenses' validity period and carry workers' compensation insurance if they have at least one employee. You can get more information on the mandatory bonding and workers' compensation insurance requirements for Los Angeles carpenters by contacting the CSLB at (800) 321-2752.