C-27 vs. B license:
what each actually covers.

The short answer

A C-27 (Landscaping) license lets a contractor build and maintain landscaping features — planting, irrigation, decking, patios, walkways, and fencing that support a landscape project. A B (General Building) license is the classification that covers swimming pools, spas, and hot tubs, and any project that combines two or more unrelated trades under one contract, like a kitchen remodel that touches plumbing, electrical, and framing. The two aren’t interchangeable, and the difference isn’t academic — it determines who can legally pull the permit and sign the contract for your project.

What a C-27 can and can’t do

A C-27 contractor can pour a concrete patio, walkway, or steps — but only as part of a broader landscaping scope, not as a standalone concrete job. They can also contract for certain outdoor structures, like a non-watertight patio cover or an open deck, as long as it’s tied to the landscaping work. What a C-27 generally cannot do is build or install a swimming pool, spa, or hot tub — that authority sits with a B license (or the specialty C-53 Swimming Pool classification), not C-27.

What a B license covers

A B (General Building) contractor has explicit authority over swimming pool, spa, and hot tub construction, and is the classification defined by the requirement to use at least two unrelated building trades on a single project — which is why most whole-project general contractors, including full backyard renovations that combine a pool, structural elements, and finish work, hold a B license. If your project is a mix of scopes — pool plus patio plus an outdoor kitchen with plumbing and electrical — a B-licensed general contractor is typically the one positioned to run the whole job and coordinate the trade-specific subs underneath it.

Why this matters when you’re comparing bids

If a bid for a backyard project with a pool comes from a contractor who only holds a C-27, that’s worth asking about directly — not necessarily disqualifying, since they may be subcontracting the pool work to a properly licensed B or C-53 contractor, but you want to know who’s actually on the hook for that portion. Run every license through the CSLB’s Check a License tool and confirm the classification matches the scope of what they’re proposing to build, the same way you’d confirm bonding and workers’ comp. See our full walkthrough on how to vet a general contractor in LA for the rest of that process.

What this means for your project

We hold a B (General Building) license — California license #1094201 — which is what allows us to run combined-scope projects like pools, patios, outdoor kitchens, and structural work under one contract, coordinating the specialty trades rather than you having to manage separate contractors for each piece.