Mural artists to be exempt from CA contractor licensing requirements in new law
Muralists will no longer need a state contractor license under a new California law authored by a Sacramento legislator set to take effect in January.
The law — introduced as SB 456 by state Sen. Angelique Ashby, D-Sacramento, and signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in October — exempts “an artist who draws, paints, applies, executes, restores, or conserves a mural” from contractor licensing requirements, according to a Wednesday statement from the Contractors State License Board.
The law defines a mural as a “unique work of fine art” that is “drawn or painted by hand directly onto interior or exterior walls or ceilings, fixtures, or other appurtenances of a building or structure.”
Exemptions will also apply to artists who conserve or restore a mural using sealants or protective coatings, or who apply a primer or base coat to a surface that will feature a mural, the board said.
However, licensing rules will still apply for work that involves patching, plastering, lathing or repairing a wall in preparation for a mural, as well as for the use of scaffolding that is fixed to a structure. Painted wall signs will also continue to require a contractor’s license, according to the board.
To qualify for the exemption, the mural must be protected by a trademark, copyright, label or patent, and the artist must have written permission from the property owner or legal representative to carry out the work, the board said.
This story was originally published December 17, 2025 at 1:49 PM with the headline "Mural artists to be exempt from CA contractor licensing requirements in new law."
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