Hiring a Janitorial Company in California? Check for This Registration

If you are hiring an office cleaning company for the first time, there is one California requirement that is easy to overlook: Janitorial service providers must be registered with the California Labor Commissioner.

This is not the same as a business license or contractor’s license. It is a state registration specifically for businesses providing janitorial services.

Why It Matters

California places responsibility on both sides of the transaction.

A janitorial employer can be fined for operating without the required registration. A business that contracts with an unregistered janitorial employer can also face civil penalties—currently $2,000 to $10,000 for a first violation and $10,000 to $25,000 for a subsequent violation.

In 2025, the California Labor Commissioner cited Pepperdine University and four janitorial contractors after finding that the university had contracted with unregistered cleaning companies.

So this is more than paperwork your cleaning company handles behind the scenes. It is something the buyer should verify. Fortunately, checking it is simple.

First, Ask for the Registration Number

A janitorial provider should be able to give you its current Janitorial Service Provider Registration number. California requires covered janitorial employers to register with the Labor Commissioner and renew that registration annually.

The registration process includes information about the business and, when it has employees, proof of workers’ compensation coverage. Registered employers are also subject to specific recordkeeping and worker-training requirements.

You do not need to become an expert in those requirements. You just need to know that your provider is properly registered.

Then, Verify It

Do not rely only on a registration number printed on a proposal.

The California Department of Industrial Relations provides an online registry where you can verify that the provider’s registration is current.

Check:

• The company name and registration status
• Any DBA name being used
• That the registration is current

Because registrations are renewed annually, this is worth checking when you hire a provider and again when a contract is renewed or materially changed.

Next, Include It in Your Basic Vendor Check

Registration is one part of choosing a cleaning company, not the whole decision. Before hiring, you may also want to confirm:

• General liability insurance
• Workers’ compensation coverage
• Who will actually perform the work
• Your cleaning scope and frequency
• Access and security requirements
• Who you contact for communication throughout the service delivery

The goal is not to build an elaborate procurement process for a small office. It is to make a few basic checks before handing someone keys, badges or after-hours access to your workplace.

Our Recommendation

Before signing or renewing a commercial cleaning agreement in California:

1. Ask the cleaning provider for its Janitorial Service Provider Registration number
2. Verify that registration through the California Department of Industrial Relations
3. Complete your normal insurance, scope and access checks
4. Keep the vendor information with your contract records

That is usually all the office manager needs to do.

DREAM CLEAN is registered with the California Labor Commissioner as a Janitorial Service Provider.

Registration No. JS-LR-1001138920

Verify janitorial registrations with the California Department of Industrial Relations.