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.
.JPG)