How to register with the DIR for public works

In one minute

To bid on or work on a California public works job, your company must be registered with the DIR (Department of Industrial Relations). Subcontractors too.
It costs $400 for one fiscal year (July 1 to June 30), or $800 or $1,200 for two or three years.
Bidding or working while unregistered can cost a $2,000 penalty. Register before you bid, and renew before July 1.

Who must register

Anyone who bids on or signs a contract for work that requires prevailing wages: prime contractors, subcontractors, and sole proprietors who do the work themselves. If you're listed on someone else's bid as a subcontractor, you need to be registered too.

Small-project exemption: contractors who work only on small public works jobs don't have to register. The limits are for the whole contract between the agency and the prime contractor:

$25,000 or less for new construction, alteration, installation, demolition or repair
$15,000 or less for maintenance

A $10,000 subcontract on a $500,000 job is not exempt. You still keep certified payroll records on small jobs, and must show them if the Labor Commissioner asks.

What you need before you start

Workers' compensation coverage for any employees.
A CSLB contractor's license if your trade requires one.
No unpaid wage or penalty assessments owed, and not barred from public work by the state or federal government.
You may only use subcontractors who are registered too.

How to register, step by step

Go to the DIR's Public Works Contractor Registration page (link below) and create an account on its Public Works Website Services. If you registered before May 24, 2024, the DIR says you must create a new account.
Enter your company, license and workers' compensation details.
Pick one, two or three fiscal years ($400, $800 or $1,200).
Pay by credit card if you're in a hurry: the DIR says card payments go through within 24 hours, while other payment methods can delay registration up to eight weeks.
Save your DIR registration number. Agencies ask for it on bid forms and contractor-list sign-ups.

Renewal and penalties

Registration runs by fiscal year, July 1 to June 30, no matter when you sign up. Registering in May buys you only a few weeks, so pick two or three years if you register late in the year.

First-time registration: a $2,000 penalty if you bid on, were awarded or worked on a public works job in the past 12 months while unregistered.
Late renewal (July 1 to September 30): $400 if the lapse was accidental, $2,000 if not, when you bid or worked after your registration expired.
Repeat violations: two in 12 months can mean being barred from public works for up to 12 months.

Common questions

I'm a subcontractor. Do I really need it?

Yes, if you work on a public works job above the small-project limits. The DIR counts subcontractors as public works contractors.

Does registering put me on any agency's bid list?

No. DIR registration only makes you eligible. Each agency keeps its own list: see how to get on San Diego County agencies' lists.

When should I renew?

Before July 1 each year (or choose a multi-year registration). A lapse while you're bidding can cost $400 to $2,000.

Sources

Checked November 2, 2026.

General guidance for San Diego County public bids. Every agency sets its own rules: the bid's official notice is always the final word.