(a) A general building contractor is a contractor whose principal contracting business is in connection with any structure built, being built, or to be built, for the support, shelter and enclosure of person, animals, chattels or moveable property of any kind requiring in its construction the use of more than two unrelated building trades or crafts, or to do or superintend the whole or any part thereof. This does not include anyone who merely furnishes material or supplies under Section 7045 without fabricating them into, or consuming them in the performance of the work of the general building contractor.

(b) A general building contractor may take a prime contract or a subcontract for a framing or carpentry project. However, a general building contractor shall not take a prime contract for any project involving trades other than framing or carpentry unless the prime contract requires at least two unrelated building trades or crafts other than framing or carpentry, or unless the general building contractor holds the appropriate specialty license or subcontracts with an appropriately licensed specialty contractor to perform the work. A general building contractor shall not take a subcontract involving trades other than framing or carpentry, unless the subcontract requires at least two unrelated trades or crafts other than framing or carpentry, or unless the general building contractor holds the required specialty license. The general building contractor may not count framing or carpentry in calculating the two unrelated trades necessary in order for the general building contractor to be able to take a prime contract or subcontract for a project involving other trades.

(c) No general building contractor shall contract for any project that includes the "C-16" Fire Protection classification as provided for in Section 7026.12 or the "C-57" Well Drilling classification as provided for in Section 13750.5 of the Water Code, unless the general building contractor holds the specialty license, or subcontracts with the appropriately licensed specialty contractor.

Course Description

The General Building Manual briefly covers the major topics of the State exam including Concrete, Carpentry and Roofing, Masonry, Electrical, Plumbing, and HVAC. The manual also contains summaries from the Uniform Building Code, National Electrical Code, Uniform Plumbing Code, and Uniform Mechanical Code. The last section of the Building Manual covers the Health and Safety Orders.

The General Building Lectures follow along with the topics addressed in the manual and include a section on Math. The Health and Safety Lecrure covers the Health and Safety Orders at the end of the General Building Manual.