Existing law makes it a misdemeanor for a person to engage in the business, or act in the capacity, of a contractor without a license, unless exempted. This bill would exempt from that law an artist who draws, paints, applies, executes, restores, or conserves a mural, as defined, pursuant to an agreement with a person who could legally authorize the work.

SB456 Resources

Sacramento-based multidisciplinary artist Jaya King and graffiti artist Gabriel Lopez in front of the Support SB 456 - Save CA Murals mural at Advocacy Day 2025.

Support SB 456: Contractors: exemptions: muralists (Ashby)

Problem:

Under California Business and Professions Code, muralists qualify as “contractors” and must carry a commercial license to undertake a mural for more than $1000.

In order to comply, cities across the state have halted the implementation of mural projects. This is both costing artists jobs and creating roadblocks for beautification initiatives like the State’s Clean CA Program. 

• Palo Alto: Four mural artist projects on hold totaling nearly $60,000
• Milpitas: A $30,000 set of murals on hold
• Stockton: Paused a $50,000 mural project.

Obtaining a contractor’s license is unnecessary and burdensome for muralists, requiring them to accumulate specialized experience in unrelated skills and pay expensive licensing fees.

Solution:

SB-456 - Amend State Business & Professions Code 

• Exempt Muralists from Painting Contractor licensing requirement
• CAA co-sponsoring with League of California Cities
• Supporting CAPAA coalition

Authored by Sen. Angelique Ashby

The above images are of “Fabric of Life” by Yanoe x Zoueh in San Juan Bautista, CA. Commissioned as part of Clean CA Program, 2023

Authored by Senator Angelique Ashby and sponsored by CA Arts Advocates and the League of California Cities, SB 456 creates a licensing exemption for muralists, allowing them to continue to engage in public and privately commissioned work. 

SB 456 updates the language in California Business and Professions Code Section 7050 to more accurately define what a muralist is and distinguish their products as works of art, protected under federal copyright laws and fundamentally different from construction projects. The bill also reconciles the business code with the California Arts Preservation Act (CAPA) which protects an artist’s authorship rights.

NOTE: The occupational safety and health requirements are in the labor code and in CalOSHA regulations. Changing the licensing requirement doesn’t relieve any safety rules.

See where the bill is now and other bills we are tracking here.

Since July 2021, the $1.2 billion Clean CA initiative has restored beauty, rejuvenated community pride and celebrated regional identities across the state. From Siskiyou and Modoc Counties in the north, to San Diego and Imperial Counties in the south and hundreds of places in between, regional art and talented local artists have played a starring role in neighborhood transformations. In all, the program has inspired more than 600 installed or planned public murals, mosaics, sculptures and gateway monuments.

Murals provide many community benefits:

• Transforming Neglected Spaces
• Fostering a Sense of Place
• Reflecting Local Culture and History
• Promoting Social Cohesion
• Attracting Tourism
• Increasing Property Values
• Boosting Foot Traffic
• Inspiring Change
• Jobs for Artists!

Want to learn more? Contact: julie@californiaartsadvocates.org

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