A state undercover sting last week in Rancho Murieta resulted in 11 people being charged with illegal contracting after they bid on painting, fencing and landscaping jobs without the proper license.
A $3,800 bid was offered for drought-resistant landscaping – far beyond the $500 limit on labor and materials charges allowed for unlicensed construction contractors, according to the state Contractors State License Board.
See more in the Bee. There's coverage from Channel 13 too. Information on how to hire a contractor is available at the state board's website.