Licence numbers on ads and vehicles: what the boards of California, New Jersey, Oregon and Washington say

This page reports what the official source says. It is not legal advice: ask the office named here. Facts below were read on the official pages listed under sources on October 8, 2026. A short phrase in quotation marks is the source's own. Other states may have similar rules that were not read for this page.

State	Ads	Vehicles
California	Licence number on all advertising	Name and number, at least 3/4 inch high and wide
New Jersey	Name and NJTC Registration number	NJTC number 3 inches high, two sides
Oregon	CCB number on advertising, including websites	Business vehicles with signage
Washington	Registration number with name or address	Vehicle signs are not advertising

California

The Contractors State License Board fast facts sheet on advertising says licensed contractors "must include their license number in all construction contracts, subcontracts, and calls for bid, and all forms of advertising." The sheet lists newspapers and radio, business cards, lettering on a vehicle, brochures, directories, a contract proposal and any website or post that solicits business on the Internet as forms of advertising. It gives the civil penalty for not complying as between US$100 and US$1,000 for a first offense.

For vehicles, the sheet says that contractors other than the plumbing, sign and well drilling classifications "must display their business name and contractor license number on each of their commercially-registered vehicles in a clearly visible location in print type of at least 72-point font or letters at least ¾ of an inch high and wide." Plumbing, sign and well drilling contractors must show business name, address and number on each side of every commercially registered vehicle in letters at least 1 ½ inches high. The tree service classification is covered in the page on checking a company.

New Jersey

The Board of Tree Experts says licensed tree experts and tree care operators must include their name, title (LTE or LTCO) and licence number, preceded by "#", in all tree care advertisements. Registered businesses must include their name and "NJTC Registration" followed by their registration number, with the board's example "NJTC Registration #100". The board adds that no business may advertise tree care services in New Jersey without being registered.

The board's information for businesses says the registered business shall "prominently display the NJTC number" assigned to it on every service vehicle used for tree care services in New Jersey. The number has to be three inches high and located on at least two sides of each vehicle, and its colour must contrast with the background colour of the vehicle.

Oregon

The Construction Contractors Board's contractor tools page says all contractors must include their licence number on "everything from business cards to site signs," written as "CCB" and then the number, for example "CCB #123456", and that the words "Licensed and bonded" may be added. It lists business cards, written bids, building-related contracts, advertising including websites, telephone book, newspaper, radio and television ads, business letterhead, business signs at construction sites, written inspection reports and business vehicles with signage. It says the number is encouraged but not required on promotional items where that is not practical, such as pens and refrigerator magnets, and not required on clothing or uniforms for sports teams sponsored by construction businesses. The page says violating rule OAR 812-003-0120 by failing to provide a CCB number can bring a fine of up to US$400. The board's compliance page lists failing to display a CCB licence number on most advertising among the common violations. Tree servicing is among the work the board says needs a licence, as set out on the page about Oregon contractor licensing. The text of rule 812-003-0120 itself was not read for this page.

Washington

Section 18.27.100 of the Revised Code of Washington covers contractor registration. Subsection (3)(a) says all advertising that shows the contractor's name or address "shall show the contractor's current registration number." The number may be left out of an alphabetised listing that states only name, address and telephone number. Signs on motor vehicles and on-premises signs do not count as advertising under the section. Subsection (5) says a contractor shall not falsify a registration number or use an expired one in connection with any solicitation or identification as a contractor. Subsection (2) says advertising must show the contractor's name or address as registered.

The chapter defines contractor broadly, covering anyone who in the pursuit of an independent business offers to construct, alter, repair or improve structures attached to real estate. Whether a given tree job falls in it is a question for the Department of Labor and Industries, which administers the chapter.