I am from Colorado, but have a client building a house north of San Diego. What licenses permits etc. do I need to do low voltage in California?

You need a class C-7 Low Voltage Contractors License.

Go to http://www.cslb.ca.gov for more information. You can get an application there. You will need the experience they indicate and have to pass a test.

George

Thon,

Is your client's name Barbara? If so, I know her and I may have met you a couple of years ago at her and her husband's previous house.

As for the license, the test is very easy. Study the law part for an hour or two and the technical part is very easy. Someone could pass the test with virtually no knowledge of audio video. It's scary to think about some of the people who have passed it and are now legal to work in our profession.

If you need anything while you are down here-- a tool, a ladder, an extra roll of wire-- give me a call. Colorado is a long way to go if you forget something that you need. I'm in the phone book under "Mr. Hookup". Note: "Mr. Hookup" is not a dating service, just in case you were wondering (or hoping).

Enjoy the sun and the beach while you're here.

Keith

you can also do low voltage in California under a general electrician's license, without having to learn all of the networking stuff that we will probably never use. A friend just got a C-7 and he says that A-V installing requires about 5% of the stuff you have to learn to pass the C-7.
If you have watched electricians, know how outlets should be grounded, can read a manual (LOL on That One!), and take a short course, you may find that to be a simpler approach. The subject is easier...and I'd rather learn 95% of easy stuff I'll never use than 95% of difficult stuff I'll never use.