California · Real Estate Licensing
California real estate license lookup on the DRE site.
The California Department of Real Estate (DRE) publishes a Public License Lookup you can use to check a licensee. This page explains what it asks for and links you to it.
Short answer: enter the licensee’s name (Last Name, First Name), a company name, or a License ID in the DRE Public License Lookup. This page does not look anyone up.
What the DRE Public License Lookup asks for
DRE’s Public License Information page says to enter the licensee’s name (Last Name, First Name), a company name, or a License Identification Number. It also offers an optional city field.
- A separate link on the same page searches for a real estate broker or corporation by the main office or branch address.
- Another link searches Prepaid Rental Listing Services (PRLS).
- The page also links a list of active-duty servicemembers and spouses registered to work in California with an out-of-state licence.
DRE’s site also has a Verify a License entry under Consumers (“Find a real estate agent or broker”) and a Disciplinary Actions section for licensees.
Open the DRE Public License Lookup
Fraud warning on the DRE page
The lookup page carries a DRE disclaimer that it is aware of fraudulent attempts by unlicensed persons to use the names and information of real estate licensees. Match the name and the licence ID, and confirm contact details independently through DRE.
Format
This page publishes no licence-number format or check-digit rule, because none is documented on the DRE page. Use the lookup itself to confirm an ID.
Official sources used
- www2.dre.ca.gov/PublicASP/pplinfo.asp (retrieved October 2026)
- www.dre.ca.gov (retrieved October 2026)
Frequently asked questions
How do I look up a California real estate license?
Open the DRE Public License Lookup and search by name (Last Name, First Name), company name or License ID.
Can I search a broker by office address?
Yes. DRE’s lookup page links a separate search for a real estate broker or corporation by main office or branch address.
Does this page confirm that an agent is licensed?
No. It explains the DRE lookup and links to it. Only the DRE result counts.
What if I think a licence is being misused?
DRE warns of fraudulent attempts to use licensees’ names. Verify through DRE and consult its consumer pages on filing a complaint.
Guide only — not a verification tool
This page describes official registers and links to them. It does not check anyone’s licence status, does not copy or proxy any register, and nothing you might type here is transmitted anywhere. Registers change and licensing rules differ by state and city; use the official source linked above and contact the regulator to confirm anything that matters. This is general information, not legal advice.