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CSLB C-21 Building Moving and Demolition (Trade Exam) Exam Cheat Sheet (2026)
A free, printable CSLB C-21 Building Moving and Demolition (Trade Exam) exam cheat sheet: the 31 highest-yield points to know, grouped into 5 sections that follow the exam's content areas, each section with its published weight.
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- 31 of the 31 points carry a citation to the rule they come from.
- The real CSLB C-21 Building Moving and Demolition (Trade Exam) exam: 210 minutes.
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- 260 free CSLB C-21 Building Moving and Demolition (Trade Exam) practice questions on the same material, every one explained.
- Last updated: November 2026.
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Planning and Estimating
25% of the exam- Written survey
- A qualified person surveys the framing, floors and walls before demolition; the survey is written and kept on the job site.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8 §1734(b)
- Permit height
- Demolishing a building or structure more than 36 feet high needs a Project Permit for the Project Administrator.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8 §341(d)(3)
- Asbestos thresholds
- Full federal demolition requirements apply at 260 linear feet on pipes, 160 square feet on other components or 35 cubic feet off components.· 40 CFR 61.145(a)(1)
- Utilities first
- Utility service is shut off, capped or controlled at the building or curb line before demolition starts.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8 §1735(a)
- Demolition ball
- The ball may not exceed the lesser of 50 percent of the crane's rated load and 25 percent of the line's breaking strength.· 29 CFR 1926.859(b)
- Units
- Tons are pounds divided by 2,000; cubic yards are cubic feet divided by 27; round loads up.· Arithmetic (CSLB 13E-21 computation questions)
Project Preparation
20% of the exam- Federal asbestos notice
- Notice is due at least 10 working days before asbestos removal or any activity that would disturb it begins.· 40 CFR 61.145(b)(3)(i)
- Lead pre-job notice
- Cal/OSHA must receive written notice at least 24 hours before lead work begins, unless less than 100 square or linear feet is disturbed.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8 §1532.1(p)
- Before digging
- Regional notification centers are advised at least 2 working days before digging.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8 §1541(b)(2)
- Safety program
- Employers adopt a written Code of Safe Practices and hold tailgate meetings at least every 10 working days.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8 §1509
- Vehicle checks
- Haulage vehicles are checked at the beginning of each shift.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8 §1593(d)
- Diversion
- CALGreen requires recycling or salvage of at least 65 percent of nonhazardous construction and demolition debris.· CalRecycle on CALGreen §§4.408, 5.408
- Asbestos limits
- The asbestos PEL is 0.1 fiber per cubic centimeter as an 8-hour average; the excursion limit is 1.0 over 30 minutes.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8 §1529(c)
Building Moving
13% of the exam- Permit to move
- A permit is required to move or demolish a building or structure.· 2025 CBC §105.1
- House moves on state highways
- Caltrans treats house moves as variance permits and does not permit them on freeways and expressways.· Caltrans Transportation Permits Manual §201.25
- Jacks
- Jacks needed equal weight divided by rated capacity times the allowed fraction, rounded up.· Arithmetic (engineering practice)
- Underpinning
- Underpinning is installed in a sequence that protects the neighboring structure and the site.· 2025 CBC §1804.2.1
- Legal limits
- Width 102 inches, height 14 feet, single-vehicle length 40 feet.· California Commercial Driver Handbook
- Clearance and curfew
- Keep at least 3 inches under overhead structures; loads wider than 10 feet face peak-period curfews.· Caltrans Transportation Permits Manual ch. 5
Structure Demolition
21% of the exam- Entrance canopy
- Protection extends at least 8 feet from the building face, at least 2 feet wider than the entrance, and carries 150 pounds per square foot.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8 §1735(j)
- Top-down sequence
- Exterior walls and floors are demolished from the top of the structure downward, a story at a time.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8 §1735(f)(1)
- Walls
- A wall more than one story or 12 feet high may not stand alone without lateral bracing.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8 §1735(m)
- Debris openings
- A floor opening for debris may be no larger than 25 percent of the floor area unless lateral supports remain.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8 §1735(f)(2)
- Drop zones
- Without chutes, the landing area is enclosed by barricades at least 42 inches high and 6 feet back.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8 §1736(f)
- Backfill
- Backfill is free of organic material, construction debris, cobbles and boulders, placed in compacted lifts.· 2025 CBC §1804.3
Safety
21% of the exam- Tailgate meetings
- Supervisors hold safety meetings at least every 10 working days.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8 §1509(e)
- Fall protection
- Personal fall protection applies above 7-1/2 feet at edges and openings; top rails are 42 to 45 inches high.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8 §§1670(a), 1620
- Flaggers
- A flagger is used where barricades and warning signs cannot control moving traffic.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8 §1599(a)
- Night visibility
- Retroreflective garments are visible at a minimum of 1,000 feet in darkness.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8 §1598(d)
- Helmets
- Class E or G near conductors under 600 volts; Class E above 600 volts; Class C only with no contact risk.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8 §3381(c)
- Gloves
- Gloves are not worn where they could be caught in moving machinery.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8 §3384(b)
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