This comprehensive directory includes every California state department, board, commission, and office. It’s designed to help residents, businesses, and researchers find official information and access government services quickly. Each listing links directly to the department’s official website for the most current details.
How to Use This Page:
- Select a department name to visit its official website.
- Many offer online forms, publications, and contact information.
- Use each site’s search or contact tools for specific programs or services.
- Scroll down to the Full Directory and click a letter to expand departments starting with that letter.
- Bookmark this page for quick access to California’s government resources.
Popular California Departments
These departments are the most visited and widely used by California residents and businesses.
Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
Oversees driver licensing, vehicle registration, and identification cards. Services include renewing licenses, registering vehicles, scheduling driving tests, and providing driving records.
- Phone: 800-777-0133
California Department of Public Health (CDPH)
Protects public health through disease prevention, health promotion, and emergency response. Provides information on vaccines, environmental health, and public health statistics.
- Phone: 916-558-1784
Franchise Tax Board (FTB)
Administers California’s personal income and corporate taxes. Offers resources for filing taxes, making payments, checking refunds, and understanding state tax laws.
- Phone: 800-852-5711
Employment Development Department (EDD)
Manages unemployment benefits, disability insurance, and workforce development programs. Provides online claim filing, job search tools, and employer resources.
- Phone: 800-300-5616
California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA)
Administers sales and use taxes, fuel taxes, and other special taxes and fees. Businesses can register, file returns, and make payments online.
- Phone: 800-400-7115
Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH)
Enforces California’s civil rights laws, addressing discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations. Provides complaint filing tools and legal resources.
- Email: contact.center@calcivilrights.ca.gov
- Phone: 800-884-1684
Department of Insurance (CDI)
Regulates the state’s insurance industry, licenses insurance agents, and investigates fraud. Consumers can verify agents, file complaints, and review insurance rates.
- Email: webassist@insurance.ca.gov
- Phone: 800-927-4357
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR)
Oversees state prisons, parole, and rehabilitation programs. Offers inmate locator tools, visitation information, and reentry resources.
- Email: cdcrwebmasters@cdcr.ca.gov
- Phone: 916-324-6919
Department of Social Services (CDSS)
Administers programs that support children, families, and vulnerable adults, including CalFresh, foster care, and child welfare services.
- Email: piar@dss.ca.gov
- Phone: 916-651-8848
Contractors State License Board (CSLB)
Licenses and regulates contractors in California. Offers tools to verify contractor licenses, file complaints, and learn about hiring qualified professionals.
- Phone: 800-321-2752
Department of Human Resources (CalHR)
Manages the state’s civil service system, including recruitment, classification, and employee benefits. Job seekers can search and apply for state jobs here.
- Phone: 916-909-3758
Department of Health Care Services (DHCS)
Administers Medi-Cal and other health care programs for low-income Californians, providing eligibility information, benefits details, and application assistance.
- Phone: 800-541-5555
Full Directory of State Departments in California
This complete list of California's state departments, boards, commissions, and offices is organized alphabetically. Click a letter below to expand its section and view all related agencies. Each entry connects directly to the official website for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
A
- Accountancy, California Board of
- Achieving a Better Life Experience, California
- Acupuncture Board, California
- Administrative Hearings, Office of
- Administrative Law, Office of
- Aging, California Commission on
- Aging, Department of
- Agricultural Labor Relations Board
- Air Resources Board
- Alcoholic Beverage Control Appeals Board
- Alcoholic Beverage Control, Department of
- Allocation Board, State
- Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority, California
- Apprenticeship Council, California
- Arbitration Certification Program
- Architects Board, California
- Arts Council, California
- Assembly, California State
- Athletic Commission, California State
- Auditor, California State
- Automotive Repair, Bureau of
B
- Baldwin Hills Conservancy
- Bar of California, State
- Barbering and Cosmetology, Board of
- Behavioral Sciences, Board of
- Biodiversity Council, California
- Boating and Waterways Commission, California
- Building Standards Commission, California
- Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers
- Business and Economic Development, Governor's Office of
- Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency, California
C
- California Privacy Protection Agency
- Cannabis Control Appeals Panel
- Cannabis Control, Department of
- Cemetery and Funeral Bureau
- Center for Data Insights and Innovation
- Central Valley Flood Protection Board
- Child Support Services, Department of
- Chiropractic Examiners, Board of
- Citizens Compensation Commission, California
- Citizens Redistricting Commission
- Civil Rights Department
- Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy
- Coastal Commission, California
- Coastal Conservancy, State
- Colorado River Board of California
- Community Colleges, California
- Community Services and Development, Department of
- Compensation Insurance Fund, State
- Conservation Corps, California
- Conservation, Department of
- Consumer Affairs, Department of
- Contractors State License Board
- Controller's Office, State
- Cool California
- Corrections and Rehabilitation, California Department of
- Court Reporters Board of California
- Courts, California
- Criminal Justice and Behavioral Health, Council on
D
- Data and Innovation, Office of
- Debt and Investment Advisory Commission, California
- Debt Limit Allocation Committee, California
- Delta Protection Commission
- Delta Stewardship Council
- Dental Board of California
- Dental Hygiene Board of California
- Developmental Disabilities, State Council on
- Developmental Services, Department of
- Disability Access, California Commission on
- Disabled Veterans Business Enterprise Advisory Council
E
- Earthquake Authority, California
- Education, California Department of
- Education, California State Board of
- Educational Facilities Authority, California
- Emergency Medical Services Authority
- Emergency Services, Governor's Office of
- Employment Development Department
- Employment Training Panel
- Energy Commission, California
- Energy Infrastructure Safety, Office of
- Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists, Board of Professional
- Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, Office of
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Equalization, Board of
- Exposition and State Fair, California
F
- Fair Political Practices Commission
- FI$Cal, Department of
- Film Commission, California
- Finance, Department of
- Financial Protection and Innovation, Department of
- Financing Coordinating Committee, California
- First 5 California
- Fish and Game Commission
- Fish and Wildlife, Department of
- Food and Agriculture, Department of
- Forestry and Fire Protection, Board of
- Forestry and Fire Protection, California Department of
- Franchise Tax Board
G
H
- Health and Human Services Agency
- Health and Safety and Workers' Compensation, Commission on
- Health Benefit Exchange, California
- Health Care Access and Information, Department of
- Health Care Services, Department of
- Health Facilities Financing Authority, California
- Healthy Food Financing Initiative Council, California
- High-Speed Rail Authority
- Highway Patrol, California
- Historical Records Advisory Board, California
- Historical Resources Commission, State
- Horse Racing Board, California
- Household Goods and Services, Bureau of
- Housing and Community Development, Department of
- Housing Finance Agency
- Human Resources, Department of
I
L
- Labor and Workforce Development Agency
- Lands Commission, California State
- Landscape Architects Technical Committee
- Law Revision Commission, California
- Legislative Analyst's Office
- Legislature, California State
- Library, California State
- Lieutenant Governor, Office of
- Little Hoover Commission
- Lottery, California State
M
N
O
P
- Parks and Recreation Commission, California State
- Parks and Recreation, Department of
- Parole Hearings, Board of
- Patient Advocate, Office of the
- Peace Officer Standards and Training, Commission on
- Personnel Board, State
- Pesticide Regulation, Department of
- Pharmacy, California State Board of
- Physical Therapy Board of California
- Physician Assistant Board
- Pilot Commissioners for the Bays of San Francisco, San Pablo, and Suisun, Board of
- Planning and Research, Governor's Office of
- Podiatric Medical Board of California
- Pollution Control Financing Authority, California
- Pooled Money Investment Board
- Prison Industry Authority
- Private and Postsecondary Education, Bureau for
- Professional Fiduciaries Bureau
- Psychology, Board of
- Public Employees Retirement System, California
- Public Employment Relations Board, California
- Public Health, California Department of
- Public Utilities Commission, California
R
S
- Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy
- San Diego River Conservancy
- San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission
- San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy
- San Joaquin River Conservancy
- Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy
- Scholarshare Investment Board
- School Finance Authority, California
- Secretary of State
- Security and Investigative Services, Bureau of
- Seismic Safety Commission
- Senate, California State
- Sierra Nevada Conservancy
- Social Services, Department of
- Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensers Board
- State Fire Marshal, Office of the
- State Hospitals, Department of
- State Mandates, Commission on
- State of California
- State Teachers Retirement System, California
- State Water Resources Control Board
- Status of Women and Girls, Commission on
- Structural Pest Control Board
- Student Aid Commission, California
- Systems Integration, Office of
T
- Tahoe Conservancy, California
- Tax and Fee Administration, California Department of
- Tax Credit Allocation Committee, California
- Teacher Credentialing, Commission on
- Technology, California Department of
- Toxic Substances Control, Department of
- Traffic Safety, Office of
- Transportation Agency, California State
- Transportation Commission
- Transportation, Department of
- Treasurer's Office, State
U
V
W
Staying Informed
California’s government agencies update their websites regularly to reflect new laws, programs, and services. For official announcements and the latest updates, visit the State of California’s main government portal, or the guides below.
Mac Douglass
Mac Douglass