How do I register my phone number on the California Do Not Call list?

Register on the federal National DNC Registry at donotcall.gov or call 1-888-382-1222 from the phone you want to register. Registration is free and permanent. California relies on the federal list for consumer registration.

Is the California Do Not Call registry free?

Yes. Consumer registration on the federal National DNC Registry is free. There is no state registry fee in California because the state uses the federal list.

Does the California DNC list cover cell phones?

Yes. Cell phones are covered. The federal registry has accepted cell phone numbers since inception. You can register any personal number — landline or wireless — to block telemarketing calls.

Does it cover text messages?

Telemarketing text messages are restricted under the TCPA whether or not your number is on the DNC list. Registration on the DNC list adds an additional layer of liability for any telemarketer who texts you.

What is the penalty for calling a registered California number?

Federal TCPA: $500 per call ($1,500 willful). FTC TSR penalties up to $51,744 per call. California state penalty: $5,000 per call — and you can sue the telemarketer directly under the state private right of action.

What do I do when telemarketers call after I registered?

Three steps. (1) Tell the caller to put you on their internal do-not-call list — that triggers a separate 30-day cure obligation. (2) File a complaint at donotcall.gov. (3) Document the call (date, time, number, company, what was offered). In California you have a private right of action — you can sue the telemarketer in small claims or state court.

Is registration permanent?

Yes. Federal registration is permanent — once your number is on the list, it stays until you remove it or disconnect the line.

Home / States / California

California Telecom Compliance Guide

Q: Does California have a state Do Not Call list?

No. California does not maintain a separate state Do Not Call list. The federal National DNC Registry at donotcall.gov is the registry that covers California residents. Telemarketers calling into California must scrub against the federal registry every 31 days.

Telecom Compliance Reference — Updated January 2025

Mini-TCPA State — High Risk

Calling Hours

8:00 AM–9:00 PM

Min Penalty

$5,000

Registration

Required

Overview Calling Hours Consent Registration DNC Compliance DNC Registry Enforcement Case Law Legislation

California Do Not Call Registry

California relies on the federal National DNC Registry. Here's how to register and what it actually does — 2026.

California uses the federal registry

California does not maintain a separate state Do Not Call list. The federal National DNC Registry at donotcall.gov is the registry that covers California residents.

Federal registration is free and permanent. Telemarketers must scrub against the federal list every 31 days under FTC rules.

How to register your number

Federal National DNC Registry

donotcall.gov

Administered by the Federal Trade Commission. Free, permanent, covers landlines and cell phones in every state.

How long it takes effect

Federal: 31 days for telemarketers to scrub against your number. State registries vary — most align with the federal 31-day window. Reputable telemarketers stop calling within a week. Bad actors keep calling and rack up violations.

What the registry covers

Landlines

Yes

Cell phones

Yes

Text messages

Restricted under TCPA

What it blocks: Telemarketing sales calls and texts. Calls trying to sell you something.

What it does NOT block: Political calls, charitable solicitations, calls from companies you have a current business relationship with (within 18 months of last purchase / 3 months of inquiry), debt collectors, surveys, and informational calls.

Robocalls and AI voice: Already restricted by TCPA regardless of registration. Adding your number to the DNC list adds an extra layer of liability for callers.

Federal National DNC Registry — what you need to know

Registry URLtelemarketing.donotcall.gov

Consumer registrationFree, permanent

Scrub frequency requiredEvery 31 days (telemarketers)

Telemarketer costFree up to 5 area codes; $75 / 5 area codes / year above

Because California does not run a separate state list, the federal registry is your one-stop registration. Add your number once, leave it there, and any telemarketer calling you in violation is exposed to TCPA damages plus FTC penalties.

What to do when telemarketers call after you registered

Tell the caller to put you on their internal do-not-call list. That triggers a separate 30-day cure obligation under federal law. If they call again after 30 days, that is an independent violation.
File a federal complaint at donotcall.gov/report. The FTC tracks these and pursues serial offenders.
Document the call. Date, time, number that called, company name, what they were selling. Screenshot or save voicemails. This is the evidence you need if you sue or file a state complaint.
Sue the telemarketer in California. California has a private right of action — you can recover $5,000 per call without proving actual damages. Federal TCPA adds another $500–$1,500 per call. File a complaint here →

Recent California DNC enforcement actions

Response Tree LLC (Irvine, CA)

solar

Jan 2024

$7,000,000 settlement

The lead generator is now in the crosshairs, not just the caller. Response Tree operated "consent farms" — websites designed to extract consumer data under false pretenses and sell it as telemarketing leads. The FTC banned them permanently from the telemarketing industry. If you are buying leads from aggregators, verify the consent collection method. Leads harvested through dark patterns or deceptive websites are legally toxic — using them for automated outreach compounds your liability.

Source →

Avid Telecom, Inc.

home_services

May 2023

The Avid Telecom case demonstrates that California AG pursues VoIP providers and intermediaries — not just the companies originating the calls. If you route robocall traffic through your network, you are liable. 577 million calls to CA numbers = massive exposure. The case is also a warning to voice service providers: California participates in multistate enforcement coalitions and the AG Robocall Task Force actively identifies providers facilitating illegal traffic.

Source →

Calling a registered California number costs telemarketers: $5,000 per call under state law, plus $500–$1,500 per call under federal TCPA. Consumers can sue directly — no state agency involvement required.

Running a telemarketing operation?

This page is for consumers and California residents. If you operate outbound calls into California, the compliance scrub workflow is documented separately.

California DNC compliance for telemarketers →

Compare DNC Registry across states

Federal TCPA is the floor. Each state can — and many do — go further.

DNC Registry in FloridaFL DNC Registry in TexasTX DNC Registry in New YorkNY DNC Registry in IllinoisIL DNC Registry in GeorgiaGA DNC Registry in WashingtonWA DNC Registry in OklahomaOK DNC Registry in OhioOH

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This is a compliance reference tool, not legal advice. Data compiled from public statutes, LegiScan, CourtListener, state AG offices, and AI-assisted analysis. Verify all information with qualified counsel before relying on it. Full terms & data sources →