AI receptionists for California businesses
Yes. We build and manage AI receptionists for California businesses, managed for you end to end from our studio in Kalispell, Montana. California is an all-party consent state under Cal. Penal Code 632(a); 632.7(a); 637.2 (civil action), so an AI receptionist that records calls has to say so at the start, inside the recording. California has no general AI disclosure rule for a small business's inbound calls: its laws reach health care patient messages, businesses with more than 500 million dollars in revenue from 2027, and outbound dialing devices. Your agent answers in Pacific time, on the number you already have or a new local California number.
Researched and written by Modern Mustard Seed in Kalispell, Montana. Rules checked October 26, 2026, each linked to the text we read.
California at a glance
- Area codes
- 41
- 209 · 213 · 279 · 310 · 323 · 341 · 350 · 357 · 369 · 408 · 415 · 424 · 442 · 510 · 530 · 559 · 562 · 619 · 626 · 628 · 650 · 657 · 661 · 669 · 707 · 714 · 738 · 747 · 760 · 805 · 818 · 820 · 831 · 837 · 840 · 858 · 909 · 916 · 925 · 949 · 951
Recording a call in California
California is an all-party consent state. 632 requires every party's consent to record a confidential communication. 632.7 requires every party's consent to record any call involving a cellular or cordless phone, confidential or not. leginfo.legislature.ca.gov refused automated reads; read on FindLaw (current to 2026-01-01).
“A person who, intentionally and without the consent of all parties to a confidential communication, uses an electronic amplifying or recording device to eavesdrop upon or record the confidential communication”
- Kearney v. Salomon Smith Barney, Inc., 39 Cal.4th 95 (2006): California law governs recording calls with California residents from a one-party state; notice at the outset complies (opinion read).
- Smith v. LoanMe, Inc., 11 Cal.5th 183 (2021): 632.7 applies to parties to the call, not only eavesdroppers (from summaries).
For your agent: Give a spoken "this call is recorded" notice at the start of every call with anyone in California, inbound and outbound.
Does it have to say it is AI in California?
California has no general AI disclosure rule for a small business's inbound calls: its laws reach health care patient messages, businesses with more than 500 million dollars in revenue from 2027, and outbound dialing devices.
Reaches some businesses · In force since January 1, 2025
California generative AI in patient communications (AB 3030)
Health facilities, clinics and physician offices using generative AI for patient clinical communications that no licensed provider has reviewed must say so, spoken at the start and the end of an audio interaction, and tell the patient how to reach a person.
“For audio communications, the disclaimer shall be provided verbally at the start and the end of the interaction.”
Cal. Health & Safety Code 1339.75 (Stats. 2024, Ch. 848, AB 3030)
Reaches some businesses · Takes effect January 1, 2027
California customer service chatbots (AB 1609)
From January 1, 2027, a large business, with more than 500 million dollars a year in revenue, may not present a customer service chatbot as human, including on the phone, must disclose it when a reasonable person could be misled, and must offer a prompt way to reach a person.
“A large private business shall not represent that a customer service chatbot is a human.”
Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 22625 et seq. (AB 1609, approved by the Governor 2026-09-28)
Outbound calls only · In force since January 1, 2025
California artificial voice notice for automatic dialing-announcing devices (AB 2905)
A call placed through an automatic dialing-announcing device needs a live natural-voice introduction first, and must say if the message uses an artificial voice. Whether a conversational AI agent is such a device is not settled by the text.
“(3) Inform the person called if the prerecorded message uses an artificial voice.”
Cal. Pub. Util. Code 2874(a)(3), (c) (Stats. 2024, Ch. 316, AB 2905)
Does not reach an AI receptionist · In force since July 1, 2019
California BOT Act
Covers bots on websites and apps that hide being artificial to drive a sale or sway a vote. Disclosing is a complete defense. Phone calls are not named in the text.
“A person using a bot shall not be liable under this section if the person discloses that it is a bot.”
Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 17940-17943 (17941) (Stats. 2018, Ch. 892, SB 1001)
The California greeting we recommend
“Thanks for calling [your business]. You have reached our AI receptionist, and this call is recorded. How can I help?”
- Recording notice first: California is an all-party consent state, and a notice captured at the start of the recording is how a business meets it.
- AI disclosure second, which no California statute requires of a business phone agent.
41 area codes, Pacific time
California has 41 area codes in service. The oldest, 213, 415 and 916, date to 1947; the newest, 357, entered service on March 26, 2025. Overlays put more than one code on the same ground: 209/350, 213/323/738, 279/916, 310/424, 341/510, 357/559, 369/707, 408/669, 415/628, 442/760, 530/837, 619/858, 657/714, 747/818, 805/820, 840/909.
- 2091958
- 2131947
- 2792018
- 3101991
- 3231998
- 3412019
- 3502022
- 3572025
- 3692023
- 4081959
- 4151947
- 4242006
- 4422009
- 5101991
- 5301997
- 5591998
- 5621997
- 6191982
- 6261997
- 6282015
- 6501997
- 6572008
- 6611999
- 6692012
- 7071959
- 7141951
- 7382024
- 7472009
- 7601997
- 8051957
- 8181984
- 8202018
- 8311998
- 8372025
- 8402021
- 8581999
- 9091992
- 9161947
- 9251998
- 9491998
- 9512004
All of the state keeps Pacific time. (49 CFR 71.10)
Callbacks and reminders in California
California automatic dialing-announcing device hours
Automatic dialing-announcing devices (prerecorded or artificial voice messages) calling phones in California, for any purpose, when the device is operated in California. Schools, tax-exempt organizations calling members, utilities and emergency agencies are exempt (2872(d), (e)). Pub. Util. Code 2874 also requires a live natural-voice introduction before the message plays.
“A person shall not operate an automatic dialing-announcing device in this state to place a call that is received by a telephone in this state during the hours between 9 p.m. and 9 a.m. California time.”
Who licenses contractors in California
CSLB licenses contractors statewide, general building and specialty trades alike, across 45 classifications. Check a license: Check a License.
“CSLB was established in 1929 and today licenses about 285,000 contractors in 45 different classifications.”
80,869 construction businesses
80,869 of California’s 1,029,689 business establishments, 7.9 percent, are in construction (Census County Business Patterns 2023).
California questions
Is it legal to use an AI receptionist in California?
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Yes. California is an all-party consent state under Cal. Penal Code 632(a); 632.7(a); 637.2 (civil action), so an AI receptionist that records calls has to say so at the start, inside the recording. California has no general AI disclosure rule for a small business's inbound calls: its laws reach health care patient messages, businesses with more than 500 million dollars in revenue from 2027, and outbound dialing devices.
Does an AI receptionist have to say it is AI in California?
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California has no general AI disclosure rule for a small business's inbound calls: its laws reach health care patient messages, businesses with more than 500 million dollars in revenue from 2027, and outbound dialing devices. Every agent we ship says it is an AI when asked.
Which area codes and time zone does an AI receptionist use in California?
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California has 41 area codes in service. The oldest, 213, 415 and 916, date to 1947; the newest, 357, entered service on March 26, 2025. Overlays put more than one code on the same ground: 209/350, 213/323/738, 279/916, 310/424, 341/510, 357/559, 369/707, 408/669, 415/628, 442/760, 530/837, 619/858, 657/714, 747/818, 805/820, 840/909. All of the state keeps Pacific time.
Who licenses contractors in California?
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Contractors State License Board (CSLB); licenses can be checked at https://www.cslb.ca.gov/OnlineServices/CheckLicenseII/CheckLicense.aspx. CSLB licenses contractors statewide, general building and specialty trades alike, across 45 classifications.
Managed for you, end to end
California sources
- Cal. Penal Code 632(a); 632.7(a); 637.2 (civil action)
- Cal. Penal Code 632(a); 632.7(a); 637.2 (civil action), official text
- Cal. Health & Safety Code 1339.75 (Stats. 2024, Ch. 848, AB 3030)
- Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 22625 et seq. (AB 1609, approved by the Governor 2026-09-28)
- Cal. Pub. Util. Code 2874(a)(3), (c) (Stats. 2024, Ch. 316, AB 2905)
- Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 17940-17943 (17941) (Stats. 2018, Ch. 892, SB 1001)
- Cal. Pub. Util. Code 2872(c)
- 49 CFR 71.10
- cslb.ca.gov