About Us

Our Mission

To protect and serve consumers while ensuring a fair and competitive market through oversight, enforcement, and licensing of professions in household moving, electronic and appliance repair, protection plans, upholstered furniture and bedding, and thermal insulation.


What We Do

  • Licensing – BHGS licenses more than 40,000 professionals and provides a tool for consumers to check the license status of these professionals.
  • Lab Testing – BHGS inspects upholstered furniture, bedding, and thermal insulation businesses and identifies samples to test in our accredited laboratory to verify that products are as advertised and meet flammability standards.
  • Enforcement – BHGS investigates consumer complaints on issues under its jurisdiction. If violations are found, offenders may face discipline including probation, suspension or revocation of a license, fines and citations, letters of reprimand, cease and desist orders, or criminal charges.
  • Education – BHGS engages in community outreach events and distributes publications, videos, and other media to inform consumers, applicants, and licensees of their rights and responsibilities.

Our History

  • 1911 The California Bureau of Home Furnishings and Thermal Insulation (HFTI) is established in response to dishonest practices in the mattress industry which contributed to fires following the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.

  • 1963 The California Bureau of Electronic and Appliance Repair (EAR) is established under what would later become the Department of Consumer Affairs in response to fraud in the television repair industry.

  • 2009 HFTI and EAR merge to create the Bureau of Electronic and Appliance Repair, Home Furnishings, and Thermal Insulation (BEARHFTI).

  • 2017 The Division of Household Movers is established within BEARHFTI, and jurisdictional oversight of the industry transfers from the California Public Utility Commission in 2018.

  • 2019 BEARHFTI is renamed to the Bureau of Household Goods and Services (BHGS).