Cal. Business and Professions Code § 7141

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, a license that has expired may be renewed at any time within five years after its expiration by filing an application for renewal on a form prescribed by the registrar and payment of the appropriate renewal fee. Renewal under this section shall be effective on the date an acceptable renewal application is filed with the board. The licensee shall be considered unlicensed and there will be a break in the licensing time between the expiration date and the date the renewal becomes effective. Except as provided in subdivision (b), if the license is renewed after the expiration date, the licensee shall also pay the delinquency fee prescribed by this chapter. (b) An incomplete renewal application that had originally been submitted on or before the license expiration date shall be returned to the licensee by the registrar with an explanation of the reasons for its rejection. If a corrected and acceptable renewal application is not returned within 30 days after the license expiration date, the delinquency fee shall apply. The 30 day grace period shall apply only to the delinquency fee. The license shall reflect an expired status for any period between the expiration date and the date of submission of a correct and acceptable renewal application. (c) If so renewed, the license shall continue in effect through the date provided in Section 7140 that next occurs after the effective date of the renewal, when it shall expire if it is not again renewed. (d) If a license is not renewed within five years, the licensee shall make an application for a license pursuant to Section 7066.