After years of successful regulation of the thermal insulation and electronic and appliance repair industries, the California Bureau of Electronic and Appliance Repair, Home Furnishings and Thermal Insulation (BEARHFTI) became the regulator of the home moving and storage industry, taking the reins from the California Public Utilities Commission in July of 2018.
Rather than attempt to add to an already unwieldy acronym, the State Legislature authorized a name change.
On January 1, 2019, BEARHFTI officially became the California Bureau of Household Goods and Services (BHGS). The name change was enacted when Governor Jerry Brown signed SB 1483 in September, 2018.
Like its predecessor, the new bureau holds jurisdictional authority over the following industries:
- Household Movers
- Electronic Service Dealers
- Appliance Service Dealers
- Furniture and Bedding Manufacturers
- Furniture and Bedding Wholesalers
- Furniture and Bedding Importers
- Furniture and Bedding Retailers
- Custom Upholsterers
- Bedding Sanitizers
- Supply Dealers
- Thermal Insulation Manufacturers
- Service Contract Sellers
- Service Contract Administrators
- Service Contract Obligors
Consumers may file a complaint against a licensed or unlicensed business operating in any of the above categories at the bureau’s website.

The logo for the Bureau of Household Goods and Services, designed by the California Department of Consumer Affairs’ Communications Division.
1 comment
Not so great with regard to my company. When a customer violated the requirements for filing a claim they refused to intervene or even comment, leaving me at the mercy of of a judge in small claims who chose to ignore the rules. My request for contact with an attorney working for BHGS was ignored.