Does Washington license or register general contractors?
Direct answer: Washington does not issue a conventional exam-based general contractor license. Construction contractors register with the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), maintain the required bond and liability insurance, and keep the registration active.
Washington requires construction contractors to register with L&I and to be bonded and insured. L&I contractor registration Once registered, a contractor may bid, advertise, and perform construction work within the registration and any separate trade-license limits. L&I contractor registration
The registration is not permission to perform every regulated trade. Electrical, plumbing, elevators, mobile-home installation, boilers, and asbestos work carry additional requirements.
How Washington contractor registration works
The model has two construction-contractor classifications:
- General contractor: Can perform most types of construction work and hire subcontractors in multiple specialties.
- Specialty contractor: Can work only in the registered specialty and cannot hire subcontractors.
L&I says general contractors can perform most types of construction work and hire subcontractors in multiple specialties. L&I contractor classifications L&I says specialty contractors can work only in their registered specialty and cannot hire subcontractors. L&I contractor classifications
Choose the classification from the work and subcontracting model, not from which bond is cheaper. A company coordinating unrelated trades under one contract generally needs the general classification.
What you need before you apply
To register, you need to:
- Register the business with the Washington Department of Revenue and obtain a Uniform Business Identifier (UBI).
- Obtain the required continuous contractor surety bond or an accepted assignment of savings.
- Purchase general liability insurance at the required limit.
- Complete the contractor-registration application.
- Pay the application fee.
L&I currently lists the contractor-registration application fee as $150.20. L&I registration steps and fee The state registration page does not list a general-contractor experience threshold or competency exam among these registration steps.
Current fee, bond, and insurance amounts
Budget for three distinct items: the L&I fee, the bond premium or cash assigned as security, and the liability-insurance premium. The registration fee is $150.20. The no-change renewal fee is also $150.20. L&I contractor registration
The required continuous bond amount is $30,000 for a general contractor and $15,000 for a specialty contractor. L&I bond requirements Those are bond penal sums, not the premium you pay a surety. The actual premium depends on the bond provider and underwriting.
The liability requirement is either $200,000 in public liability plus $50,000 in property damage, or a $250,000 combined single-limit policy. L&I insurance requirements For a plain-language comparison of what each financial product does, see contractor bonds versus insurance.
Application process and processing time
For the cleanest filing:
- Make the business name identical across the Department of Revenue record, bond, insurance certificate, and application.
- Complete the Application for Contractor Registration and have the required signatures notarized.
- Assemble the original continuous bond or assignment of savings, insurance certificate, and $150.20 payment.
- File at a local L&I office or mail the complete packet.
For a mailed filing, L&I requires the original application with notarized signatures and does not accept a copy. L&I application instructions L&I currently says complete mailed applications take three to four weeks after receipt to process and activate. L&I processing time
After activation, L&I lists the business in its public verification tool and sends a registration card.
How to renew without a coverage gap
Before renewing, check the public record and make sure the bond or assigned account and liability-insurance information are current. L&I lists the current renewal fee as $150.20. L&I renewal instructions
You can renew online, by mail, or in person when the business information has not changed. A change in partners, business name, structure, or specialty follows the update process rather than the no-change renewal path.
Do not wait for renewal to fix coverage. New or updated bond and insurance documents must reach L&I in the required form. Insurance certificates are not accepted by email or fax.
General versus specialty registration
A general registration is the fit when the company performs broad construction work or hires subcontractors across specialties. A specialty registration is narrower: the contractor performs only the registered specialty and cannot hire subcontractors.
That subcontracting restriction is the deciding factor many small contractors miss. If the business takes a multi-trade contract and then hires another company for part of the work, a specialty registration may not match the operating model.
The bond differs by classification, but the liability floor is the same. L&I also states that when a contractor switches from general to specialty, the bond amount cannot be reduced for two years. L&I bond-update rules
Electrical and plumbing credentials are separate
General contractor registration does not replace an electrical contractor license or individual plumbing certification. To engage in the electrical construction business, a company must obtain an electrical contractor license from L&I. L&I electrical contractor licensing The electrical company needs a valid UBI, an assigned certified electrical administrator or master electrician, and an original $4,000 electrical or telecommunications contractor bond or savings assignment. L&I electrical contractor requirements Our Washington electrician license guide explains the individual and business credentials.
Washington requires a person to be certified through the state Plumber Certification Program to work in the plumbing trade. L&I plumber certification The journey-level path requires at least 8,000 trainee hours, including at least 4,000 hours in commercial or industrial installations. L&I plumber experience requirements See the Washington plumbing license guide for certification levels and scope.
Bond and insurance filing details
The bond and insurance documents must use the exact business name, and L&I must be named as a certificate holder on the liability policy. L&I bond and insurance filing rules Originals are required to complete registration.
Instead of a surety bond, L&I accepts an assignment of account using its form. The assigned funds may be cash, a certificate of deposit, a time deposit, or a money-market account held at a qualifying institution with a Washington branch. L&I bond alternative
A bond is not liability insurance. The bond provides a defined financial pool connected to statutory claims; liability insurance responds under the policy terms to covered third-party losses. Carrying one does not eliminate the registration requirement for the other.
Suspension, reinstatement, and public verification
L&I may suspend a registration when a bond or insurance policy cancels or expires, or when a judgment remains unsatisfied. The agency says it sends notice by certified mail within two days of suspension. L&I reinstatement instructions
To reinstate, correct the underlying problem and pay the current $70.90 reinstatement fee. L&I reinstatement fee Online reinstatement can return the record to active status once the required documents are on file and payment is made.
Use L&I’s Verify a Contractor, Tradesperson or Business tool before signing a subcontract or customer agreement. The tool accepts searches by name, contractor or tradesperson license, workers’ compensation account, or Washington UBI number. L&I verification tool
Washington contractor registration FAQ
Does Washington require a general contractor exam? L&I’s general contractor registration checklist requires business registration, bond or savings assignment, liability insurance, an application, and a fee; it does not list a GC competency exam.
What is the current Washington general contractor bond? The continuous bond amount is $30,000. A specialty contractor’s amount is $15,000.
How much is the contractor registration or renewal fee? L&I currently lists $150.20 for the application and no-change renewal.
What liability insurance is required? Either $200,000 public liability plus $50,000 property damage, or a $250,000 combined single limit.
Can a specialty contractor hire subcontractors? No. L&I says specialty contractors cannot hire subcontractors.
Does contractor registration cover electrical or plumbing work? No. Those trades have separate L&I licensing and certification systems.
How do I check a contractor? Search L&I’s verification tool by name, license number, workers’ compensation account, or UBI.
Do not miss the disclosure and advertising rules
For residential jobs of $1,000 or more and commercial projects from $1,000 through $60,000, L&I requires the Model Disclosure Statement Notice to Customer. L&I model-disclosure requirement Build that notice into the contract workflow rather than treating it as an afterthought.
After registration, the contractor registration number must appear on business communications used to advertise, solicit bids, or offer work. L&I advertising rule Put it in proposal, estimate, contract, website, vehicle, and advertising templates once so the team does not have to remember it job by job.