Do you need a general contractor license in Washington?

Licensing office Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), Contractor Registration [1]

The license pathway in Washington

1. 1

   Construction worker (employee)

   If you work for wages as an employee, the contractor registration law doesn't apply to you. Electrical and plumbing work still need L&I trainee certificates. [2][10][11]

2. 2

   Specialty contractor

   • $150.20 per 2-year registration
   • Every 2 years

   Works in one of L&I's 63 specialties, such as roofing, painting or HVAC. Needs a $15,000 bond and liability insurance, and can't hire subcontractors. [1][2][3]

3. 3

   General contractor

   • $150.20 per 2-year registration
   • Every 2 years

   Uses more than one building trade on a job, or superintends the work, and can hire subcontractors in several specialties. Needs a $30,000 bond and liability insurance. [1][2][3]

Who has to register

Washington requires all construction contractors to register with L&I and to be bonded and insured. Once registered, a contractor can bid, advertise and do construction work, including building, remodeling, repairing and demolishing buildings, roads and other real property. Working without registering carries penalties and fines.

State law defines a general contractor as one whose work uses more than one building trade on a single job or under a single building permit, or who superintends or consults on contractor work. A specialty contractor is any other contractor and may subcontract only work that's incidental to its specialty. [1][2]

Who doesn't have to register

The registration law lists exemptions. Among them:

• Employees working for wages as their only pay.
• People working on their own property, unless the work is for selling, demolishing or leasing it.
• Small jobs where the total contract price for one project is under $500. This doesn't apply if the job is part of a larger project or if you advertise as a contractor.
• Washington-certified electricians and plumbers working within their certification.

[2]

Bond, insurance and fees

Bond. A continuous contractor surety bond of $30,000 for general contractors or $15,000 for specialty contractors (or an assignment of savings). L&I raised the bond amounts to these levels on July 1, 2024.

Insurance. General liability of $200,000 public liability and $50,000 property damage, or $250,000 combined single limit. Your bond and insurance must use your exact business name, and L&I must be the certificate holder on your insurance.

Fee. $150.20 for each registration or renewal. A registration lasts two years. Reinstating a suspended registration costs $70.90. [1][2][3]

Plumbing, electrical and other licensed trades

L&I says contractors working with plumbing, electrical, elevators, mobile home installation, boilers and asbestos have additional education, exam and licensing requirements.

Since July 1, 2021, general contractors can't offer, advertise or bid on projects that require plumbing work unless they're also licensed as plumbing contractors; otherwise they must subcontract the plumbing to a licensed plumbing contractor. Electrical work needs an L&I electrical contractor license, and all electrical work must be done by certified electricians. See our Washington plumber and Washington electrician pages. [1][4][5][6]

Union and open-shop apprenticeships for building trades

Washington has union and non-union registered apprenticeship programs; joining a union is your choice. Search L&I's ARTS database for programs near you.

The Washington State UBC JATC, the carpenters' union program, runs 8,000-hour carpenter and residential carpenter apprenticeships across Washington and Idaho. Applicants can be 17 with a parent's consent, and there's no education requirement or entrance test. CITC runs an 8,000-hour carpenter apprenticeship for applicants 18 and older with a high school diploma or equivalent. [7][8][9]

Steps to get licensed in Washington

1. Register your business with the Department of Revenue

   Choose your business structure and name and get a UBI number. L&I's guide Applying for Your Washington Business License walks through it. [1]

2. Buy a surety bond and liability insurance

   A $30,000 continuous contractor bond for a general contractor ($15,000 for a specialty contractor), and liability insurance with L&I listed as certificate holder. [1][2]

3. Apply to L&I

   Submit a notarized Application for Contractor Registration with your bond, insurance certificate and the $150.20 fee, at a local L&I office or by mail. [1][3]

4. Renew every 2 years

   Keep your bond and insurance current; L&I suspends a registration when they lapse. Renew online or by mail for $150.20. [1][3]

Where to get the hours

Programs that train general contractors in or for Washington, from their own official pages. Listed by type, not ranked.

• State program

  L&I Apprenticeship Registration and Tracking System (ARTS)

  L&I's database of every registered apprenticeship program in Washington, union and non-union. Apply directly to the programs you're interested in. [7]

• Union

  Washington State UBC JATC (carpenters)

  The carpenters' joint apprenticeship committee, covering Washington and Idaho. Carpenter and residential carpenter apprenticeships run 8,000 hours, with at least 160 classroom hours a year. [8]

• Other

  Construction Industry Training Council of Washington (CITC), Carpenter

  An 8,000-hour carpenter apprenticeship with at least 160 classroom hours a year. Applicants must be 18 with a high school diploma or equivalent. [9]

• State program

  Recognized apprenticeship preparation programs

  Short programs, recognized by the Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council, that have agreements with apprenticeship sponsors, including construction programs such as ABC Inland Pacific's and the Western States Carpenters pre-apprenticeship. [12]

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