Washington Contractor License

Written by: Will Bond

Last updated:

If you’re thinking about becoming a contractor or expanding your business in Washington, you’ll need to understand the rules and regulations that apply in this field.

This topic can quickly become quite confusing as there’s no single, statewide Washington contractor license and the state instead requires all contractors to register before they can offer their services. Alongside this, contractors are classified in two different categories and also licensed at a local level.

To help you with this, our article breaks down how to register as a contractor in Washington as well as which of the two classifications applies to you plus any other relevant licensing requirements you may need to abide by.

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Do You Need to Register as a Contractor

In the state of Washington, contractors are only able to begin advertising and offering services for even basic construction work once they’ve registered with the Department of Labor and Industries.

For example, you’ll be required to complete the registration process if you plan to do any of the following types of activities on someone else’s property:

  • Construct or alter buildings or other structures
  • Install drywall, flooring, painting, roofing, siding, or anything similar to this
  • Set up cabinets
  • Pressure wash decks, roofs, or any other type of structure
  • Build a flower bed, create a path, and even put plants in pots

However, depending on the specific type of work you intend to carry out, you’ll need to register with the Department as one of the two following classifications for contractors:

  • General Contractors: General contractors in Washington State are responsible for overseeing entire construction projects, managing multiple aspects of the job from start to finish. They typically handle a wide variety of tasks, including constructing or altering buildings, installing plumbing or electrical systems, and coordinating with subcontractors for specialized work
  • Specialty Contractors: By contrast, specialty contractors are licensed to perform work in one specific area or trade (e.g., handling asbestos, installing boilers, or placing concrete), but can only focus on the specialties they’re licensed for. In Washington there are currently 63 of these specialty contractor classifications according to WAC 296-200A-016

An important distinction between these two different types of contractors is that general contractors are able to hire subcontractors to carry out any type of work they need to complete a construction project, whereas specialty contractors are not allowed to employ anyone.

For the majority of readers it will be more appropriate to register as a general contractor due to the versatility it gives you, however if you only intend to work in one specific specialty and won’t need to subcontract out any work, the specialty contractor classification will be better suited for you.

How to Register as a Contractor in Washington

Becoming a general contractor in Washington is relatively straightforward since the state doesn’t mandate a license. This means that — once you’ve registered — there are no specific age, experience, or education qualifications that you must meet at a state level to be able to offer these services.

However, if you intend to perform any work in a specialist trade (i.e., as a plumber or electrician), there are certain steps your business will need to follow in order to get licensed in Washington. While the specifics of these steps vary between each trade, you will generally need to do the following:

Step 1: Apply for a Business License

Before starting the application process for a business license, you’ll first need to decide on the structure of your business. Since this decision will impact your liability, tax obligations, and how you run your business, it’s vital you’re informed about the details of each structure so that you can effectively determine which one best suits your needs.

While you can remain unincorporated, many contracting businesses in Washington — particularly smaller ones — decide to structure themselves as a limited liability company (LLC) because it grants them tax flexibility, limited liability protection, and even extra credibility in the eyes of their clients.

Regardless of how you choose to structure your business, you’ll need to register with the Washington Department of Revenue and Employment Security Department, then apply for a business license. This can be done quickly and easily online for a $50 fee and will be processed in around 10 business days.

However, if you’d prefer to submit it by mail, you can download and fill out the paper form — though applications made in this way can take anywhere up to six weeks to be processed.

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Step 2: Meet the Basic Requirements

After forming your business, you’ll need to confirm that you meet the minimum basic requirements. While the specifics of these requirements will vary depending on the type of contractor you’re registering as, you’ll generally need to:

  • Be at least 18 years of age
  • Be a US citizen or legally reside in the country
  • Have no convictions of a disqualifying offense
  • Demonstrate a certain number of hours of on-the-job training and experience (only regulated trades)

Note: Licenses for regulated trades often require you to have held a more junior qualification in that industry for a certain amount of time. For example, you must have at least four years of experience as a General Journeyman Level Electrician before you can apply to be a General Level Master Electrician.

Step 3: Satisfy Insurance Requirements

In order to be able to register, all contractors will be required to obtain the following:

  1. Continuous performance bond: For general contractors this must be worth at least $30,000 while specialty contractors will only need a bond worth $15,000 or more.
  2. General liability insurance policy: Please note that the policy you obtain must have a value of at least $200,000 in civil liability and $50,000 in property damage (or a combined limit of $250,000 or more).

In addition to containing the exact name of your contractor business on both of these, the Washington Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) must be listed as the certified holder on your general liability insurance policy.

Step 4: Pass a Licensing Exam (If Applicable)

While not a universal requirement, there are certain trades that will require your company to have hired a licensed individual before it can register itself as a contractor business, including:

In order to obtain any of the above licenses, the individual will be required to submit an application and even pass a licensing exam for some of them. For example, plumbers must take and pass the Plumbing Certification Exam testing them on the 2015 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) in order to obtain a license.

Many candidates struggle with these exams as they will often test both their knowledge of the trade and their understanding of Washington’s specific regulations and laws. To avoid this, many applicants take advantage of online study guides and preparatory courses in order to get ready for these exams.

Note: If you’re registering as a general contractor — or even a specialty contractor working in any trade except those listed above — you can skip over this step entirely.

Step 5: Submit an Application

Once you’ve obtained a business license and satisfied the other licensing requirements, the next step is to complete and submit a Contractor Registration Application (F625-001-999) to the Washington Department of Labor and Industries ($132.60 fee).

The quickest way to submit this application is by booking an appointment online, which will allow you to skip the queues when you turn up to drop it off at your local L&I office branch.

Attending in-person is also far more convenient because the in-office staff can guide you through the process of completing your application form (e.g., by notarizing your signatures).

Before attending this appointment, it’s important to ensure you have all the following on hand, or you application will be delayed:

  • Your company’s name and selected structure, or its registration and UBI number
  • A completed, signed and notarized Contractor Registration Application form  (F625-001-999)
  • Your ongoing performance bond (this can be from an insurance agent)
  • Your general liability insurance policy certificate
  • The $132.60 application fee

Alternatively, you can also mail your application — which must still be signed and notarized — to the address below, alongside the following:

  • Your ongoing performance bond
  • Your general liability insurance policy certificate
  • A check/money order for the application fee (payable to the Department of Labor & Industries)

Applications submitted by mail must be sent to the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries at the following address:

Department of Labor & Industries
Contractor Registration Section
PO BOX 44450
Olympia, WA 98504-4450

Once your application to be registered has been successfully approved by the Washington L&I, you should receive a registration card as proof of this within two weeks.

Note: If you’re not sure where your local L&I office is located, you can find this information out on the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries website.

Step 6: Keep Your Contractor License Valid

Congratulations! You’ve now successfully completed the registration process needed to work as a contractor in Washington. However, your licensing journey doesn’t end here, as there are additional bureaucratic requirements your business will need to satisfy in order to operate legally.

The first of these requirements is the need to keep this registration active, which is what allows you to be able to continue offering your services without interruption.

The quickest way to do this is to renew online, though it can also be completed in-person at a Washington D&I office or by mailing it to the address provided in the previous section (Step 5).

In order to complete this step you’ll need all of the following:

  • Your 12-digit contractor registration number
  • Your company’s Unified Business Identifier (UBI) number
  • The means to pay a $132.60 fee

Note: All successful contractor registrations are listed on the L&I’s Verify a Contractor, Tradesman, or Business tool — be sure to periodically check this page for updates if you still haven’t heard anything back.

Other Licenses You May Need

Below, we’ve explored the various additional licenses and permits that your Washington contractor business may need in more detail.

State Business Licenses

While general contractor licenses aren’t required at a state level in Washington, there are certain state business licenses you may need to obtain before you can get up and running.

As an example, if your business offers general contractor services it will likely need to obtain a sales tax permit since the building materials you’ll provide to their clients as part of a construction project are generally taxable.

Additionally, your general contractor business may require an environmental permit from the Washington State Department of Ecology if it takes on certain types of projects with the potential to impact the environment or public health.

For instance, a contractor installing an HVAC system that circulates groundwater through heat pumps or air conditioning units might need UIC authorization to ensure groundwater return flow meets environmental standards.

Note: To better understand your general contractor business’s licensing requirements, check out our Washington Business License guide for a more detailed explanation.

City and Municipal Licenses

Many local municipalities often impose their own additional requirements that you may be required to satisfy for your contracting business to operate legally in that area.

For example, any type of company based in the City of Seattle must obtain a business license before commencing operations if they plan to work within the city’s jurisdiction.

However, more specialist contractors will also likely be required to present their state licensing credentials to the city before it grants them permission to operate.

Note: This is just an overview of the business licensing requirements in some of the most populated cities. Be sure to check the requirements in your local jurisdiction using the directory on the Washington State Department of Revenue website.

Washington Contractor License FAQ

What does it take to get a contractor’s license in Washington state?

While there’s no general Washington contractor’s license, all contractors are required to register with the state before they can begin to operate legally.

If you’re interested in finding out more about the registration process, be sure to check out our Washington Contractor License article.

How much does it cost to register as a contractor in Washington?

The cost to register as a contractor in Washington includes a $132.60 application fee alongside the cost of obtaining your surety bond and general liability insurance.

To find out more about the cost of becoming a contractor, see our How to Get a General Contractor License article.

How much work can you do without a contractor license in Washington?

In Washington, you’re not permitted to perform even minor tasks such as potting a plant for money on someone else’s property without first registering as a contractor.

Unlike in a number of states, the ability to offer contracting services isn’t linked to a certain monetary threshold — if you’re unsure, it’s best to check with the Department of Labor & Industries.

Can I be my own general contractor in Washington state?

Yes, you can act as your own general contractor in Washington State, especially if you’re building or renovating your own property.

However, you’ll still need to comply with local building codes, obtain the necessary permits, and ensure any subcontractors you hire are properly licensed and insured.