Washington General Contractor License Requirements (2026)

The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) registers general contractors statewide under RCW Chapter 18.27. Washington uses a registration model: there is no statewide general-contractor trade examination or experience prerequisite. A general contractor may perform more than one construction trade and hire specialty subcontractors, but electrical, plumbing, elevator, mobile-home-installation, boiler, and asbestos work have separate requirements. To register, the business needs a UBI, a $30,000 continuous contractor bond or qualifying assigned savings account, and the required liability insurance.

Regulatory Body

This license is issued and enforced by Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) pursuant to Revised Code of Washington Chapter 18.27 (Contractors); Chapter 19.28 (Electricians); Chapter 18.106 (Plumbers). L&I registers contractors statewide, certifies individual electricians and plumbers, administers prevailing wage, and conducts complaint investigations.

• Official portal: https://lni.wa.gov/licensing-permits/contractors/
• Address: 7273 Linderson Way SW, Tumwater, WA 98501
• Phone: (360) 902-5226

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must be at least 18 years old. Check the current application for identification and tax-number requirements. No Washington residency requirement.

Good moral character

L&I can deny a registration when an applicant has an unsatisfied final contractor judgment or certain unpaid L&I debts. Each principal must complete the required application disclosures.

Background investigation

The application requires each listed principal to provide a Social Security number or ITIN and includes disclosures relevant to registration eligibility; do not rely on an unsupported claim of a routine criminal-background check.

Experience and Education

Eligibility here is not measured in years of experience but by Washington imposes no statutory experience requirement for general contractor registration. Competency is enforced through bonding, insurance, and the complaint process., per the cited materials.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

• L&I Contractor Registration application (Form F625-001-000)
• Unified Business Identifier (UBI) from Washington Department of Revenue
• Social Security number or ITIN for each listed principal

Education substitution

Not applicable.

Exam Requirements

No statewide examination is specified for this pathway. The controlling process is: No examination required for general contractor registration.

Examination fee: No examination fee.

Insurance and Bonds

A contractor license surety bond of $30,000, on the L&I's prescribed form, is a precondition to issuance.

General liability

Washington requires $200,000 public-liability coverage and $50,000 property-damage coverage, or $250,000 combined single-limit coverage. L&I must be the certificate holder.

Workers' compensation

Washington workers compensation is administered by L&I under RCW Title 51. Contractors with employees must open an L&I workers compensation account before registering.

Additional financial requirements

A continuous contractor bond or qualifying assigned savings account is required: $30,000 for a general contractor and $15,000 for a specialty contractor. The amount changed for registrations and renewals on or after July 1, 2024.

Fee Schedule

To turn these board fees into a realistic year-one budget — bond premium, liability insurance, and exam prep included — open the cost calculator preloaded for Washington general contractor.

Renewal and Continuing Education

Expect to renew the Washington Registered General Contractor every 2 years. Renewal currently costs $150.20. Washington contractor registrations renew every two years.

Continuing education: L&I’s renewal instructions require current bond/assigned savings, liability insurance, UBI, and the renewal fee; they do not list continuing education as a general-contractor registration renewal condition.

Reciprocity

Washington does not accept the NASCLA Accredited Examination for this classification.

Washington does not maintain trade-exam reciprocity because no trade exam is required. Out-of-state contractors must register with L&I, post the bond, and obtain Washington insurance.

Weighing more than one jurisdiction? The national hub compares published General Contractor license requirements by state — exam, bond, fee, and experience thresholds side by side.

General Contractor Licensing in Neighboring States

Contractors working near a state line, or weighing where to qualify first, should compare Washington's requirements against the bordering jurisdictions before committing to an application:

• Idaho General Contractor License Requirements — Idaho Contractor Registration and Public Works Contractor License
• Oregon General Contractor License Requirements — Oregon Construction Contractors Board General Contractor License

Step-by-Step Application Roadmap

1. Form a business and obtain a UBI. Register the business with the Washington Secretary of State (if applicable) and obtain a Unified Business Identifier from the Department of Revenue.
2. Open a workers compensation account with L&I. Required if the business will have employees. Sole proprietors with no employees may opt out.
3. File a $30,000 continuous contractor bond. File the required bond or qualifying assigned savings account. A specialty contractor requires $15,000.
4. Obtain the required liability insurance. Use $200,000 public liability plus $50,000 property damage, or $250,000 combined single limit. The policy must list L&I as certificate holder.
5. File the L&I Contractor Registration application. Submit notarized Form F625-001-000 with the current $150.20 registration fee and required originals.
6. Receive the L&I Contractor Registration. L&I issues the registration after the bond, insurance, and UBI are verified. The registration must be renewed every two years.

Application Checklist

The most critical documents or confirmations the applicant should have in hand before filing with L&I:

• Unified Business Identifier (UBI) from Washington Department of Revenue
• Workers’ compensation account (if the business will have employees)
• $30,000 continuous contractor bond or qualifying assigned savings account
• Liability insurance certificate meeting the statutory minimum and naming L&I
• Notarized L&I Contractor Registration application (Form F625-001-000) with $150.20 fee

Progress is saved in this browser, so you can return to this checklist while your application is in flight.

Common Filing Mistakes

Working from the cited board instructions, here are the snags most likely to trip up a Washington General Contractor filing.

Confusing registration with licensing

Washington registration confirms bonding and insurance, not competency. Contractors who assume the state vouches for skill level are mistaken.

Letting the bond lapse

L&I suspends a registration when its bond or insurance requirement is not met. Keep either coverage current before renewal and throughout the registration period.

Skipping workers compensation

Washington workers compensation is monopolistic — coverage is purchased from L&I, not a private carrier. Contractors with employees must open the account before starting work.

Bidding a separately regulated trade without its credential

Contractor registration alone does not authorize regulated electrical, plumbing, elevator, mobile-home-installation, boiler, or asbestos work.

Using an outdated bond amount

The former $12,000/$6,000 figures were replaced by the $30,000/$15,000 requirements for registrations and renewals on or after July 1, 2024.

Study and Reference Materials

What follows are the regulator-cited and commonly used preparation references for this trade. They appear here for convenience only; CLR takes no compensation for them.

• L&I Contractor Registration Handbook (Form F625-085-000) — Washington L&I. Step-by-step guide to the registration process.
• RCW Chapter 18.27 (Contractors) — State of Washington. Statutory basis for contractor registration.

Other Washington Trade Licenses

CLR covers other Washington trades as well — the published guides below may be more relevant:

• Washington Electrician License Requirements
• Washington Plumber License Requirements
• Washington HVAC Technician License Requirements
• Washington Roofing Contractor License Requirements
• Washington Painting Contractor License Requirements
• Washington Landscaping Contractor License Requirements
• Washington Masonry Contractor License Requirements
• Washington Concrete Contractor License Requirements
• Washington Carpentry Contractor License Requirements
• Washington Solar Installer License Requirements
• Washington Low-Voltage Technician License Requirements
• Washington Fire Sprinkler Contractor License Requirements
• Washington Home Inspector License Requirements
• Washington Pool Contractor License Requirements
• Washington Handyman License Requirements
• Washington Pest Control License Requirements
• Washington Septic Contractor License Requirements

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Washington have a state general contractor exam?

No. Washington uses a registration model under RCW 18.27, not a competency licensing model. There is no trade exam and no experience requirement at the state level.

How much is the Washington contractor surety bond?

$30,000 for general contractors and $15,000 for specialty contractors. A contractor may use a qualifying assigned savings account instead of a bond.

What insurance is required for Washington contractors?

$200,000 public liability plus $50,000 property damage, or $250,000 combined single limit. Workers’ compensation coverage is required when the business has employees.

Is the Washington general contractor registration the same as a license?

Functionally yes, but legally it is a registration, not a competency license. The state confirms bonding and insurance rather than skills.

How often does Washington contractor registration renew?

Every two years. The bond and insurance must remain in force throughout the cycle.

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