Washington Roofing License Requirements (2026)

The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) registers roofing contractors under RCW Chapter 18.27. Every contractor — general or specialty — must register with L&I before performing any contracting work. Roofing falls under the Specialty Contractor classification. There is no trade exam, but registration requires a $6,000 contractor surety bond ($12,000 for general contractors), $200,000 public liability / $50,000 property damage insurance, a UBI (Unified Business Identifier) number, and proof of workers compensation through L&I, which is the monopolistic state fund. Private workers comp policies are not accepted in Washington.

Regulatory Oversight

Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) administers and enforces this credential under the authority of 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

Who May Apply

An applicant qualifies only after meeting the age floor of 18 and producing a valid Social Security Number. No WA residency requirement.

Good moral character

L&I reviews fraud and consumer protection complaints.

Background investigation

Disclosure on application.

Required Experience and Education

There is no published year count for this credential in the cited sources. What actually controls eligibility is no experience threshold — L&I registration is consumer-protection based.

Education substitution

Not applicable.

Examination Requirements

This credential carries no state-administered written exam under the cited sources. What governs instead is: None — Washington does not require a trade exam for contractor registration.

Insurance and Financial Requirements

A contractor license surety bond of $6,000, on the L&I's prescribed form, is a precondition to issuance.

General liability

Minimum $200,000 public liability / $50,000 property damage required at registration under RCW 18.27.050. Market practice $1,000,000.

Workers' compensation

Mandatory through Washington L&I, the monopolistic state fund, under RCW Chapter 51. Private workers comp policies are not accepted in WA.

Additional financial requirements

No financial statement. $6,000 specialty contractor surety bond ($12,000 for general contractors) under RCW 18.27.040.

Licensing Fees

Keeping the License Current

Renewal of the Washington L&I Specialty Contractor Registration — Roofing comes due every 2 years. As cited, the renewal fee stands at $130. Biennial renewal. Lapsed bond or insurance suspends the registration.

Continuing education: No CE required.

Reciprocity and License Transfer

The NASCLA Accredited Examination is not accepted by Washington for this classification.

No reciprocity. Out-of-state contractors must register with L&I.

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

Application Process, Step by Step

1. Register the business entity with the WA Secretary of State and obtain a UBI number. Unified Business Identifier required for L&I.
2. Open a Washington L&I workers compensation account. Mandatory monopolistic workers compensation through L&I.
3. Bind the $200K/$50K minimum insurance. Per RCW 18.27.050.
4. Post the $6,000 specialty contractor surety bond. Per RCW 18.27.040.
5. Submit the L&I Contractor Registration application. $129.30 biennial fee.
6. Display the L&I registration number on advertising and vehicles. Required under RCW 18.27.200; missing it is a per-se Consumer Protection Act violation.
7. Comply with municipal building permits per job. Cities like Seattle, Tacoma, Spokane, Olympia issue permits separately.
8. Renew L&I registration every two years. $129.30 with updated bond and insurance.

Document Checklist

The items below are the ones worth confirming before the application is filed with L&I:

• ☐  WA Secretary of State entity registration + UBI number
• ☐  L&I workers compensation account
• ☐  $6,000 specialty contractor surety bond
• ☐  $200K/$50K minimum insurance certificate
• ☐  L&I Contractor Registration application + $130
• ☐  L&I registration number on advertising and vehicles

Recommended References

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.

• RCW Chapter 18.27 — Contractors — State of Washington. Primary contractor registration statute.
• RCW Chapter 51 — Industrial Insurance — State of Washington. Monopolistic workers compensation.
• Washington State Building Code (IBC/IRC adoption) — WA State Building Code Council. Roof assembly requirements.

Frequent Application Errors

Based on the board's own instructions and the sources cited here, the problems below are what most often stall a Washington Roofing application.

L&I monopolistic fund mistake

Out-of-state contractors with private workers comp cannot use them in WA. L&I coverage must be opened before the first WA payroll.

PNW rain underlayment

Western WA reroofs require self-adhering ice and water shield at eaves and valleys to handle 60+ inches annual rainfall.

Moss treatment liability

PNW moss accelerates shingle failure. Roofers who skip moss prevention or apply zinc strips improperly face stormwater complaints.

Asbestos in older BUR

WA Department of Ecology requires AHERA notification and licensed abatement for ACM roof removal on buildings built before 1981. Penalties are some of the highest in the country.

Registration number missing from advertising

RCW 18.27.200 requires the L&I number on every ad, vehicle, contract, and proposal. Missing it is a Consumer Protection Act violation.

Other Washington Trade Licenses

If the Roofing license is not the right fit, the following published Washington trade guides are also covered by CLR:

• Washington General Contractor License Requirements
• Washington Electrician License Requirements
• Washington Plumber License Requirements
• Washington HVAC Technician License Requirements
• Washington Painting Contractor License Requirements
• Washington Landscaping Contractor License Requirements
• Washington Masonry 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

Questions Applicants Ask

Does Washington license roofing?

Washington requires L&I Contractor Registration for every contractor under RCW 18.27. There is no trade exam — registration is consumer-protection based with a bond and insurance.

How much is the WA contractor bond?

$6,000 for specialty contractors (including roofing); $12,000 for general contractors under RCW 18.27.040.

What insurance does L&I require?

$200,000 public liability / $50,000 property damage minimum under RCW 18.27.050. Most contractors carry $1,000,000.

Is workers comp mandatory?

Yes through Washington L&I, the monopolistic state fund. Private workers comp policies are not accepted in WA.

When does the registration renew?

Every two years. $129.30 fee with updated bond and insurance.

Primary Sources

Regulatory requirements on this page are drawn from the official board, statute, and exam-provider materials listed below.

1. Washington Department of Labor & Industries
2. L&I Contractor Registration
3. RCW Chapter 18.27 — Contractors
4. RCW Chapter 19.28 — Electricians
5. RCW Chapter 18.106 — Plumbers

Verified 2026-06-17  ·  Next scheduled review 2026-09-15