General Contractor Registration
General · State registration · Washington Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) - Contractor Registration
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Continuing education
- Not required
- Deadline rule
- Certificate of registration is valid for two years and must be renewed on or before the expiration date (RCW 18.27.060). L&I mails a renewal notice no more than 45 days before expiration (WAC 296-200A-025). A contractor may ask that the registration period end on a particular day, for example to line it up with another license, but the period cannot exceed two years (WAC 296-200A-025).
Show fees, grace period, bond and insuranceHide fees, grace period, bond and insurance
- Grace period
- No grace period is provided. A contractor must not advertise, bid or perform work while the registration is expired or suspended.
Fees, approximate
- Renewal fee
- About $150
- Late fee
Show the details (amounts are approximate)
No separate late fee is set for contractor registration. Registration is suspended automatically if the bond or insurance is cancelled or lapses, or if the UBI number is inactive (WAC 296-200A-040). Reinstatement after suspension costs about $70.90 (WAC 296-200A-900, eff. 7/1/2026).- Reinstatement
Show the details (amounts are approximate)
Reinstatement after suspension costs about $70.90 and requires correcting the cause (for example restoring the bond or insurance) and providing proof. A registration that has expired must be renewed or reregistered at about $150.20.
Fees change. Check the official site for the exact amount.
Why approximate?
Boards change fees often and some charge extra processing fees. We show a recent amount so you can plan.
- Bond
- Required: $30,000. Verify the amount with the board.
- Insurance
- General liability: $200,000 public liability plus $50,000 property damage, or $250,000 combined single limit (L&I). RCW 18.27.050 sets statutory minimums of $50,000 property damage, $100,000 per person and $200,000 for more than one person. Insurance must be furnished at registration and at each reregistration; if the policy expires or is cancelled the registration is suspended automatically. Insurance certificates cannot be sent by email or fax.
- Reciprocity
- No general contractor registration reciprocity with Oregon or any other state; each contractor must register with L&I. (The 2020 Oregon-Washington agreement covers general journey-level electricians only.)
Notes
Washington registers contractors (no exam). Requires an active UBI number (Dept of Revenue), a $30,000 bond for general contractors (increases to $40,000, $60,000 or $90,000 with 1, 2 or 3 or more final judgments in the past 5 years, WAC 296-200A-030) and liability insurance. Fee is $150.20 for 2 years (eff. 7/1/2026). Local city business licenses may also apply.
Confidence: HighConfirmed from official rule textLast checked Oct 17, 2026
Sources (9)
- https://www.lni.wa.gov/licensing-permits/contractors/register-as-a-contractor/
- https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=18.27.060
- https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=18.27.050
- https://app.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=296-200A-900
- https://app.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=296-200A-030
- https://app.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=296-200A-040
- https://app.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=296-200A-025
- https://app.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=296-200A-016
- https://www.lni.wa.gov/news-events/article/20-030/