To become a general contractor in Washington State, register with the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), secure the required bond and insurance, submit the application, and pay the fee; general contractors can perform most work and hire subcontractors, while specialties have limits and separate rules. Bond amounts increased on July 1, 2024, to $30,000 for general contractors and $15,000 for specialty contractors. Application fees are published by L&I, with the current application fee listed as $141.10 on L&I’s registration page.
Working in Oregon? Learn how to become a general contractor in Oregon.
A Washington contractor’s license is L&I registration required for anyone performing construction, remodeling, repair, or demolition on real property in Washington; registration enables bidding, advertising, and lawful performance of work.
Washington defines two classes:
Yes. Performing covered construction without an L&I registration triggers substantial penalties and fines under Washington law, and only registered contractors can bid and advertise for covered work. Registration also improves credibility with clients who use L&I’s Verify a Contractor tool to confirm status before awarding jobs, which can influence bid win rates.
Additionally (and more importantly, in our opinion), only licensed contractors have the right to lien in the event of non-payment. So, if a property owner refuses to pay for work you did on a property, you have the right to file a mechanic’s lien in Washington state and, if it comes to it, force the sale of the property to recover payment — but only if you’re licensed. Protect yourself in the future by registering with the state now!
We also get a lot of questions from independent contractors who wonder if they must register to obtain a license in Washington state. The Washington Department of Revenue requires independent contractors to obtain a business license unless they meet each of these three criteria:
1. You earn less than $12,000 per year before deducting expenses.
2. You do not make retail sales.
3. The Washington Department of Revenue does not require you to collect or pay any taxes that it administers.
Under general contractor rules in Washington state, you should apply for a general contractor’s license if you complete construction, demolition, remodeling, or building repair. The Washington state legislature requires you to apply for a separate specialty contractor license if you intend to offer any of these 63 specialty services. Here are the documents you will need to gather up before completing and submitting your contractor registration form:
Once you have collected the required documents, you will need to sign your Washington general contractor registration and have it notarized. You can then deliver your application and supporting documents to the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries office in person or mail them to this address:
Contractor Registration
P.O. Box 44450
Olympia, WA 98504-4450
And now for the final (and least fun) part. As of March 2021, the fee to apply for a Washington contractor’s license or specialty license is $117.90. You will need to renew your license annually, and the renewal fee is the same as your initial registration fee.
Northwest Lien files mechanics’ liens, also known as construction liens, and preliminary notices electronically for contractors in Washington and Oregon — oftentimes, in as little as 48 hours.
Once filed, you can track the progress of your lien online. We are here to support you through the process from choosing which type of lien to file for non-payment of funds owed to you to lien filing to collecting your money. Clients know you mean business when they see you have filed a construction lien through Northwest Lien; in fact, we’re especially proud of our record of obtaining an average of $2 million dollars on behalf of clients each year. Contact us or create a free account today to begin sending liens and notices through Northwest Lien.
