Register as a contractor — or renew your registration

The Basics about being a contractor in Washington

In Washington State, general and specialty contractors must register with the Department of Labor & Industries.

• A general contractor can perform or supervise numerous building trades or crafts.
• A specialty contractor can perform one building trade or craft. Contractor Specialty List

Information on the new redesigned registrations/licenses/certificates issued by the department.

Never registered as a contractor with L&I before?

For step-by-step instructions, go to the 'Register' tab above.

Important note: Before you try to register as a contractor with L&I, be sure to review the information on Access Washington's 'Doing Business in Washington' page to ensure you have met all the other business requirements for any new business.

Need to Renew? Plan ahead

Changes to your business or bond status can cause complications with your registration renewal or result in extra fees. This can also cause your registration to expire, making it illegal to work until your renewal is completed. To stay ahead of the process, review these Obstacles to renewing.

Click on the 'Renew' tab above for the whole renewal process.

How do changes in the Contractor Registration laws affect residential landlords? (180 KB PDF)

For more information

• Request a duplicate or replacement license.
• Construction Contractors: Get the Facts, Get Registered.
• Contractor Rules, Laws and Policies.
• See WAC 296-200A and RCW 18.27.
• If you have any questions, please contact the Contractor Section in Tumwater or your local L&I office.
• Call the statewide contractor registration hotline: 1-800-647-0982.
• Get information about becoming an Electrical or Telecommunication Contractor.
• Most frequently asked questions about contractor registration.

How to register as a contractor for the first time

If this is a new business, you must:

1. Choose your business structure
   If you are going to operate as a Sole-Proprietor or General Partnership, skip to step #3. If you are going to operate as a Corporation, Limited Partnership (LP), Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) or a Limited Liability Company (LLC) continue to step #2.
2. Register with WA Secretary of State or you can call 360-725-0377. Cost: Approximately $180. You can pay an additional fee for expedited service.
3. Complete a Business License Application online to get your Uniform Business Identifier number (UBI#)
   ... or you can go into a Department of Revenue, Employment Security, or Labor & Industries office to pick up the form and get your business license. Cost: $15 – $20.
4. Get your IRS Employer ID# if you plan to employ workers.
   Call the IRS at 800-829-4933 to get an Employer Identification Number (EIN). (Free.)
5. Fill out the Application for Contractor Registration and have it notarized.

   Your local L&I office will notarize it for you.

6. Purchase bond and liability insurance
   Get a surety bond or assignment of account from your insurance agent.
   • $12,000 for a general contractor.
   • $6,000 for a specialty contractor (one trade only).
   Get proof of general liability insurance coverage from your insurance agent.
   • $50,000 property damage policy and $200,000 public liability policy,
     or
   • $250,000 combined single limit policy.

   NOTE: Originals of your bond and insurance will be required to complete your registration.

7. Prepare to pay the registration fee
   Go to Contractor Registration Fees page for the correct amount.
8. Submit your application and required documents to L&I
   The easiest and quickest way to complete this process is to:

  Walk in local L&I office

Be sure to bring:

• Your completed and notarized Application for Contractor Registration (74 KB PDF).
• Evidence of your surety bond or assignment of account from your insurance agent.
• Evidence of your general liability insurance coverage from your insurance agent.
• A check or money order, Visa or MasterCard, to pay the registration fee.

The local customer service representative will make sure all information is complete and answer any questions you may have. You will receive your temporary registration number (your receipt) at that time if all your paperwork is in order.

By Mail

Be sure to mail all of the following:

• Your completed and notarized Application for Contractor Registration (74 KB PDF).
• Evidence of your surety bond or assignment of account from your insurance agent.
• Evidence of your general liability insurance coverage from your insurance agent.
• A check or money order in the amount of $113.40 payable to the Department of Labor & Industries.

Mail all originals to:

Note: Be sure to make copies of all the above for yourself.

After evaluating your application information, L&I will do one of the following:

• If approved, mail your registration within 2 – 4 weeks.
• If rejected, contact you about missing documentation within 2 – 4 weeks.

NOTE: If you do not receive a response within 2 – 4 weeks, please call 1-800-647-0982 to verify we received your application.

Additional information to help you register as a contractor.

• Access Washington's Doing Business in Washington; page great for any new business.
• Contractor Rules, Laws and Policies.
• For additional information, review the following: Applying for Your Washington Business License: A Step-by-Step Guide (Contractor Registration Guidelines Included).(101-079-000)(220 KB PDF)

How to renew your registration

Has your business changed since you last registered or renewed?

If no changes have been made to your business, choose one of the 3 contractor registration renewal options below:

If changes have been made to your business, choose the corresponding change below and follow the directions.

Contractor Registration renewal options:

  Renew online any time of day.

To complete the renewal process online, you will need:

• All the above required documentation on file with L&I.
• An active Contractor Registration (not suspended or canceled).
• Your 12-digit Contractor Registration number.
• Your Social Security Number or UBI number.
• A VISA or MasterCard (credit or debit cards are accepted).

Pay and apply online NOW using L&I’s Get or Renew a License system (QuickCards)

  Renew by mail.

  Walk in to any local L&I office.

Required documentation for renewal.

Choose the corresponding change to your business, and follow the directions.

• New bonding company/bond amount. (L&I doesn't have a current bond for your company)

  I have a new bonding company/bond amount since I last renewed. The old bond expired (or was canceled). What is needed to renew my registration?

  To renew your registration, we must have:

  1. Your new surety bond. ($6,000 for specialty contractors/$12,000 for general contractors on file with L&I)
     • It must be signed by your bonding agent.
     • It must be affixed with the bonding company’s seal.
     • It must be the original document, not a photocopy.
     • It may not have any errors, corrections, or "white-outs."
     • It must reach L&I before the “filing date” shown on the bond.
     • It must show the name of your business exactly as you want it registered with L&I.
  2. Your original, current Certificate of Liability Insurance (for at least $250,000) on file with L&I.
  3. Your payment of $113.40, made payable to: Department of Labor & Industries.
  4. You may bring all required documents and your payment to your local L&I office, or send to:

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

  Note: Include your registration renewal card with your paperwork. It will help L&I process your renewal quickly.

• New insurance policy. (L&I doesn't have current liability insurance for your company)

  I bought a new insurance policy since I last renewed. The old policy is now expired (or was canceled) and my new policy has not been registered with L&I. What is needed to renew or reinstate my registration?

  To renew or reinstate your registration, we must have:

  1. Your new certificate of general liability insurance (for at leaset $250,000) on file with L&I.
     
     • Confirm that it has been submitted electronically by looking your business up online or calling your insurance agent OR if you're submitting a paper certificate of insurance, it must have the following:
     • Signed by your insurance agent.
     • The original document, not a photocopy.
     • No errors, corrections, or "white-outs."
     • The name of your business exactly as you are registered with L&I.
  2. Your payment of $113.40, made payable to: Department of Labor & Industries.
  3. You may bring all required documents and your payment to your local L&I office, or send to:

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

  Note: Include your registration renewal card with your paperwork. It will help L&I process your renewal quickly.

• Change from sole proprietorship to partnership.

  I have changed my business from a sole proprietorship to a partnership since I last renewed. What is needed to renew my registration?

  • You cannot renew your current license. You must register as a new business.
  • Please note your contractor registration number will change. Please update all advertising with your new registration number.
  • See Register as a Contractor
• Change from partnership/corporation to sole proprietorship.

  I have changed my business from a partnership/corporation/limited liability corporation to a sole proprietorship since I last renewed. What is needed to renew my registration?

  • You cannot renew your current license. You must register as a new business.
  • Please note your contractor registration number will change. Please update all advertising with your new registration number.
  • See Register as a Contractor
• Change partners.

  My business partner/partners have changed since I last renewed. What is needed to renew my registration?

  • You cannot renew your current license. You must register as a new business.
  • Please note your contractor registration number will change. Please update all advertising with your new registration number.
  • See Register as a Contractor
• Change to a corporation.

  I have changed my business to a corporation since I last renewed. What is needed to renew my registration?

  • You cannot renew your current license. You must register as a new business.
  • Please note your contractor registration number will change. Please update all advertising with your new registration number.
  • See Register as a Contractor.
• Change to a limited liability corporation (LLC).

  I have changed my business to a limited liability partnership or limited liability corporation since I last renewed. What is needed to renew my registration?

  • You cannot renew your current license. You must register as a business.
  • Please note your contractor registration number will change. Please update all advertising with your new registration number.
  • See Register as a Contractor.
• Change corporate officers.

  My business changed its corporate officers since I last renewed. What is needed to renew my registration?

  To renew your registration, we must have:

  1. A completed Contractor Registration Officers/Members Addendum for each officer/member. This form must be the original, not a photocopy and signatures must be notarized.
  2. Your current Certificate of Liability Insurance on file with L&I.
  3. Your payment of $113.40, made payable to: Department of Labor & Industries.
     Please include:
     
     • Your registration renewal card with your paperwork. It will help L&I process your renewal quickly.
     • A copy of your Secretary of State annual renewal which lists your curent corporate officers or a copy of your amended report. (You may notify L&I by letter of any corporate officer changes at no charge even when you are not up for renewal.)
  4. You may bring all required documents and your payment to your local L&I office, or send to:

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

• Business name change.

  I have changed the name of my business since I last renewed. What is needed to renew my registration?

  You cannot renew your current registration:

  Note: Changing your company name will change your Contractor Registration number. You will need to update all advertising with your new registration number.

  1. Complete a new Application for Contractor Registration.
  2. Obtain a name-change rider from your bonding company. (We will keep your original, current surety bond on file with L&I.) Or, if you have an Assignment of Savings account on file with L&I instead of a bond, fill out a Reassignment of Savings Account form to change the business name on the account.
  3. A new, current Certificate of Liability Insurance (for at least $250,000) showing your new business name.
  4. Your payment of $113.40, made payable to: Department of Labor & Industries.
  5. Please include your registration renewal card with your paperwork. It will help L&I process your new registration quickly.
  6. You may bring the required documents and your payment to your local L&I office or send to:

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

• Unsatisfied judgment.

  I have an unsatisfied legal judgment against my company. What is needed to renew my registration?

  To renew or reinstate your contractor registration you must:

  1. Pay the judgment in full and provide L&I with a copy of the Satisfaction of Judgment.
  2. Ask L&I whether you will be required to provide a new surety bond or Assignment of Account. If you have questions, please call L&I’s Summons & Complaints desk: 360-902-5244.
  3. Pay the renewal fee of $113.40, made payable to the Department of Labor & Industries.
  4. Important note: All documents should be received in one packet. Include your registration renewal card with your paperwork. This will help L&I process your renewal quickly.

  5. You may bring the required documents and your payment to your local L&I office or send them to:

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

• Change from a specialty to a general contractor.

  I want to change from a specialty contractor to a general contractor. What is needed to renew my registration?

  Note: You may change from a specialty contractor to a general contractor at any time during the year.

  To renew or upgrade your registration:

  1. Write L&I a short note to explain the change you want to make. Make sure you include the following:
     • Your contractor registration number.
     • Your signature.
     Here is a sample message: “I would like to change from a specialty to a general contractor."
  2. Contact your bonding company. You must upgrade your bond amount or increase your Assignment of Account from $6000 (for specialty contractors) to $12,000 (for general contractors). Ask the company to send the new bond to you, so that you may submit it to L&I with the rest of your materials.
     • It must be signed by your bonding agent.
     • It must be affixed with the bonding company’s seal.
     • It must be the original document, not a photocopy.
     • It may not have any errors, corrections, or "white-outs."
     • It must reach L&I before the “filing date” shown on the bond.
     • It must show the name of your business exactly as you want it registered with L&I.
  3. Make sure your current Certificate of Liability Insurance (for $250,000) is on file with L&I.
  4. Your payment of $113.40 for renewal, made payable to the Department of Labor & Industries. ($53.60 if upgrading at mid-term)
  5. IMPORTANT: All documents should be received in one packet. If upgrading at renewal, include your registration renewal card with your paperwork. This will help L&I process your renewal quickly.
  6. You may bring all required materials and your payment to your local L&I office, or send them to:

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

  
  
• Change specialty.

  I have changed my specialty. What is needed to renew my registration?

  Note: You may change your specialty only at the time you renew.

  To renew your registration:

  1. Look up your new Specialty Contractor code.
     Note: You will need to choose one (1) specialty trade only. If you want to work in two or more trades, you must register as a general contractor.
  2. Write L&I a short note to explain the change. Make sure you include the following:
     • The Specialty Contractor code.
     • Your contractor registration number.
     • Your signature.
     Here is a sample message: “I would like to change my specialty trade. My old specialty trade is: Weather stripping. My new specialty trade is: Insulation."
  3. Make sure your surety bond ($6,000) is on file with L&I.
  4. Make sure your current Certificate of Liability Insurance (for $250,000) is on file with L&I.
  5. Your payment of $113.40, made payable to the Department of Labor & Industries.
  6. You may bring all required materials and your payment to your local L&I office, or send them to:

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

For more information

• Request a duplicate or replacement license.
• Construction Contractors: Get the Facts, Get Registered.
• Contractor Rules, Laws and Policies.
• See WAC 296-200A and RCW 18.27.
• If you have any questions, please contact the Contractor Section in Tumwater or your local L&I office.
• Call the statewide contractor registration hotline: 1-800-647-0982.
• Get information about becoming an Electrical or Telecommunication Contractor.
• Most frequently asked questions about contractor registration.

Reinstate your contractors license

A contractor’s registration will be suspended whenever the registration requirements have not been met, such as the three items below.

• Canceled insurance/suspended registration.

  My insurance was canceled, and L&I suspended my registration. What is needed to reinstate my registration?

  If you still want to work as a contractor, we must have:

  1. Your insurance company may update your insurance information electronically, or provide you with a paper copy of a reinstatement notice, or a new certificate of liability insurance.
  2. A reinstatement fee of $53.60. Make your check out to the Department of Labor & Industries.
  3. You may bring the required materials and your payment to your local L&I office or send to:

     Washington Department of Labor & Industries
     Contractor Registration Section
     P.O. Box 44450
     Olympia, Wash. 98504-4450

• Canceled bond/suspended registration.

  My bond was canceled and L&I suspended my registration. What is needed to reinstate my registration?

  If you still want to work as a contractor, we must have:

  1. A reinstatement notice from the bonding company that canceled your coverage. Or, if you have changed your bonding company, we must have your new, original contractor’s surety bond. (This cannot be a photocopy).
  2. Your original, current Certificate of Liability Insurance (for $250,000) on file with L&I.
  3. A reinstatement fee of $53.60. Make your check out to the Department of Labor & Industries.
  4. You may bring the required materials and your payment to your local L&I office or send to:

     Washington Department of Labor & Industries
     Contractor Registration Section
     P.O. Box 44450
     Olympia, Wash. 98504-4450

• Unsatisfied judgement/suspended registration.

  I have an unsatisfied legal judgement against my company. What is needed to reinstate my registration?

  To renew or reinstate your contractor registration you must:

  1. Pay the judgment in full and provide L&I with a copy of the Satisfaction of Judgment.
  2. Ask L&I whether you will be required to provide a new surety bond or Assignment of Account. If you have questions, please call L&I’s Summons & Complaints desk: 360-902-5244.
  3. Pay the reinstatement fee of $53.60, made payable to the Department of Labor & Industries.
  4. Important note: All documents should be received in one packet. Include your registration renewal card with your paperwork. This will help L&I process your renewal quickly.
  5. You may bring the required documents and your payment to your local L&I office or send them to:

     Washington Department of Labor & Industries
     Contractor Registration Section
     P.O. Box 44450
     Olympia, Wash. 98504-4450

Pay your Reinstatement fee online and save a trip to an L&I office.
You will need the following:

• Your Contractor Registration number. This is 12 characters and includes letters and numbers.
• Required documents on file with the department.
• Email address and phone number.
• A VISA or MasterCard (credit or debit cards are accepted).

Note: You may not reinstate online if the department does not have all the required documents on file.)
Reinstate online is real time processed! If you are able to pay your reinstatement fee online your registration will be reinstated as soon as your payment is posted.

• A current and unimpaired continuous contractor surety bond or assignment of savings.
• A current certificate of general liability insurance.

Note: You must not have any outstanding, unpaid infractions or any unsatisfied judgments on file with L&I.

For more information

• Request a duplicate or replacement license.
• Construction Contractors: Get the Facts, Get Registered.
• Contractor Rules, Laws and Policies.
• See WAC 296-200A and RCW 18.27.
• If you have any questions, please contact the Contractor Section in Tumwater or your local L&I office.
• Call the statewide contractor registration hotline: 1-800-647-0982.
• Get information about becoming an Electrical or Telecommunication Contractor.
• Most frequently asked questions about contractor registration.

Contractor registration and renewal fees

Consult the table below for fees related to contractor registration. For more information, use the 'Contact Us' link on this page.

Fee refunds

If you change your mind, you may request in writing to be refunded the $113.40 fee (minus $25.00 for refund processing) if you do it before you receive your registration number. The fee is nonrefundable after the registration has been issued.

Effective June 30, 2007

Contractor Registration and Related Fees

For more information

• Contractor Rules, Laws and Policies.

Information You Should Know

Advertising

After you've registered you must use your contractor registration number on all your business communications.

By law, when you advertise, solicit bids or offer to perform work, you must always include your contractor registration number. This includes business cards, Yellow Page ads, newspaper ads, estimates and bid proposals.

Bonds

Which contractors must be bonded and what must this bond include?

General and specialty contractors must provide a contractor's surety bond (88 KB PDF). Surety bonds are available through a bonding company or insurance agency. Premiums vary with each company, as do the requirements for being bonded.

The bond must include the bond number and exact business name.

Are there any alternatives to a bond?

The alternative to a bond is an assigned bank account. An Assignment of Account, must be on this form. (Also available at L&I local offices.) You may post the required amount in the form of cash, a certificate of deposit, time deposit, or money market account in a bank, savings and loan association or credit union within Washington state.

Insurance

Get general proof of liability insurance coverage from your insurance agent.

• $50,000 property damage policy and $200,000 public liability policy
  OR
• $250,000 combined single limit policy.

NOTE: Originals of your bond and insurance will be required to complete your registration.

Model Disclosure

Model Disclosure Statement Notice to Customer

You must provide this notice to consumers for all Residential jobs of $1,000 or more and for Commercial projects of $1,000 to $60,000.

Safety

Understand your responsibilities for the safety of your employees and/or sub-contractors.

For more information

Information for bonding and insurance companies.

Contractor Rules, Laws and Policies.