Tower cranes are critical equipment used to lift and move loads on construction job sites.

Beginning January 1, 2026, tower crane permits are required for all construction work involving tower crane operation, assembly, disassembly, and reconfiguration in Washington State. The permit requirement helps to ensure tower crane work is performed safely, follows manufacturer guidance and engineering requirements, and adheres to standards for qualified personnel.

Rules & Policies

Summary of requirements

RCW 49.17.435 directed L&I to establish rules addressing permit requirements for work involving the operation, assembly, disassembly, or reconfiguration of a tower crane.

Beginning January 1, 2026, prime contractors must obtain a permit from L&I before performing any construction work involving the operation, assembly, disassembly, or reconfiguration of a tower crane. For tower cranes already in operation on January 1, 2026, prime contractors must submit a permit application by February 1, 2026, and must obtain a permit prior to any reconfiguration or disassembly activities.

Chapter 296-155 WAC, Part L, Cranes, Rigging, and Personnel Lifting, addresses requirements for all construction cranes, including tower cranes. Requirements for tower crane permits are addressed specifically in WAC 296-155-53911.

NOTE: Beginning January 1, 2027, A/D directors must be certified by a nationally accredited testing organization recognized by L&I.

Enforcement Policies

Tower Crane Permits

Applying for Tower Crane Permits

Permits are issued by the Tower Crane Permit Program within L&I’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH).

L&I requires 20 working days to process permit applications and requests for permitted activities. If you apply for a permit, or submit a request for a permitted activity, less than 20 working days prior to the planned date of the permitted activity, there is no guarantee your permit will issued in time.

Applications for tower crane permits, and requests for permitted activities, must be submitted using the tower crane permit portal. 

This Tower Crane Permit Application Checklist (F416-163-000) is designed to help prime contractors applying for a tower crane permit collect the required information and documentation for the application process.

To apply for a tower crane permit, you will need to sign in with your My L&I account. If you don’t already have an account, you will need to register for a new My L&I account before submitting a permit application.

You can find tools to help you register for My L&I, as well as additional training and how-to guides, under the Resources tab.

Crane Certification and Permit Management System Portal

To apply for a new tower crane permit, you will need to sign in with your My L&I account.

See the training guide Registering a new Prime Contractor through My L&I Single Sign-On (SSO) for help with registering a My L&I account and adding the portal to your account.

The portal allows prime contractors to:

  • Submit applications and upload required documents.
  • Track the status of permit requests.
  • Receive notifications for safety conferences.
  • Communicate with L&I staff.
  • Access digital copy of permits (available to print).
  • View any corresponding notes from L&I staff.

Questions?

Contact Tower Crane Permit Program Staff:

Email: TowerCranePermitProgram@Lni.wa.gov
Phone: (360) 902-4949

Resources

More help from L&I