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How to check a contractor's license in Washington

Washington contractors are registered by the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I). A contractor must register when the whole job, labor and materials, costs $500 or more, is part of a bigger project, or they advertise as a contractor.

When a license is required

Under RCW 18.27.090(9), work under $500 is exempt only if it isn't part of a larger operation and the person doesn't advertise as a contractor. Electrical contractors (RCW 19.28.041) and plumbing contractors (RCW 18.106.020) need an L&I license for any job.

Which license class

TradeWhat L&I requires
PaintingSpecialty contractor registration
RoofingSpecialty contractor registration
ElectricalElectrical contractor license
PlumbingPlumbing contractor license
Heating and air conditioningSpecialty contractor registration
General buildingGeneral contractor registration

A general contractor can do most construction work and hire subcontractors. A specialty contractor can only do work in its own specialty. L&I has 63 specialties, including roofing, painting and HVAC.

Check it in three steps

  1. Ask for the license or registration number, or the business's UBI number.
  2. Look it up with L&I's Verify a Contractor tool. The registration must be active.
  3. On the same record, check the bond, the workers' comp account, safety or construction citations, and any lawsuits against the bond.

Registration needs a $30,000 bond for a general contractor and $15,000 for a specialty contractor (RCW 18.27.040), and $4,000 for an electrical contractor. The Homeowner Recovery Fund pays up to $25,000 to owner-occupiers of homes of up to four units, but only after you win a court judgment against a registered contractor and apply within 90 days.

Licensed contractors we've already checked