Contractor licensing by state
How to Get a Contractor License in Washington
Washington requires a state license for every trade we track. The main contractor license is the Construction contractor registration, which costs $150.20 to start. Of the 9 trades we could rate, concrete flatwork is the easiest to get licensed for and electrical work the hardest.
The Washington contractor license
| License | Construction contractor registration (Washington Department of Labor and Industries), General or Specialty |
|---|---|
| Covers | Foundation repair, general contracting, roofing, plumbing, electrical work, HVAC work, landscape irrigation, concrete flatwork, drainage and detention work, and demolition |
| Fee | $150.20 (application fee; renewal is also $150.20) |
| Insurance | $200,000 public liability and $50,000 property damage, or $250,000 combined single limit. Source |
| Bond | $30,000. Source |
| Processing time | L&I says mailed applications take 3 to 4 weeks to process, and the registration card about 2 weeks more. |
| Renewal | $150.20. |
How to apply
- Decide between General (can sub out work) and Specialty (only your specialty, no subcontractors).
- Buy the contractor bond ($30,000 general or $15,000 specialty) and the liability insurance.
- Apply to L&I and pay $150.20.
All construction contractors must register. There is no exam for registration itself; plumbing, electrical, elevators, mobile home installation, boilers and asbestos have separate licensing and exams. L&I recognizes 63 specialties.
State license requirements for each trade in Washington
| Foundation repair | General contractor registration | $150.20 | None listed | None listed | Easy · 18 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General contracting | General contractor registration | $150.20 | None listed | None listed | Easy · 18 |
| Roofing | Roofing specialty registration | $150.20 | None listed | None listed | Easy · 18 |
| Plumbing | Plumbing specialty contractor registration, with certified plumbers under chapte | $150.20 | None listed | None listed | Not rated |
| Electrical | Electrical contractor license with an assigned certified electrical administrato | $353.90 | Electrical administrator exam | None listed | Moderate · 37 |
| HVAC | Heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration | $150.20 | None listed | None listed | Easy · 18 |
| Irrigation | Irrigation sprinkler systems specialty registration | $150.20 | None listed | None listed | Easy · 18 |
| Concrete flatwork | Concrete specialty registration | $150.20 | None listed | None listed | Easy · 18 |
| Drainage and detention | Excavation, grading and land clearing specialty registration | $150.20 | None listed | None listed | Easy · 18 |
| Demolition | Demolitions and salvage specialty registration | $150.20 | None listed | None listed | Easy · 18 |
Tap a column to sort. Difficulty covers the state license only. Checked October 18, 2026.
Trades ranked from easiest to hardest in Washington
- Concrete flatwork, easy (18)
- Demolition, easy (18)
- Drainage and detention, easy (18)
- Foundation repair, easy (18)
- General contracting, easy (18)
- HVAC, easy (18)
- Irrigation, easy (18)
- Roofing, easy (18)
- Electrical, moderate (37)
Plumbing is not rated because its rules are not fully published.
Details for each trade
Foundation repair
| License | General contractor registration (or the Concrete specialty for concrete repair work) |
|---|---|
| Board | Washington Department of Labor and Industries |
The House moving specialty covers raising, lowering, cribbing and underpinning structures, including their foundations, but expressly excludes repairs and rehabilitation. The Concrete specialty includes repairing concrete. A foundation repair that mixes structural work and other trades fits General registration.
The city or county building department issues the permit and decides whether engineered plans are needed.
- Register as a General contractor (or the matching specialty).
- Pull the local permit.
Difficulty 18, easy (fees 3, bond 8, insurance 5, processing time 2).
Checked October 18, 2026 against WAC 296-200A-016; L&I, register as a contractor.
General contracting (residential remodels, additions and home improvement)
| License | General contractor registration |
|---|---|
| Board | Washington Department of Labor and Industries |
$30,000 bond.
Permits come from the city or county.
- Post the $30,000 bond and insurance.
- Register with L&I.
Difficulty 18, easy (fees 3, bond 8, insurance 5, processing time 2).
Checked October 18, 2026 against L&I, register as a contractor.
Roofing
| License | Roofing specialty registration |
|---|---|
| Board | Washington Department of Labor and Industries |
$15,000 specialty bond.
Reroof permit rules are set by the city or county.
- Post the $15,000 bond and insurance.
- Register in the Roofing specialty.
Difficulty 18, easy (fees 3, bond 8, insurance 5, processing time 2).
Checked October 18, 2026 against WAC 296-200A-016.
Plumbing
| License | Plumbing specialty contractor registration, with certified plumbers under chapter 18.106 RCW |
|---|---|
| Board | Washington Department of Labor and Industries |
Plumber certification exams and fees were not checked here.
Plumbing permits come from the city or county.
- Register in the Plumbing specialty.
- Employ certified plumbers.
Checked October 18, 2026 against WAC 296-200A-016.
Electrical
| License | Electrical contractor license with an assigned certified electrical administrator or master electrician |
|---|---|
| Board | Washington Department of Labor and Industries, Electrical Program |
| Fee | $353.90 (contractor license plus $53 to assign the administrator or master (application form dated 09-2026)) |
| Exam | Electrical administrator exam (no prerequisites) or master electrician exam. Given by PSI. |
| Bond | $4,000 electrical contractor surety bond (or savings assignment). |
The contractor web page lists an older $293.60 license fee; the 09-2026 application form lists $353.90.
Ask L&I or the city which office issues the electrical permit for the address.
- Pass the administrator exam at PSI (or hold a master electrician certificate).
- Post the $4,000 bond.
- Apply for the electrical contractor license and assign the administrator.
Difficulty 37, moderate (exams 15, fees 7, bond 8, insurance 5, processing time 2).
Checked October 18, 2026 against L&I, electrical contractor; L&I form F500-018-000.
HVAC
| License | Heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC/R) specialty registration |
|---|---|
| Board | Washington Department of Labor and Industries |
Electrical connections to HVAC equipment fall under the electrical licensing law (chapter 19.28 RCW).
Mechanical permits come from the city or county.
- Register in the HVAC/R specialty.
- Get electrical licensing for any electrical connections.
Difficulty 18, easy (fees 3, bond 8, insurance 5, processing time 2).
Checked October 18, 2026 against WAC 296-200A-016.
Irrigation
| License | Irrigation sprinkler systems specialty registration |
|---|---|
| Board | Washington Department of Labor and Industries |
Connections to potable water lines and backflow prevention installation are addressed in the specialty definition; plumber certification or electrical licensing may also apply.
Ask the water purveyor and local building department about backflow rules.
- Register in the irrigation specialty.
- Check backflow requirements with the water purveyor.
Difficulty 18, easy (fees 3, bond 8, insurance 5, processing time 2).
Checked October 18, 2026 against WAC 296-200A-016.
Concrete flatwork (driveways, sidewalks and work in the public right-of-way)
| License | Concrete specialty registration |
|---|---|
| Board | Washington Department of Labor and Industries |
Covers placing, finishing, repairing, sawing and sealing concrete.
Ask the city or road owner what permit work at the street needs.
- Register in the Concrete specialty.
- Ask the road owner about a right of way permit.
Difficulty 18, easy (fees 3, bond 8, insurance 5, processing time 2).
Checked October 18, 2026 against WAC 296-200A-016.
Drainage and detention (grading, drainage, stormwater and detention ponds)
| License | Excavation, grading and land clearing specialty registration |
|---|---|
| Board | Washington Department of Labor and Industries |
Covers digging, trenching, grading and compacting for cut, fill or trench work. Stormwater permit rules are not covered here.
Grading and stormwater approvals come from the city or county.
- Register in the excavation specialty.
- Get local grading approval.
Difficulty 18, easy (fees 3, bond 8, insurance 5, processing time 2).
Checked October 18, 2026 against WAC 296-200A-016.
Demolition
| License | Demolitions and salvage specialty registration |
|---|---|
| Board | Washington Department of Labor and Industries |
Before demolition or renovation that could release asbestos, the owner must arrange a good faith inspection by an accredited inspector (or assume asbestos is present) and give the report to bidding contractors. Individuals working on their own single family home are not treated as owners for this rule.
The local demolition permit follows the asbestos good faith inspection.
- Register in the Demolitions and salvage specialty.
- Get the asbestos good faith inspection report from the owner.
- Pull the local demolition permit.
Difficulty 18, easy (fees 3, bond 8, insurance 5, processing time 2).
Checked October 18, 2026 against WAC 296-200A-016; RCW 49.26.013.
Official sources
- Washington L&I, register as a contractor
- WAC 296-200A-016, specialty contractor definitions
- Washington L&I, electrical contractor
- L&I electrical contractor license application F500-018-000
- RCW 49.26.013, asbestos inspection of construction projects
Licensing pages for nearby states cover Alaska and Oregon.
Rules and fees change, and this is not legal advice. Confirm with the licensing board before you apply or bid.