Washington · L&I
Washington contractor license lookup.
Washington registers construction contractors through the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I). This guide covers the Verify tool, the bond and insurance minimums, and a quick check of a certificate against them.
Short answer: open L&I's Verify tool and search by name, contractor/tradesperson license, workers' comp account or UBI number. Then compare the bond and insurance to L&I's minimums.
Check a bond and insurance certificate
Result and official links
How the L&I Verify tool works
L&I's Verify a Contractor, Tradesperson or Business tool lets you search by name, by contractor/tradesperson license, by workers' comp account or by Washington UBI number. It needs JavaScript. L&I also links its Prevailing Wage debarred contractor list and a page on contractors not allowed to bid.
Registration, bond and insurance
Washington requires construction contractors to register with L&I, and state law requires them to be bonded and insured. L&I says registered contractors need a Washington Continuous Contractor Surety Bond of $30,000 for general contractors or $15,000 for specialty contractors (or an assignment of savings), and a general liability policy of $200,000 public liability and $50,000 property damage, or $250,000 combined single limit. The checker above compares figures you type in against exactly those numbers.
L&I defines general contractors as able to perform most construction work and hire subcontractors, and specialty contractors as limited to their registered specialty and unable to hire subcontractors. It regulates 63 specialties. Plumbing, electrical, elevators, mobile home installation, boilers and asbestos work carry extra education, exam and licensing requirements.
Reciprocity
The L&I registration page reviewed does not describe reciprocity for contractors holding other states' licenses. Ask L&I before assuming an out-of-state license is recognized.
What a status means
This guide does not reproduce L&I's status labels. Use the record's bond and insurance details, and note L&I's statement that working without registering carries substantial penalties and fines.
Sources
- L&I: Verify a Contractor, Tradesperson or Business (retrieved October 2026)
- L&I: Register as a Contractor (retrieved October 2026)
Frequently asked questions
How do I verify a Washington contractor?
Use L&I's Verify tool and search by name, license, workers' comp account or UBI number.
How much is the Washington contractor bond?
L&I says $30,000 for general contractors and $15,000 for specialty contractors.
What liability insurance does Washington require?
L&I says $200,000 public liability and $50,000 property damage, or $250,000 combined single limit.
Does this page confirm a registration?
No. The checker compares numbers you type against L&I's published minimums. It cannot see the contractor's record.
A guide, not a verification
TNAADO is not a licensing board and this page does not check anyone's license or imply official verification. Nothing you type here is sent anywhere. Use the official links to confirm status, and check the board's site for current rules.