Washington contractor license lookup
Washington requires state registration for general contractors, HVAC contractors and roofing contractors. It issues state licenses for electrical contractors and plumbing contractors. L&I lists 75,922 active contractor registrations and licenses as of October 6, 2026.
Look up a license
| Trade | Credential | Board | Official lookup |
|---|---|---|---|
| General contractor | State registration (no competency license) | Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I), Contractor Registration | Search general contractor licenses |
| Electrical | State license | Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I), Electrical Program | Search electrical licenses |
| Plumbing | State license | Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I), Plumbing Program | Search plumbing licenses |
| HVAC | State registration (no competency license) | Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) | Search HVAC licenses |
| Roofing | State registration (no competency license) | Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I), Contractor Registration | Search roofing licenses |
Verify a contractor
For homeowners hiring in Washington.
- Open the official Washington lookup run by L&I and search the contractor by name or number.
- The L&I Verify tool shows whether the contractor has an active license, a bond and insurance, safety violations, and license history including previous lawsuits. source Official lookup: L&I Verify a Contractor, Tradesperson or Business. source
- Confirm the record is active and the class matches the job (General Contractor or Specialty Contractor). The board's own record governs.
- Check the bond and insurance on the record against the state minimums: Continuous contractor surety bond of $30,000 (general contractor). source General liability insurance: $200,000 public liability and $50,000 property damage, or $250,000 combined single limit. source
- Report a fraudulent or unregistered contractor to L&I online or by phone. source
Homeowner protections in Washington
- L&I suspends a registration when the bond or insurance cancels or expires, or for an unsatisfied judgment. source
- For contracts over $1,000 the contractor must have the homeowner sign a disclosure statement (RCW 18.27.114). source
- A residential homeowner must sue on the contractor bond within two years from substantial completion or abandonment of the work. source
- Claimants other than residential homeowners can take at most one-half of the bond, reserving the rest for homeowners. source
- Homeowner Recovery Fund: beginning July 1, 2026, a homeowner with an unpaid final judgment against a registered contractor on their primary residence, after proceeding against the bond, can receive up to $25,000 per contractor per parcel, subject to available funds. source
- Homeowner Recovery Fund applications are due within 90 days after the court case ends (90 days). source
Get licensed
For a general contractor working in Washington.
- Register with L&I as a General Contractor or Specialty Contractor.
- No exam for L&I contractor registration; exams apply only to plumbing, electrical, elevator, mobile home, boiler and asbestos work. source
- No experience requirement for L&I contractor registration; education and exam rules apply only to the listed trades. source
- Post a continuous contractor surety bond of $30,000 (general contractor). source
- Carry general liability insurance: $200,000 public liability and $50,000 property damage, or $250,000 combined single limit. source
- Pay the registration fee, each issuance, renewal or reregistration (WAC effective 7/1/26): $150.20. source
- Registration is valid for two years and must be renewed on or before expiration. source
Other trades
- Electrical: state license, $4,000 bond, $353.90 fee. Requirements
- Plumbing: state license, $6,000 bond, $148.10 fee. Requirements
- HVAC: state registration, $15,000 bond, $150.20 fee. Requirements
- Roofing: state registration, $15,000 bond, $150.20 fee. Requirements
Requirements by trade
| Exam | No exam for L&I contractor registration; exams apply only to plumbing, electrical, elevator, mobile home, boiler and asbestos work. source |
|---|---|
| Experience | No experience requirement for L&I contractor registration; education and exam rules apply only to the listed trade. source |
| Bond | Continuous contractor surety bond of $30,000 (general contractor). source |
| Insurance | General liability insurance: $200,000 public liability and $50,000 property damage, or $250,000 combined single limit. source |
| Renewal | 2 years (Registration is valid for two years and must be renewed on or before expiration). source |
| Reciprocity | Not found on an official source. No reciprocity provision in RCW 18.27 or on the L&I registration page. Registration has no exam, so there is no competency license to reciprocate. |
| Fees |
| Exam | Yes. The contractor must designate a master electrician or an administrator; an administrator certificate requires passing an L&I exam. Journey and specialty electricians are also examined. source |
|---|---|
| Experience | Journey level electrician certificate: 8,000 hour apprenticeship, 4,000 hours of it new industrial or commercial work. The administrator route to a contractor license is exam based. source |
| Bond | Electrical contractor bond of $4,000. source |
| Insurance | Not found on an official source. RCW 19.28.041 requires a bond and workers' compensation evidence for employees, but no liability insurance minimum was found for electrical contractors. |
| Renewal | Electrical contractor licenses expire 24 months after issue. source |
| Reciprocity | Yes, for electrician certificates only, through agreements L&I negotiates with states that have equivalent requirements. The current list of partner states was not found on an official page. source |
| Fees |
|
| Exam | Yes. The plumbing contractor must employ a full-time certified plumber, and plumber certificates are issued only after passing the exam. source |
|---|---|
| Experience | Journey level plumber: four years, at least 8,000 hours, as a trainee under a certified journey level plumber. source |
| Bond | Plumbing contractor surety bond of $6,000. source |
| Insurance | Liability insurance: $50,000 property damage, $100,000 per person, $200,000 for more than one person. source |
| Renewal | Plumbing contractor license expires 24 months after issuance (plumber certificates renew every three years). source |
| Reciprocity | Yes, for journey level plumbers from Idaho; RCW 18.106.155 allows reciprocity with substantially equivalent states that return the privilege. source |
| Fees |
|
| Exam | No exam for L&I contractor registration; exams apply only to plumbing, electrical, elevator, mobile home, boiler and asbestos work. Electrical or plumbing work on the job may also need an L&I electrical license or plumber certification. source |
|---|---|
| Experience | No experience requirement for L&I contractor registration; education and exam rules apply only to the listed trades. Electrical or plumbing work on the job may also need an L&I electrical license or plumber certification. source |
| Bond | Continuous contractor surety bond of $15,000 (specialty contractor). source |
| Insurance | General liability insurance: $200,000 public liability and $50,000 property damage, or $250,000 combined single limit. source |
| Renewal | 2 years (Registration is valid for two years and must be renewed on or before expiration). source |
| Reciprocity | Not found on an official source. No reciprocity provision in RCW 18.27 or on the L&I registration page. Registration has no exam, so there is no competency license to reciprocate. |
| Fees |
| Exam | No exam for L&I contractor registration; exams apply only to plumbing, electrical, elevator, mobile home, boiler and asbestos work. Electrical or plumbing work on the job may also need an L&I electrical license or plumber certification. source |
|---|---|
| Experience | No experience requirement for L&I contractor registration; education and exam rules apply only to the listed trades. Electrical or plumbing work on the job may also need an L&I electrical license or plumber certification. source |
| Bond | Continuous contractor surety bond of $15,000 (specialty contractor). source |
| Insurance | General liability insurance: $200,000 public liability and $50,000 property damage, or $250,000 combined single limit. source |
| Renewal | 2 years (Registration is valid for two years and must be renewed on or before expiration). source |
| Reciprocity | Not found on an official source. No reciprocity provision in RCW 18.27 or on the L&I registration page. Registration has no exam, so there is no competency license to reciprocate. |
| Fees |
Licenses on record
75,922 active records in L&I Contractor License Data: General, Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, as of October 6, 2026. 33,098 expire within the next year.
| Trade | Active |
|---|---|
| General contractor (business) | 51,786 |
| Electrical (business) | 5,551 |
| Plumbing (business) | 2,212 |
| HVAC (business) | 1,310 |
| Roofing (business) | 534 |
| License type | Active |
|---|---|
| Construction Contractor (business) | 68,076 |
| Electrical Contractor (business) | 5,551 |
| Plumbing Contractor (business) | 2,212 |
| Elevator Contractor (business) | 83 |
| Specialty | Active |
|---|---|
| Construction Contractor: General (business) | 51,786 |
| Electrical Contractor: General (business) | 3,397 |
| Construction Contractor: Painting/Wallcovering (business) | 2,301 |
| Construction Contractor: Floor Covering and Counter Tops (business) | 1,873 |
| Construction Contractor: Landscaping (business) | 1,516 |
| Plumbing Contractor: Journey Level (business) | 1,448 |
| Construction Contractor: Tile, Ceramic, Mosaic, Natural and MFG Stone (business) | 999 |
| Construction Contractor: Cabinets, Millwork and Finish Carpentry (business) | 855 |
| Construction Contractor: Heating/Vent/Air-Conditioning and Refrig (HVAC/R) (business) | 771 |
| Construction Contractor: Concrete (business) | 742 |
| Construction Contractor: Tree Removal Service (business) | 597 |
| Plumbing Contractor: Residential (business) | 591 |
| Electrical Contractor: Residential (business) | 582 |
| Construction Contractor: Roofing (business) | 534 |
| Electrical Contractor: HVAC/RFRG (business) | 522 |
Show all specialties
| Specialty | Active |
|---|---|
| Electrical Contractor: Limited Energy (business) | 505 |
| Construction Contractor: Handyman (business) | 446 |
| Construction Contractor: Dry Wall (business) | 384 |
| Construction Contractor: Excavation, Grading and Land Clearing (business) | 366 |
| Construction Contractor: Siding (business) | 359 |
| Construction Contractor: Masonry (business) | 321 |
| Construction Contractor: Framing and Rough Carpentry (business) | 309 |
| Construction Contractor: Glazing/Glass (business) | 250 |
| Construction Contractor: Pressure Washing (business) | 243 |
| Construction Contractor: Welding and Ornamental Metal (business) | 235 |
| Construction Contractor: Fencing (business) | 233 |
| Construction Contractor: Paving/ Striping/ Seal Coating (business) | 212 |
| Electrical Contractor: code 09 (no description in dataset) (business) | 205 |
| Construction Contractor: Window Coverings (business) | 173 |
| Construction Contractor: Overhead/Garage Doors (business) | 162 |
| City | Active |
|---|---|
| Seattle | 3,747 |
| Vancouver | 3,041 |
| Spokane | 2,767 |
| Tacoma | 2,279 |
| Everett | 1,916 |
| Auburn | 1,598 |
| Kent | 1,526 |
| Renton | 1,271 |
| Puyallup | 1,212 |
| Lynnwood | 1,178 |
| Bellingham | 1,142 |
| Olympia | 1,088 |
| Federal Way | 1,047 |
| Snohomish | 1,033 |
| Kennewick | 970 |
| Bellevue | 965 |
| Marysville | 865 |
| Bothell | 858 |
| Yakima | 847 |
| Pasco | 828 |
Show more cities
| City | Active |
|---|---|
| Kirkland | 746 |
| Spokane Valley | 701 |
| Battle Ground | 601 |
| Lake Stevens | 587 |
| Arlington | 586 |
| Mount Vernon | 576 |
| Wenatchee | 558 |
| Redmond | 539 |
| Woodinville | 519 |
| Gig Harbor | 513 |
| Bremerton | 491 |
| Port Orchard | 486 |
| Edmonds | 472 |
| Monroe | 462 |
| Port Angeles | 448 |
| Moses Lake | 430 |
| Bonney Lake | 425 |
| Spanaway | 416 |
| Shelton | 391 |
| Sequim | 389 |
| Walla Walla | 386 |
| Lakewood | 385 |
| Poulsbo | 382 |
| Ferndale | 366 |
| Richland | 356 |
| Ellensburg | 350 |
| Maple Valley | 350 |
| Lacey | 345 |
| Lynden | 339 |
| Longview | 335 |
- A snapshot of the L&I Contractor License Data: General, Washington State Department of Labor and Industries as of October 6, 2026. The board's live lookup may differ.
- Counts are contractor businesses. This dataset lists only these license types: construction contractor, electrical contractor, elevator contractor, plumbing contractor. Individual electrician and plumber certificates are not in this dataset.
- Cities come from the business address on file, not where the contractor works. 9,121 active licenses with an out-of-state address are left out of the city table.
- HVAC counts include electrical contractors with an HVAC/refrigeration specialty, so HVAC and electrical counts overlap.
- The dataset has no discipline field, so no discipline count is shown.
- The dataset refreshes several times a day; these counts are a snapshot as of October 6, 2026.
How these counts are defined
- Active
- A contractor license the state lists as active. Expired, suspended, inactive, out of business and every other status are left out.
- Active by license type
- Active licenses by license type. Each license has exactly one type, so the types add up to the active total.
- Active by specialty
- Active licenses by type and specialty. A license can list two specialties and then counts under both. Shows the largest 30 with at least 10 licenses.
- Cities
- Active licenses by the city of the business address on file, Washington addresses only. Shows the largest 50 cities with at least 10 licenses.
- Expiring within the next year
- Active licenses whose expiration date falls after October 6, 2026 and on or before October 6, 2027.
- Active by trade
- Distinct active licenses whose type and specialty fall in each trade. HVAC includes electrical contractors with an HVAC or refrigeration specialty, so HVAC and electrical overlap.
Counts only, no personal data. Small groups are left out. Rows marked business, individual or mixed count different holders and are never added together.
- Source: L&I Contractor License Data - General (m8qx-ubtq), Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, as of October 6, 2026. Data license: PDDL. Labor & Industries.
Questions
- Does Washington require a contractor license?
- Yes. Washington requires a state registration for general contractors. The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I), Contractor Registration issues it as the General Contractor or Specialty Contractor credential. Registration is not a test of skill.
- How do I look up a contractor license in Washington?
- The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I), Contractor Registration keeps the record for general contractors in Washington. Use the official lookup linked in the Look up a license table, and treat the board's own record as final.
- How do I look up an electrician license in Washington?
- The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I), Electrical Program keeps the record for electrical contractors in Washington.
- How do I look up a plumbing license in Washington?
- The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I), Plumbing Program keeps the record for plumbing contractors in Washington.
- Does Washington have an HVAC license?
- The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) keeps the record for HVAC contractors in Washington.
- Do roofers need a license in Washington?
- The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I), Contractor Registration keeps the record for roofing contractors in Washington.
- How many contractors are registered or licensed in Washington?
- The L&I Contractor License Data: General, Washington State Department of Labor and Industries lists 75,922 active records as of October 6, 2026.
Sources
- https://lni.wa.gov/licensing-permits/contractors/register-as-a-contractor/
- https://secure.lni.wa.gov/verify/
- https://lni.wa.gov/licensing-permits/electrical/
- https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=19.28.041
- https://lni.wa.gov/licensing-permits/plumbing/
- https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=18.106.400
- https://app.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=296-200A-016
- https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=18.27.040
- https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=18.27.060
- https://app.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=296-200A-900
- https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=19.28.191
- https://app.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=296-46B-940
- https://app.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=296-46B-909
- https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=18.106.070
- https://lni.wa.gov/licensing-permits/plumbing/plumber-certification/
- https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=18.106.410
- https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=18.106.420
- https://app.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=296-400A-045
- https://lni.wa.gov/licensing-permits/contractors/hiring-a-contractor/
- https://lni.wa.gov/licensing-permits/contractors/problems-with-a-contractor/
- https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=18.27.410
- https://app.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=296-400A-012
- https://data.wa.gov/d/m8qx-ubtq
- http://opendatacommons.org/licenses/pddl/1.0/
This is not a government site. The licensing board's own record governs; always confirm on the official lookup. Information as of October 6, 2026.