Washington State contractor license lookup
980 contractor profiles · 525 with an active license on file.
HomeProFax lists 980 contractor profiles with Washington business addresses; 525 show an active license on file. Washington L&I contractor license data (via data.wa.gov, 2026-10-28) is now included, alongside other states' board records, the local license sources we hold, or our research sources — a profile without a license here is not evidence the contractor is unlicensed in Washington.
Before you hire, read how to check a contractor before you hire and confirm the license with the issuing agency.
On this page: Who must register in Washington · How to run L&I Verify, step by step · What a suspended registration means · Red flags before you sign · If there is a problem: bond lawsuits and the Homeowner Recovery Fund · Permits in Seattle and elsewhere · HomeProFax data · FAQ · Sources
Who must register in Washington
Washington requires all construction contractors to register with the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) and to be bonded and insured. Once registered, a contractor can bid, advertise and perform construction work (L&I). There are two classifications:
| Registration | Can do | Bond | Liability insurance |
|---|---|---|---|
| General contractor | Most types of construction; may hire subcontractors in multiple specialties | $30,000 | $250,000 combined single limit, or $200,000 public liability plus $50,000 property damage |
| Specialty contractor | Only the specialty registered (L&I regulates 63 specialties); may not hire subcontractors | $15,000 | Same as general |
Bond amounts rose on July 1, 2024. A bank assignment of savings may be used instead of a bond. Plumbing, electrical, elevator, manufactured home installation, boiler and asbestos work carry extra licensing requirements.
Registered contractors must put their registration number on business cards, ads, estimates and bid proposals. For residential jobs of $1,000 or more, the contractor must give you L&I's Model Disclosure Statement.
How to run L&I Verify, step by step
- Get the contractor registration number from the bid or ad.
- Open L&I Verify and search by contractor license number or L&I account ID, UBI number, or full or partial business or owner name.
- Confirm the registration is active and the business name matches your contract.
- Read the bond section: surety, bond number and amount, and any lawsuits against the bond.
- Check insurance and workers' comp: an active, paid-to-date account covering any employees.
- Look for safety or construction citations and other infractions.
- For electrical, plumbing, elevator or manufactured home work, confirm the person doing it holds the trade certification.
L&I updates the Verify database Monday through Friday by 5 a.m. Pacific Time, excluding state holidays (L&I).
What a suspended registration means
L&I suspends a registration when requirements lapse, such as a cancelled or expired bond or insurance policy, or an unsatisfied judgment. The contractor must fix the problem and pay a reinstatement fee to become active again (L&I).
Red flags before you sign
- No registration number on the bid, card or ad.
- A specialty contractor offering to manage a whole project with subcontractors.
- Lawsuits against the bond, or a suspended registration.
- No workers' comp account but a crew on site.
- No Model Disclosure Statement on a residential job of $1,000 or more.
- Electrical or plumbing work by someone without trade certification.
If there is a problem: bond lawsuits and the Homeowner Recovery Fund
L&I does not handle lawsuits against contractors. To collect from a registered contractor's bond, you file a summons and complaint in Superior Court in the county where the work was done, naming the contractor and the surety with the bond number from Verify. A residential homeowner must file within two years of the date the work was substantially completed or abandoned. L&I explains how to serve the papers on its lawsuit page (RCW 18.27.040; L&I filing a lawsuit).
If the bond is not enough, L&I's Homeowner Recovery Fund can pay up to $25,000, depending on available funds, to an owner-occupant with a final Superior Court judgment against a registered contractor ordered after July 1, 2026. Apply within 90 days after the court case ends; if the fund is short, applicants go on a waitlist.
An unregistered contractor has no L&I bond to claim against. Report them to L&I.
Permits in Seattle and elsewhere
Permits are local. In Seattle, building permits run through the Seattle Department of Construction & Inspections. Other cities and counties run their own building departments.
What HomeProFax shows for Washington
HomeProFax lists 980 contractor profiles here, 525 with an active license on file. We load Washington L&I contractor data from data.wa.gov (Oct 28, 2026): 268 license records, 233 active, matched only to Washington profiles we already held. Sole proprietors and new Washington businesses are not loaded, and Seattle permit history is a small sample. Most Washington profiles therefore have no L&I record attached, so use L&I Verify for every hire.
Cities with the most profiles: Seattle (131), Vancouver (92), Spokane (40), Kennewick (28), Everett (26), Kent (25), Renton (22), Tacoma (22).
Profiles show public-record facts with their source; they are not a rating of workmanship. HomeProFax is a free contractor license, permit and complaint check from public records.
Frequently asked questions
How do I verify a contractor license in Washington State?
Use L&I Verify at secure.lni.wa.gov/verify. Search by contractor license number, L&I account ID, UBI number or business or owner name.
What bond must a Washington contractor carry?
$30,000 for general contractors and $15,000 for specialty contractors, since July 1, 2024. A bank assignment of savings may replace the bond.
What liability insurance does Washington require?
$250,000 combined single limit, or $200,000 public liability plus $50,000 property damage.
What is the difference between a general and a specialty contractor in Washington?
A general contractor can do most construction and hire subcontractors. A specialty contractor can work only in its registered specialty and cannot hire subcontractors.
How long do I have to sue a Washington contractor’s bond?
A residential homeowner must file within two years of the date the work was substantially completed or abandoned.
What is the L&I Homeowner Recovery Fund?
A fund that can pay up to $25,000, depending on available funds, to owner-occupants with an unsatisfied Superior Court judgment against a registered contractor ordered after July 1, 2026. Apply within 90 days after the case ends.
Why would a Washington registration be suspended?
When requirements lapse, for example a cancelled or expired bond or insurance policy, or an unsatisfied judgment.
Does HomeProFax include Washington L&I data?
Partly: 268 L&I license records (233 active) from data.wa.gov as of Oct 28, 2026, matched only to existing Washington profiles. Always confirm with L&I.
Sources, last checked 2026-10-29
- L&I Verify
- L&I: register as a contractor (bond, insurance)
- L&I: verify a contractor
- L&I: filing a lawsuit
- L&I Homeowner Recovery Fund
- L&I: report a contractor
- RCW 18.27.040
- Seattle SDCI
Related pages
Washington profiles with the most public-record evidence
Edmonds, WA · 27 permitsScore 88 Full reportKrekow Jennings Inc
Seattle, WA · 13 permitsScore 88 Full reportMcKinstry Co, LLC
Seattle, WA · 11 permitsScore 88 Full reportLydig Construction Inc
Spokane Valley, WA · 7 permitsScore 83 Full report
Full report = active license plus at least one more public-record source. Not a ranking of workmanship.