Renovation permits and contractor licences in Washington

Trades that need a licence in Washington

• General contracting and renovation

  Washington registers contractors rather than licensing them as general contractors: every contractor must register with L&I, and registration requires a surety bond and liability insurance. Check the registration is active before you hire.

  Sources:Washington L&I – Contractors⁠(opens in a new tab)RCW 18.27.020 – Contractor registration required⁠(opens in a new tab)

• Electrical work

  Electrical work needs both a licensed business and a certified individual: it is unlawful to carry on the business of installing or maintaining electrical wiring or equipment without an electrical contractor licence, and no one may work in the electrical construction trade without a certificate of competency. An electrical permit is required for most electrical work, whether you or your contractor does it.

  Sources:RCW 19.28.041 – Electrical contractor licence required⁠(opens in a new tab)RCW 19.28.161 – Electrician certificate of competency required⁠(opens in a new tab)Washington L&I – Electrical permit basics⁠(opens in a new tab)

• Plumbing

  Only L&I-certified plumbers can legally perform plumbing work on someone else's property. Property owners may do their own plumbing work on property they own.

  Sources:Washington L&I – Plumbing⁠(opens in a new tab)

• Consumer protection

  L&I advises hiring a registered construction contractor and using its verification tool to confirm the registration is active and the contractor is bonded and insured, along with the job-site safety record and licence history.

  Sources:Washington L&I – Hiring a contractor⁠(opens in a new tab)Washington L&I – Verify a contractor, tradesperson or business⁠(opens in a new tab)

Before you hire a contractor in Washington

Practical checks you can do yourself, using official tools where they exist.

1. 1

   Verify the contractor's registration, bond and insurance with L&I before you hire.

   Official lookup: Washington L&I – Verify a contractor, tradesperson or business⁠(opens in a new tab)

2. 2

   For electrical work, check the business holds an electrical contractor licence and the worker a certificate of competency.

   Official lookup: Washington L&I – Hiring an electrical contractor⁠(opens in a new tab)

3. 3

   Make sure an electrical permit is taken out for the work, whoever does it.

   Official lookup: Washington L&I – Electrical permit basics⁠(opens in a new tab)

4. 4

   For plumbing work on a property you don't own yourself, hire an L&I-certified plumber.

   Official lookup: Washington L&I – Plumbing⁠(opens in a new tab)

5. 5

   Check with your city whether your project needs a building permit before work starts.

   Official lookup: Seattle SDCI – Do you need a permit?⁠(opens in a new tab)

6. 6

   Confirm the contractor's licence and insurance with your state or county government, and get the work, materials and price in writing.

   Official lookup: FTC – How to avoid a home improvement scam⁠(opens in a new tab)