Which Washington trades must be bonded, and for how much

Washington bond amounts by trade at a glance

Washington sets the bond by licence type. General contractors post $30,000, specialty contractors post $15,000, plumbing contractors post $6,000, and electrical contractors post $4,000.

All four bonds go to the Department of Labor & Industries, known as L&I. The state of Washington is named as the obligee on each one. The table shows who issues the credential and what each bond and policy must carry.

The trade decides the bond. You do not pick the amount. What each bond costs you to buy is a separate question, covered on the bonding costs page.

$30,000 / $15,000Washington contractor registration needs a surety bond of $30,000 for a general contractor or $15,000 for a specialty contractor. — Washington State Legislature, RCW 18.27.040, retrieved 2026-10-01

$6,000A Washington plumbing contractor licence applicant files a surety bond in the sum of $6,000. — Washington State Legislature, RCW 18.106.410, retrieved 2026-10-01

$4,000A Washington electrical contractor licence application must come with a $4,000 bond naming the state as obligee. — Washington State Legislature, RCW 19.28.041, retrieved 2026-10-01

L&I contractor registration and its $30,000 or $15,000 bond

Every construction contractor in Washington registers with L&I and files a continuous surety bond. A general contractor files $30,000. A specialty contractor files $15,000.

The state's definition of contractor is wide. It reaches anyone in an independent business who builds, alters, repairs or improves a structure attached to real estate. The statute names roofing, siding, tree removal and cabinet installation. L&I says it regulates 63 specialties, and roofing, painting and HVAC are among them.

A specialty registration covers only that specialty, and the holder cannot hire subcontractors. A general contractor uses more than one building trade on a single job. For one trade worked through in full, see the roofing registration page.

RCW 18.27.010RCW 18.27.010 defines contractor to include installing or repairing roofing or siding, performing tree removal services, and cabinet or similar installation. — Washington State Legislature, RCW 18.27.010, retrieved 2026-10-01

63 specialtiesL&I regulates 63 specialties that each require contractor registration, including roofing, painting, HVAC and tree removal. — Washington State Department of Labor & Industries, Register as a Contractor, retrieved 2026-10-01

Specialty onlySpecialty contractors can only perform work in the specialty they are registered in and cannot hire subcontractors. — Washington State Department of Labor & Industries, Register as a Contractor, retrieved 2026-10-01

What the Washington contractor bond pays and when it lapses

The bond pays workers, suppliers, state taxes and breach-of-contract judgments up to its amount. If it ends without a replacement, your registration is suspended.

The surety can cancel a continuous bond on written notice to the L&I director. Cancellation, revocation or withdrawal of the surety automatically suspends the registration until a new bond is filed and approved. Check the date, because a lapsed bond stops you from working legally.

The bond is not a pool for one customer. Total payments to claimants other than residential homeowners cannot exceed half of the bond. After a final judgment impairs the bond, the registration is suspended until the full amount is back in place.

L&I accepts an assigned savings account in place of the bond. That route ties up your own cash instead of paying a premium.

Four payee groupsThe contractor bond is conditioned on paying labor, state taxes, material and equipment suppliers, and amounts adjudged for breach of contract. — Washington State Legislature, RCW 18.27.040, retrieved 2026-10-01

Automatic suspensionCancellation of the bond or withdrawal of the surety automatically suspends the registration until a new bond is filed and approved. — Washington State Legislature, RCW 18.27.040, retrieved 2026-10-01

One-halfTotal paid from a bond to claimants other than residential homeowners must not exceed one-half of the bond or deposit. — Washington State Legislature, RCW 18.27.040, retrieved 2026-10-01

Assigned savings accountA contractor may file an assigned savings account with the department in place of the surety bond. — Washington State Legislature, RCW 18.27.040, retrieved 2026-10-01

Washington general liability floors for registered contractors

The statute sets three floors: $50,000 for property damage, $100,000 for injury to one person, and $200,000 for injury to several. Insurance is separate from the bond.

L&I states the same requirement in two policy shapes. One is $200,000 public liability plus $50,000 property damage. The other is $250,000 combined single limit. Your bond and insurance must use your exact business name, and L&I must be listed as a certificate holder on the liability policy.

An expired or cancelled policy suspends the registration, the same way a lapsed bond does. The difference between the two is covered on the bond versus insurance page, and the certificate paperwork is on the certificate of insurance page.

$50,000 / $100,000 / $200,000Registration needs insurance of $50,000 for property damage, $100,000 for injury to one person and $200,000 for injury to more than one person. — Washington State Legislature, RCW 18.27.050, retrieved 2026-10-01

$250,000 CSLL&I asks for $200,000 public liability and $50,000 property damage, or $250,000 combined single limit, with L&I as certificate holder. — Washington State Department of Labor & Industries, Register as a Contractor, retrieved 2026-10-01

The Washington plumbing contractor licence and $6,000 bond

Plumbing has its own state licence and its own $6,000 bond. A licensed plumbing contractor does not also register under the general contractor chapter.

Since July 1, 2021 it has been unlawful to advertise, bid or perform plumbing work without the contractor licence. The licence expires 24 calendar months after issue. The applicant must employ a full-time individual who holds a valid journey level plumber's certificate, or a specialty plumber's certificate for the work done.

The plumbing bond is continuous and the state is the obligee. Insurance floors match the registration floors: $50,000, $100,000 and $200,000. Details, including certificates, are on the plumbing contractor bond page.

No second registrationContractors licensed under the plumbing chapter are not required to be registered under chapter 18.27 RCW. — Washington State Legislature, RCW 18.106.400, retrieved 2026-10-01

Full-time certified plumberA plumbing contractor applicant must employ a full-time individual with a valid journey level or specialty plumber's certificate of competency. — Washington State Legislature, RCW 18.106.400, retrieved 2026-10-01

$50,000 / $100,000 / $200,000Plumbing contractor licensing needs $50,000 property damage, $100,000 for one person and $200,000 for more than one person in insurance. — Washington State Legislature, RCW 18.106.420, retrieved 2026-10-01

The Washington electrical contractor licence and $4,000 bond

Electrical work needs an L&I electrical contractor licence and a $4,000 bond. No city or county in Washington may add a licence, bond or fee for the same purpose.

The statute calls the state's licensing provisions, including the bond, exclusive. A city cannot issue its own electrical licence or demand a second bond. Holding more than one specialty electrical licence does not require more than one $4,000 bond or more than one annual fee.

The licence expires 24 calendar months after issue. The applicant designates an individual who holds a master journey level electrician's certificate, a master specialty electrician's certificate, or an administrator's certificate. The bond can be replaced by a cash deposit or negotiable security.

No city bondNo political subdivision of Washington may require or issue any licences or bonds, or charge a fee, for the same or a similar purpose as the electrical licence. — Washington State Legislature, RCW 19.28.041, retrieved 2026-10-01

One $4,000 bondA holder of more than one specialty electrical contractor licence need not post more than one $4,000 bond. — Washington State Legislature, RCW 19.28.041, retrieved 2026-10-01

24 monthsElectrical contractor licences expire 24 calendar months following the day of issue. — Washington State Legislature, RCW 19.28.041, retrieved 2026-10-01

Washington work that sits outside the contractor bond schedule

The bond schedules above apply to construction work. Work outside the contractor definition is not reached by the registration bond. Borderline cases need an answer from L&I.

RCW 18.27.010 reaches building, altering, repairing and improving structures attached to real estate. If your work is construction, alteration or repair of that kind, the definition covers it. If you are unsure, ask L&I before you bid.

A mobile food unit is a different case. The four mobile food unit sections cited on the food truck insurance page do not mention a bond or a liability minimum. Commissaries and venues may ask for a certificate anyway.

Workers' compensation is its own system. See the workers' compensation exemption page.

L&I approvalA mobile food unit permit holder must obtain approval from other regulating agencies, including L&I, before operating. — Washington State Legislature, WAC 246-215-09100, retrieved 2026-10-01

Penalties and finesWorking without registering as a contractor in Washington carries substantial penalties and fines. — Washington State Department of Labor & Industries, Register as a Contractor, retrieved 2026-10-01

Washington advertising rules and the $1,000 disclosure statement

Registered contractors must show their registration number in advertising, and must hand over a disclosure statement on jobs of $1,000 or more. The statute also bars one claim.

RCW 18.27.100 says no contractor shall advertise that they are bonded and insured because of the bond and insurance the chapter requires. Do not put that phrase on your truck, card or web page. Use your registration number instead.

The disclosure applies to residential work on four or fewer units where the price is $1,000 or more, and to commercial buildings from $1,000 up to $60,000. It must be given before work starts. It states the bond amount and warns that the bond might not be sufficient to cover a claim.

Keep the signed copy for at least three years. Failing to give it is an infraction. L&I publishes the form as F625-030-000.

Registration numberAll advertising that shows the contractor's name or address must show the current registration number. — Washington State Legislature, RCW 18.27.100, retrieved 2026-10-01

Phrase barredNo contractor shall advertise that he or she is bonded and insured because of the bond and insurance required by the chapter. — Washington State Legislature, RCW 18.27.100, retrieved 2026-10-01

$1,000 / $60,000A disclosure statement is required on residential jobs of $1,000 or more and commercial projects of $1,000 up to $60,000. — Washington State Legislature, RCW 18.27.114, retrieved 2026-10-01

Three yearsThe contractor must keep a signed copy of the disclosure statement for a minimum of three years. — Washington State Legislature, RCW 18.27.114, retrieved 2026-10-01

F625-030-000L&I's model disclosure statement notice to customer is form F625-030-000. — Washington State Department of Labor & Industries, Register as a Contractor, retrieved 2026-10-01

Your next step before buying a Washington contractor bond

Confirm your classification first. Then buy the bond and the policy in your exact business name, and file with L&I.

Decide whether you are a general contractor, a specialty contractor, a plumbing contractor or an electrical contractor. Work out which of the four amounts in the table applies to you. Then follow the order on the get bonded and insured page.

Do not start bidding, advertising or working until the registration or licence is active. Working without one is a gross misdemeanor under the contractor chapter, and each day worked after a citation counts separately.

Gross misdemeanorIt is a gross misdemeanor to advertise, bid or perform work as a contractor without being registered. — Washington State Legislature, RCW 18.27.020, retrieved 2026-10-01

Each dayA person is guilty of a separate gross misdemeanor for each day worked while unregistered after receiving a citation. — Washington State Legislature, RCW 18.27.020, retrieved 2026-10-01

Questions