Washington Contractor Registration Renewal (L&I)

Last reviewed October 2026 · 4 min read

Washington general and specialty contractors register with the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I). The registration lasts up to two years, but the bond and liability insurance behind it can end it sooner: if the bond is cancelled, or the insurance is cancelled or expires, the registration is suspended automatically.

At a glance

Renews every: 2 years, on or before the expiration date
Renewal notice: L&I sends one to your address on file no more than 45 days before the registration expires. Tell L&I in writing within 10 days of a change of address
Fee: $150.20 to renew. Reinstating a registration costs $70.90
Bond: $30,000 for general contractors, $15,000 for specialty contractors. L&I can require up to three times that after a court judgment involving a single-family home in the past five years. An assigned bank account can take the place of the bond
Liability insurance: $200,000 public liability and $50,000 property damage, or $250,000 combined single limit, with L&I listed as a certificate holder
If the bond or insurance ends: If the bond is cancelled, or the policy is cancelled or expires, the registration is suspended automatically. To reinstate it, file the new bond or policy (or proof the problem is fixed) and pay the $70.90 reinstatement fee. While suspended, you can't advertise, bid, offer to do work or work as a contractor
Renew: Online (with your contractor registration number, UBI number and the fee by card or e-check), by mailing the renewal card with a check or money order, or in person at an L&I office
Registration period: You can ask, in a letter filed with your application or renewal, for the registration period to end on a particular day, but a period can't be longer than two years
Other suspensions: L&I also suspends a registration for an unsatisfied judgment. It must notify you within 2 days of a suspension. When a bond or insurance problem suspends you, the law lets that notice be electronic, by a method L&I can track, after it offers you a paper option, so watch your email as well as your mail. L&I says the notice tells you what you need to do to reinstate. A registration reinstated online shows as active as soon as you pay
Switching to specialty: If you switch from a general to a specialty contractor registration, your bond amount can't be reduced for 2 years

These renewal options are for businesses with no changes. If you've changed partners, business name or structure, or your specialty, contact L&I's contractor registration program about what to file instead.

Plumbing and electrical work have their own education, examination and licensing requirements on top of contractor registration.

L&I says your contractor registration number must go on your advertising, bids and offers to do work, such as business cards, ads, estimates and bid proposals (RCW 18.27.100 lists a few exceptions).

How to renew

Look yourself up with L&I's Verify a Contractor tool: check that your bond and liability insurance details are up to date and the registration isn't suspended.
If you've changed bonding company, bond amount, insurer or coverage since your last renewal, update it with L&I first. Insurance certificates go by mail, through your insurance agent's portal, or in person: L&I doesn't take them by email or fax.
Renew online, by mail or in person and pay the $150.20 fee, on or before the expiration date.
Keep the bond and liability policy in force for the whole registration period: a cancelled bond, or a cancelled or expired policy, suspends the registration on its own.

Still tracking this in a spreadsheet? On a paid plan, get emailed 90, 60, 30, 7 and 1 days before it expires, by default.

Start free

Deadline checklist

90 days outConfirm the exact expiration date on the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) license lookup.
45 days outCheck that your bond, liability insurance and workers' comp (where required) are current and will stay current through the renewal.
30 days outSubmit the renewal and pay the fee.
7 days outConfirm the board shows the renewal as processed and your license as active.

Put this renewal in your calendar

Know your expiration date? Download a free calendar file with reminders before it, no sign-up needed. It's made in your browser: nothing you type is sent to us (your browser keeps it only if you follow the sign-up link, for your new ledger). A Google Calendar button sends just that one event to Google.

The file covers one date: once you renew, make a new one. How to add it to your calendar

The license isn't the only thing expiring

Most lapses that cost contractors work aren't the license itself. They're one of these, renewing on a different date:

Contractor surety bond: it doesn't expire, but the surety can cancel it
The general liability policy you have on file with L&I
Certificates of insurance (COIs) you've given to clients and GCs
Commercial auto insurance

LicenseLedger keeps every one of those dates in one place and emails you before each one expires, with reminders far enough ahead to finish CE and paperwork.

Track your renewal dates free

Frequently asked questions

How often do you renew a Washington contractor registration?

Every two years. A registration is valid for two years and has to be renewed on or before its expiration date.

How much does it cost to renew a Washington contractor registration?

$150.20 to renew. Reinstating a registration costs $70.90.

What bond does a Washington contractor need?

$30,000 for general contractors and $15,000 for specialty contractors. L&I can require up to three times that after a court judgment involving a single-family home in the past five years. An assigned bank account can take the place of the bond.

What happens if my bond or liability insurance is cancelled?

The registration is suspended automatically. To reinstate it, file the new bond or policy (or proof the problem is fixed) and pay the $70.90 reinstatement fee. While suspended, you can't advertise, bid, offer to do work or work as a contractor.

Official sources

Rules, fees and CE requirements change. Confirm the current requirements with the official source before you renew:

Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I)

This guide is general information, not legal advice.

Other Washington guides

All Washington guides on one page

General contractor guides for other states

Get a reminder before this renewal is due

Add this license, your insurance policies and the COIs you collect from subs to LicenseLedger, and get an email before each one expires. Free for up to 3 records, no credit card required.

Start free

How LicenseLedger works for general contractors

Not ready to sign up? Get the free tracking spreadsheet

Washington Contractor Registration Renewal (L&I)

Last reviewed October 2026 · 4 min read

At a glance

Renews every: 2 years, on or before the expiration date
Renewal notice: L&I sends one to your address on file no more than 45 days before the registration expires. Tell L&I in writing within 10 days of a change of address
Fee: $150.20 to renew. Reinstating a registration costs $70.90
Bond: $30,000 for general contractors, $15,000 for specialty contractors. L&I can require up to three times that after a court judgment involving a single-family home in the past five years. An assigned bank account can take the place of the bond
Liability insurance: $200,000 public liability and $50,000 property damage, or $250,000 combined single limit, with L&I listed as a certificate holder
If the bond or insurance ends: If the bond is cancelled, or the policy is cancelled or expires, the registration is suspended automatically. To reinstate it, file the new bond or policy (or proof the problem is fixed) and pay the $70.90 reinstatement fee. While suspended, you can't advertise, bid, offer to do work or work as a contractor
Renew: Online (with your contractor registration number, UBI number and the fee by card or e-check), by mailing the renewal card with a check or money order, or in person at an L&I office
Registration period: You can ask, in a letter filed with your application or renewal, for the registration period to end on a particular day, but a period can't be longer than two years
Other suspensions: L&I also suspends a registration for an unsatisfied judgment. It must notify you within 2 days of a suspension. When a bond or insurance problem suspends you, the law lets that notice be electronic, by a method L&I can track, after it offers you a paper option, so watch your email as well as your mail. L&I says the notice tells you what you need to do to reinstate. A registration reinstated online shows as active as soon as you pay
Switching to specialty: If you switch from a general to a specialty contractor registration, your bond amount can't be reduced for 2 years

Plumbing and electrical work have their own education, examination and licensing requirements on top of contractor registration.

L&I says your contractor registration number must go on your advertising, bids and offers to do work, such as business cards, ads, estimates and bid proposals (RCW 18.27.100 lists a few exceptions).

How to renew

Look yourself up with L&I's Verify a Contractor tool: check that your bond and liability insurance details are up to date and the registration isn't suspended.
If you've changed bonding company, bond amount, insurer or coverage since your last renewal, update it with L&I first. Insurance certificates go by mail, through your insurance agent's portal, or in person: L&I doesn't take them by email or fax.
Renew online, by mail or in person and pay the $150.20 fee, on or before the expiration date.
Keep the bond and liability policy in force for the whole registration period: a cancelled bond, or a cancelled or expired policy, suspends the registration on its own.

Still tracking this in a spreadsheet? On a paid plan, get emailed 90, 60, 30, 7 and 1 days before it expires, by default.

Start free

Deadline checklist

90 days outConfirm the exact expiration date on the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) license lookup.
45 days outCheck that your bond, liability insurance and workers' comp (where required) are current and will stay current through the renewal.
30 days outSubmit the renewal and pay the fee.
7 days outConfirm the board shows the renewal as processed and your license as active.

Put this renewal in your calendar

The file covers one date: once you renew, make a new one. How to add it to your calendar

The license isn't the only thing expiring

Most lapses that cost contractors work aren't the license itself. They're one of these, renewing on a different date:

Contractor surety bond: it doesn't expire, but the surety can cancel it
The general liability policy you have on file with L&I
Certificates of insurance (COIs) you've given to clients and GCs
Commercial auto insurance

LicenseLedger keeps every one of those dates in one place and emails you before each one expires, with reminders far enough ahead to finish CE and paperwork.

Track your renewal dates free

Frequently asked questions

How often do you renew a Washington contractor registration?

Every two years. A registration is valid for two years and has to be renewed on or before its expiration date.

How much does it cost to renew a Washington contractor registration?

$150.20 to renew. Reinstating a registration costs $70.90.

What bond does a Washington contractor need?

What happens if my bond or liability insurance is cancelled?

Official sources

Rules, fees and CE requirements change. Confirm the current requirements with the official source before you renew:

Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I)

This guide is general information, not legal advice.

Other Washington guides

All Washington guides on one page

General contractor guides for other states

Get a reminder before this renewal is due

Add this license, your insurance policies and the COIs you collect from subs to LicenseLedger, and get an email before each one expires. Free for up to 3 records, no credit card required.

Start free

How LicenseLedger works for general contractors

Not ready to sign up? Get the free tracking spreadsheet