Not in Washington? Find this bond in your state

License bond

Washington Contractor License Bond

Washington contractors must register with the Department of Labor and Industries and file a registration bond. Since July 1, 2024, the bond is $30,000 for a general contractor and $15,000 for a specialty contractor (RCW 18.27.040).

Start the applicationWho needs this bond
Bond at a glance
Washington Contractor License BondLicense bond
Required by state law
LawRCW 18.27.040
General contractor$30,000 (since July 1, 2024)
Specialty contractor$15,000 (since July 1, 2024)
ObligeeWashington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I)
Required byWashington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I)
How it works

Three steps to your bond.

  1. 01Apply onceTell us about your business and what the bond is for. One application covers most contractor bonds.
  2. 02The surety reviews itPropeller Bonds, our surety partner, reviews your application and sets the terms. We show you the terms before you commit.
  3. 03Sign and fileSign the bond and file it with whoever requires it: the project owner, agency or court. We help with the filing.
About this bond

What a contractor license bond is

Some states, and many cities and counties, make contractors post a bond to get or renew a license. It protects customers, workers and the public if the contractor breaks the licensing laws, for example by abandoning a job or not paying workers. The contractor repays the surety for any claim it pays.

In Washington

Washington contractors must register with the Department of Labor and Industries and file a registration bond. Since July 1, 2024, the bond is $30,000 for a general contractor and $15,000 for a specialty contractor (RCW 18.27.040).

  • Before July 1, 2024 the amounts were $12,000 (general) and $6,000 (specialty).

You need this bond if you're

  • A contractor applying for a new license
  • A contractor renewing or reactivating a license
  • A business changing its entity type or qualifier
  • A contractor starting work in a city or county that requires its own bond

What the surety looks at

Basic business and owner details. Most license bonds need a credit check but no financial statements.

FAQs

Common questions.

Does Washington require a contractor license bond?

See the facts above for what the state requires. Even where the state doesn't, a city or county can. Check with the licensing office where you'll work.

Is a license bond the same as insurance?

No. The bond protects your customers and the public, not you. If the surety pays a claim, you repay it. Liability insurance is what protects your business.

What happens if the bond lapses?

The licensing agency is notified and can suspend your license until a new bond is on file. Renew before the expiry date.

What does it cost?

You pay a premium, not the bond amount. The surety sets the premium after it reviews your application, usually as a percentage of the bond amount. We show you the terms before you commit.

How do I get one through BLDAssure?

Apply once with us. We collect the details the surety needs, Propeller Bonds (our surety partner) reviews the application and issues the bond, and we help you file it with whoever requires it.

Related bonds

Other Washington bonds.

See all 63 Washington bonds with prices →

Permit bond

Washington Permit Bond

Some cities and counties require a bond before they issue a building or work permit.

ApplyBond details →
Permit bond

Washington Right-of-Way Bond

Work in a public street, sidewalk or highway usually needs an encroachment or right-of-way permit, and many agencies require a bond with it.

ApplyBond details →
Contract bond

Washington Bid Bond

A bid bond is a guarantee you submit with your bid.

ApplyBond details →
By state

Contractor license bonds in other states.

Alabama contractor license bondAlaska contractor license bondArizona contractor license bondArkansas contractor license bondCalifornia contractor license bondColorado contractor license bondConnecticut contractor license bondDelaware contractor license bondDistrict of Columbia contractor license bondFlorida contractor license bondGeorgia contractor license bondHawaii contractor license bondIdaho contractor license bondIllinois contractor license bondIndiana contractor license bondIowa contractor license bondKansas contractor license bondKentucky contractor license bondLouisiana contractor license bondMaine contractor license bondMaryland contractor license bondMassachusetts contractor license bondMichigan contractor license bondMinnesota contractor license bondMississippi contractor license bondMissouri contractor license bondMontana contractor license bondNebraska contractor license bondNevada contractor license bondNew Hampshire contractor license bondNew Jersey contractor license bondNew Mexico contractor license bondNew York contractor license bondNorth Carolina contractor license bondNorth Dakota contractor license bondOhio contractor license bondOklahoma contractor license bondOregon contractor license bondPennsylvania contractor license bondRhode Island contractor license bondSouth Carolina contractor license bondSouth Dakota contractor license bondTennessee contractor license bondTexas contractor license bondUtah contractor license bondVermont contractor license bondVirginia contractor license bondWest Virginia contractor license bondWisconsin contractor license bondWyoming contractor license bond

Sources

  1. RCW 18.27.040
  2. WA L&I contractor registration rulemaking (2SHB 1534)

General information, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm the current requirement with the agency or owner that asks for the bond. Facts checked Oct 2, 2026.

Get prequalified for your next bond.

One application, reviewed by our surety partner Propeller. We show you the terms before you commit.

Start the applicationAll surety bonds

Get started

Tell us who you are and we'll set up your account.

Book a demo

Step 1 of 3

See the platform with your own market, projects and vendors.

What you need

Interested in (pick any)