Do you need a general contractor license in Washington?
Yes, a registration. In Washington, every contractor, general or specialty, who builds, alters, repairs or improves any building or other structure attached to real estate must register with the Department of Labor and Industries. Advertising, bidding or performing work as a contractor without being registered is a gross misdemeanor. A general contractor is one whose work requires more than one building trade on a single job or under a single building permit; a specialty contractor is any other contractor. Cities and counties can add their own licensing on top of the state’s. This is RCW 18.27.020, 18.27.010.
| What | Washington |
|---|---|
| General contractors | State contractor registration (Labor and Industries) |
Source
Read the statute in the Revised Code of Washington (Washington State Legislature): app.leg.wa.gov.
Checked against the statute on November 13, 2026.
This is a summary of a published statute, not legal advice. Rules change, local ordinances can add to them, and the terms of a specific lease may differ. Check the citation and speak to a lawyer before acting.
How Seayora uses this rule
A contractor on Seayora keeps each license with its issuing state, its expiry date and the last four digits of its number, and the business is warned before one lapses — on the website and both phone apps. A customer finding a pro on Seayora sees whether a license is on file.
Guides on this rule
- Contractor License Requirements by State: Every Trade — Which states require a state license for electricians, plumbers, HVAC, general and home improvement contractors, with the statute for each.
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The same question in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
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- Arkansas
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- District of Columbia
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- Georgia
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