Washington Subcontractor License Requirements: What GCs Must Verify Before Work Starts

Q: What trades require a specialty license in Washington beyond registration?

Electrical work requires a separate electrical contractor license from the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries Electrical Program. Plumbing requires a plumbing contractor license from L&I. HVAC technicians require an HVAC/Refrigeration contractor license. Elevator contractors require an elevator contractor license.

Q: How do I look up a Washington contractor's registration?

Search by contractor name or UBI (Unified Business Identifier) at verify.lni.wa.gov. The result shows registration status (active/expired/suspended), registration expiration date, insurance bond amount, and workers' comp status.

Q: How often do Washington contractor registrations expire?

Washington contractor registrations expire every two years. Specialty licenses (electrical, plumbing) have their own renewal schedules. Always verify status directly in the L&I database rather than relying on a copy of the registration certificate.

Washington requires contractor registration for nearly every trade — not just specialty work. Which subs need what, what GCs must verify, and how Washington's L&I system works in practice.

8 min read Updated March 2026 Written for general contractors

In this guide

How Washington contractor registration works
Which trades require a specialty license
What GCs are responsible for verifying
Penalties for hiring unregistered subs
How to look up a Washington contractor's registration
FAQ

How Washington Contractor Registration Works

Washington requires all contractors — general and specialty — to register with the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) before performing any construction work in the state. This is called contractor registration (not licensing), but it carries the same weight: an unregistered contractor cannot legally pull permits, and hiring an unregistered sub exposes you as the GC.

Registration must be renewed every two years and requires proof of a contractor's bond and active workers' compensation coverage through L&I. This means that verifying a sub's L&I registration status tells you both their registration status and whether their WC account is in good standing.

Registration ≠ license for specialty trades. Contractor registration is required for all contractors, but electrical, plumbing, and HVAC subs must additionally hold specialty licenses. Registration alone is not enough for licensed trades.

Which Trades Require a Specialty License in Washington

The following trades require both L&I contractor registration and an additional specialty license:

Trade	Licensing authority	License types
Electrical	L&I Electrical Program	Electrical Contractor License; Journeyman Electrician; Master Electrician (required to supervise)
Plumbing	L&I Plumbing Program	Plumbing Contractor License; Journeyman Plumber; Master Plumber
HVAC / Refrigeration	L&I	HVAC/Refrigeration Contractor License; Journey-level HVAC/R Technician
Elevator	L&I Elevator Program	Elevator Contractor License; Elevator Mechanic Certificate
Boiler / Pressure Vessel	L&I	Boiler Mechanic Certificate
Asbestos Abatement	L&I / Dept. of Ecology	Asbestos Contractor License; individual accreditation required for workers

Trades requiring registration only (no specialty license)

Roofing, framing, drywall, painting, concrete, landscaping, and general carpentry require L&I contractor registration but not a specialty license. Unlike Texas, Washington's registration requirement covers these trades — an unregistered roofer or framing crew is in violation of state law, not just uninsured.

What GCs Are Responsible for Verifying

Verify L&I contractor registration is Active — not expired or suspended — before any sub begins work
For specialty trades (electrical, plumbing, HVAC): verify both the contractor registration and the specialty license
Confirm the registered business name matches the name on your subcontract — mismatches are a red flag
Re-verify before each new project; registrations expire every two years and can lapse between jobs
For electrical subs: confirm a licensed Master Electrician is associated with the company (required to supervise work)

Registration status and WC status are linked. A suspended L&I registration often means the contractor has delinquent WC premiums. Checking registration at verify.lni.wa.gov surfaces both issues at once.

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Penalties for Hiring Unregistered Subcontractors

Washington takes unregistered contractor work seriously. Key risks for GCs:

Permit denial: An unregistered sub cannot pull permits, which can halt the project and create compliance issues for the GC
Fines: L&I can fine the GC for allowing unregistered contractors to work on a project they supervise
Insurance liability: If an unregistered sub's worker is injured, WC coverage may not exist, and the GC can face direct liability
Contract disputes: Work performed by an unregistered contractor may be unenforceable in Washington courts in some circumstances

How to Look Up a Washington Contractor's Registration

Use the L&I contractor lookup at verify.lni.wa.gov. You can search by:

Business name
UBI number (Unified Business Identifier)
Contractor registration number

The results show registration status, expiration date, bond amount, and workers' comp account status. For specialty licenses (electrical, plumbing), use the same L&I portal — the system is integrated.

Don't accept a registration certificate copy. Registration can lapse after the certificate was printed. Always verify live status in the L&I database, not from a document the sub provides.

FAQ

Does Washington require a general contractor license?

Yes. Washington requires all contractors — including general contractors — to register with L&I. This contractor registration is a legal requirement to perform construction work in the state and to pull permits.

What trades require a specialty license in Washington beyond registration?

Electrical, plumbing, HVAC/refrigeration, elevator, and boiler work all require specialty licenses from L&I in addition to basic contractor registration.

How do I look up a Washington contractor's registration?

Search at verify.lni.wa.gov by contractor name, UBI, or registration number. Results show registration status, expiration date, bond amount, and WC account status.

Can my sub work under my GC registration in Washington?

No. Each subcontractor must hold their own L&I registration. Specialty trade subs must additionally hold their own specialty licenses.

How often do Washington contractor registrations expire?

Every two years. Always verify current status in the L&I database — do not rely on a copy of a registration certificate.

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