Published March 10, 2026

Verify a Contractor License in Washington

If you hire a contractor in the San Juan Islands, verify registration first. It protects your project and gives you access to bond claim rights under state law.

Step 1: Use the Washington L&I lookup

Start with the Washington Department of Labor and Industries lookup tool. Confirm the contractor has active registration before signing a contract or sending a deposit.

L&I contractor lookup: lni.wa.gov

Step 2: Check bond and insurance basics

Under RCW 18.27, Washington requires bond and liability insurance for registered contractors. General contractors must carry a $30,000 surety bond. Specialty contractors must carry a $15,000 surety bond.

Residential disclosure requirements apply to projects $1,000 and up. Ask to see registration details in writing before work starts.

RCW references: RCW 18.27 and RCW 18.27.040.

Step 3: Do not skip this on island projects

Island logistics already add schedule complexity. Hiring an unregistered contractor adds legal and financial risk on top of that. Verify first, then compare scope quality and timeline fit.

If your project includes electrical work, confirm electrical licensing under RCW 19.28 through L&I and verify electrical permit paths separately from county permit steps.

If your project includes ADU scope, review county-specific ADU policy before final design:ADU rules in San Juan County.

Related resources

Need help sorting contractor options? Start in the directory, then use Get 3 Quotes if you want us to help with outreach.