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Washington contractor license lookup
Check a Washington contractor's license against the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries: status, registration number, and when it expires.
Live against the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries through Washington's official license data, showing the current status and expiration date.
Enter a Washington registration number above to see a live result.
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We email you if the status changes, the license lapses, or discipline is filed. $19 a month, cancel anytime.
What each status means
- Active
- The license is current and the contractor is cleared to work in the trade. This is what you want to see before you sign a contract or pull a permit.
- Expired or inactive
- The license is on file but not in force. The contractor cannot work on it until it is renewed.
- Suspended or revoked
- The state has taken disciplinary action. The contractor is not authorized to work, and the action is on the public record.
Verifying a Washington contractor
- Licensing authority
- Construction contractors in Washington must register with the Department of Labor and Industries before they advertise or do work, and electrical and plumbing contractors hold their own L&I licenses. Registration is a state requirement, not a local permit.
- Registration number
- A Washington contractor registration number issued by the Department of Labor and Industries. It is a twelve-character code that mixes letters and numbers, not a plain number, and one number space covers every trade: construction contractors, both general and specialty, plus electrical, plumbing, and elevator contractors. The record shows the registered company.
- Renewal
- A Washington construction contractor registration runs for two years and can lapse to Expired if it is not renewed; each record shows its effective and expiration dates and a status such as Active, Expired, or Suspended.
- Disciplinary history
- Public. To register, a contractor must keep a surety bond and liability insurance on file with L&I, and the official verify page shows the registration status along with the bond and insurance backing the registration.
Common questions
How do I know a Washington contractor is really licensed?
Find them by registration number on the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries's record with an active status. A contractor who cannot be found on the state's record is not licensed in Washington, whatever a website says.
What does an expired or inactive license mean?
The license is on file but not current, so the contractor cannot practice on it until it is renewed or reactivated. The record shows the expiration date.
Can I see if a Washington contractor has been disciplined?
Public. To register, a contractor must keep a surety bond and liability insurance on file with L&I, and the official verify page shows the registration status along with the bond and insurance backing the registration.
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