How to Check a Washington Contractor With L&I Before You Hire

Washington requires every construction contractor to register with the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I). Before you hire, look the contractor up in the L&I Verify tool. It shows whether the registration is active and whether a bond and liability insurance are in place. Ask every contractor for the same proof, including us.

What registration means

To register with L&I, a contractor must get a surety bond or an assignment of savings and carry general liability insurance. L&I says a Verify check tells you the contractor has at least posted a minimum bond and bought liability insurance. Registration does not prove the quality of the work, so it is one check among several.

How to look up a contractor

1. Ask for the exact business name and the contractor license or UBI number.
2. Search L&I's Verify a Contractor, Tradesperson or Business tool. You can search by name, contractor or tradesperson license, workers' comp account or UBI number.
3. Confirm the registration is active and that the bond and insurance show as current.
4. Review the record for safety violations and past lawsuits or license violations, as L&I advises.
5. Check that the name in the lookup matches the name on your bid and contract.

Electrical and plumbing work need licensed trades

L&I says any employees doing electrical work on your home must be licensed electricians. A licensed electrical contractor makes sure the work is permitted and inspected. Only licensed plumbing contractors can bid on plumbing projects and send certified plumbers to jobs. L&I notes that a homeowner's policy might not cover damage caused by an unlicensed plumber.

Who buys the electrical permit

Electrical permits must be bought by the electrical contractor or by the owner who will do the work. If you hire an electrical contractor, they buy their own permits. The permit comes from L&I, from your city if it runs its own electrical program, or from Tacoma Power in its service area.

Other steps L&I recommends

• Get at least three written bids and compare them carefully.
• Get references and stay alert for scams.
• Get a written contract and make sure you understand the terms.
• On a larger job, consider asking for a performance bond.
• Know your options if something goes wrong, including whether you may be eligible for L&I's Homeowner Recovery Fund.