How to Verify a Washington Contractor's License in 5 Minutes

Before hiring any contractor in Washington State, you need to verify their license. It takes five minutes and could save you thousands of dollars.

Washington's Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) maintains a public database of all registered contractors. Here's exactly how to use it—and what to look for.

Quick Verification: L&I Contractor Lookup

Go to: secure.lni.wa.gov/verify

Step 1: Enter the Contractor's Information

You can search by:

  • Business name (most common)
  • UBI number (Unified Business Identifier)
  • Contractor registration number (format: XXXXXXXX###XX)

If searching by name, use the exact business name from their card or estimate. "Smith's Construction" and "Smiths Construction" may show different results.

Step 2: Verify These Five Things

When you find the contractor, check:

Item What You Want to See
Registration Status "Active" or "Current"
Effective Date Shows when registration started
Expiration Date Must be in the future
Bond Status "Active" with valid surety
Insurance Status "Active" for L&I/Workers' Comp

If ANY of these show "Expired," "Suspended," or "Inactive," do not hire this contractor.

Step 3: Check for Violations

Scroll down to the "Infractions/Violations" section. This shows:

  • Consumer complaints filed against them
  • L&I citations
  • Bond claims
  • Stop work orders

Some violations are minor paperwork issues. Multiple consumer complaints or stop work orders are red flags.

Step 4: Verify the License Type

Washington has different contractor registration types:

  • General Contractor (GC): Can do most residential/commercial work
  • Specialty Contractor: Limited to specific trades (electrical, plumbing, HVAC)
  • Residential Contractor: Residential work only

Make sure their license type covers your project. A residential contractor cannot legally work on commercial projects.

What the License Number Tells You

Washington contractor registration numbers follow this format:

EXAMPBC123XY
  • First letters: Abbreviated business name
  • Numbers: Sequential registration number
  • Last two letters: Registration type indicator

If someone gives you a registration number that doesn't match this format, it may be fake.

Red Flags That Mean "Walk Away"

Immediate Disqualifiers

  1. "I'm not registered, but..." — In Washington, contractors must be registered for any work over $500. No exceptions.

  2. Can't provide license number — Legitimate contractors know their registration number.

  3. License shows "Suspended" — Often means unpaid L&I premiums or unresolved complaints.

  4. Registration just expired — They may be uninsured right now.

Yellow Flags (Investigate Further)

  1. Newly registered (less than 1 year) — Not disqualifying, but verify references carefully.

  2. One or two old complaints — Read the details. Some complaints are frivolous.

  3. Different address than where you found them — Businesses move. Just verify it's the same company.

Common License Scams

The "Borrowed License" Scam

Unlicensed workers show you a license number—but it belongs to someone else. They do the work, something goes wrong, and the real license holder has no idea you exist.

Prevention: Ask for photo ID matching the business name. Call the company number listed on L&I's website, not the number they gave you.

The "Expired but Valid" Lie

"My license is being renewed, it just shows expired in the system."

Reality: If it shows expired, they're currently unlicensed. A legitimate contractor would delay starting until renewal completes.

The "Specialty License" Bait-and-Switch

They have a valid specialty license (like painting) but bid on general construction work they're not licensed for.

Prevention: Match their license type to your project scope.

Additional Verification Steps

Check Their Bond Amount

Washington requires minimum bonds of:

  • $12,000 for contractors with revenue under $1 million
  • $20,000 for contractors earning $1-5 million
  • $30,000 for contractors earning over $5 million

For a major project, you may want a contractor with a larger bond.

Verify They Have Liability Insurance

L&I's lookup shows workers' compensation status, but NOT general liability insurance. Ask your contractor for:

  • Certificate of Insurance (COI)
  • At least $1 million in general liability coverage
  • Your name added as "Additional Insured"

See our guide to verifying contractor insurance for details.

Check Better Business Bureau

Search bbb.org for their business name. Not all contractors are BBB members, but complaints often appear here too.

Search Court Records

For larger projects, search Washington Courts' case search for lawsuits involving the contractor.

What If You Find Problems?

Contractor Is Unlicensed

  1. Do not hire them
  2. Report them to L&I: (360) 902-5226
  3. If you already paid, file a complaint immediately

Contractor Has Multiple Complaints

Read the complaint details carefully. Consider:

  • How recent are they?
  • Were they resolved?
  • What's the pattern?

One complaint about a delayed timeline is different from multiple complaints about taking money and disappearing.

Contractor's Bond Was Claimed

This means a previous customer filed and won a claim against their bond. Serious red flag—this contractor has a history of not completing work or paying subcontractors.

Keep Records

Before work begins, save:

  • Screenshot of their L&I verification page
  • Copy of their contractor registration
  • Certificate of insurance
  • Signed contract

If something goes wrong, you'll need this documentation to file a complaint or bond claim.

Quick Reference: What to Check

Use this checklist before signing any contract:

  • Registration status: Active
  • Expiration date: Future
  • Bond status: Active
  • L&I insurance: Active
  • No recent complaints
  • License type matches project
  • Liability insurance verified separately
  • License number matches business name

Five minutes of verification prevents months of headaches.

Related Resources

Last verified: March 2026