Washington Contractor License Bond

Every contractor in Washington needs a surety bond on file with L&I before they can register — $30,000 for general, $15,000 for specialty. We shop multiple surety companies, premiums start around $150 a year, and most approvals come back within 24 hours.

  • Local Washington agency, real agents
  • Bond + liability insurance in one quote
  • L&I-ready documentation, first submission

Get Your Bond Quote

Two minutes. No obligation. A licensed WA agent follows up today.

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$30,000 General vs. $15,000 Specialty — Which Bond You Need

L&I sets your bond amount based on how you register. Manage full projects and hire subs? You're general. Work in one or two trades? You're specialty.

General Contractor

$30,000
Required bond amount
  • Manages full construction projects
  • Can hire and oversee subcontractors
  • Required before L&I registration

Specialty Contractor

$15,000
Required bond amount
  • Works in one or two trades
  • Painters, roofers, HVAC, landscapers, and more
  • Lower premium due to the smaller bond

Not sure which one you are? Our WA contractor registration guide breaks down the difference — or just ask us when we call.

What a Washington Contractor Bond Costs

Here's the part that surprises people: you don't pay the bond amount. The $30,000 or $15,000 is what the bond guarantees to your customers — what you pay is a small annual premium for the surety company to stand behind you.

Premiums start around $150 per year for specialty contractors with decent credit. Credit is the biggest pricing factor: stronger credit means a lower premium, weaker credit means a higher one — but usually not a decline. Because we shop multiple surety companies, you see the best rate available for your situation, not just one carrier's answer.

Exact pricing depends on your credit and business history — every figure here is a starting point, not a binding quote.

How to Get a Surety Bond in Washington State

1

Tell us which bond you need

General or specialty, plus basic business info. The form above takes about two minutes.

2

We shop the surety markets

We work with multiple surety companies and come back with your best premium — most approvals within 24 hours.

3

File with L&I and get to work

You get the bond L&I needs for your contractor registration. Add liability insurance and you’re ready to file.

Want the long version — every registration step, cash-deposit alternatives, renewal rules? Read our step-by-step surety bond guide.

Bond + Liability Insurance — L&I Requires Both

The bond alone won't get you registered. Since 2024, Washington also requires at least $250,000 of general liability insurance, with L&I named on the certificate.

That's why we quote them together. One conversation gets you the bond, the general liability policy, and a certificate formatted the way L&I accepts on the first submission. And while $250,000 satisfies the state, most GCs and project owners require $1 million before you're allowed on site — we'll price both so you can decide.

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What About a Continuous Contractor Surety Bond?

Washington contractor bonds are written as continuous bonds: the bond stays in force until it's cancelled, rather than expiring on a set date. You pay the premium each year to keep it active, but there's no annual re-filing with L&I — the bond stays on file until you or the surety cancel it. If it does cancel, L&I suspends your registration, so renewal reminders matter. We handle those.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a contractor bond the same as insurance?
No. A surety bond protects your customers — if you fail to finish work or break contracting laws, the bond pays them. Insurance protects you — if your work damages property or injures someone, your liability policy pays the claim. Washington requires both before L&I will register you.
Who does the bond actually protect?
Not you. The bond protects the people you work for, plus laborers and material suppliers who don’t get paid. Think of it as a financial guarantee you post for their benefit, not coverage for your business.
What happens if someone claims against my bond?
The surety company investigates, and if the claim is valid, pays it — up to the bond amount. Then the surety comes to you for repayment. A bond claim is a personal debt, which is one more reason to keep liability insurance that actually protects you.
Can I get bonded with bad credit?
Usually, yes. Credit is the biggest factor in your premium, so weaker credit means a higher annual price — not an automatic no. We shop multiple surety companies to find the best available rate for your situation.
How fast can I get bonded?
Most bond approvals come back within 24 hours, and clean-credit applications are often approved the same day. We can prepare the bond and your liability documentation together so you file everything with L&I at once.
What happens if my bond lapses?
L&I automatically suspends your contractor registration the moment your bond is no longer on file. Working while suspended is unregistered contracting — a gross misdemeanor with fines up to $5,000 per violation. Keep the bond active and renewed.

Get Bonded Today

Two minutes to request a quote. Most approvals within 24 hours, and the liability insurance L&I requires can ride along in the same quote.

Get My Bond Quote425-209-1206