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Last Updated:|Reflects current Washington surety bond requirements
✓ 2026 Requirements Verified
Bond Amounts Doubled -- HB 1534 (July 2024)

Washington State Surety Bonds— Registration, Not Licensing

Washington took the biggest step in contractor bonding in a generation when HB 1534 doubled bond amounts effective July 1, 2024. General contractor registration bonds jumped from $12,000 to $30,000. Specialty bonds went from $6,000 to $15,000. Every active registration must now meet the new amounts at renewal.

Washington is also one of the few states that separates electrical and plumbing bonds under their own statutes -- those were not changed by HB 1534. We handle bonds for all four agencies that oversee bonding in Washington: L&I, DOL, DFI, and OIC.

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All 4 Agencies
New HB 1534 Amounts

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Official Washington Requirements

"Before issuing a certificate of registration, the director shall require that the applicant file a surety bond... in the sum of thirty thousand dollars for general contractors and fifteen thousand dollars for specialty contractors."
Washington Legislature (as amended by HB 1534) • RCW 18.27.040

HB 1534: What Changed July 2024

General Contractor
$12,000
$30,000
+150% increase
Specialty Contractor
$6,000
$15,000
+150% increase
Electrical Contractor
$4,000
Unchanged (RCW 19.28)
Plumbing Contractor
$6,000
Unchanged (RCW 18.106)

Why Washington Uses Registration Instead of Licensing

Most states require contractors to pass a trade exam and obtain a license. Washington does not. The state uses a registration system administered by the Department of Labor & Industries under the Contractor Registration Act (RCW 18.27). This means there is no state-level competency exam. Instead, Washington focuses on financial accountability: a surety bond, liability insurance, and workers' compensation coverage. If you want to understand what a surety bond is, our surety bond guide covers the basics. See all bond types on our surety bonds hub or estimate your premium with the contractor bond cost calculator.

Washington (Registration)

  • No state trade exam required
  • Surety bond is the primary consumer protection
  • L&I administers registration
  • Bond + insurance + workers' comp to register
  • 2-year registration cycle
  • General ($30K) or specialty ($15K) classification

Typical Licensing State

  • Trade-specific exam required
  • License proves competency
  • Licensing board administers
  • Exam + bond + insurance to license
  • Varies (1-4 year cycle)
  • Classification by trade or dollar amount

Washington Bonds by Regulatory Agency

Four state agencies oversee surety bond requirements in Washington. Each has its own bond forms, filing process, and renewal schedule.

Department of Labor & Industries (L&I)

Construction trades -- registration, not licensing

Bond TypeAmountStatuteNotes
General Contractor Registration$30,000RCW 18.27.040Doubled by HB 1534 (was $12K)
Specialty Contractor Registration$15,000RCW 18.27.040Doubled by HB 1534 (was $6K)
Electrical Contractor$4,000RCW 19.28.041Separate statute, not affected by HB 1534
Plumbing Contractor$6,000RCW 18.106Separate statute, not affected by HB 1534
Public Works Bond100% or 25%RCW 39.08.01010% retainage alternative for contracts up to $150K

Department of Licensing (DOL)

Professional and business licenses

Bond TypeAmountStatuteNotes
Notary Public$10,000RCW 42.45.0504-year commission term
Motor Vehicle Dealer$30,000RCW 46.70.070Annual, per location
Miscellaneous Vehicle Dealer$5,000RCW 46.70.070Annual, per location
Vehicle Title Bond1.5x valueRCW 46.12.6803-year term
Collection Agency$5,000RCW 19.16.190Filed with DOL
Private Investigator Agency$10,000RCW 18.165Filed with DOL
Employment Agency$2,000--Filed with DOL

Department of Financial Institutions (DFI)

Financial services and lending

Bond TypeAmountStatuteNotes
Mortgage Broker$20K-$60KWAC 208-660-175Tiered by loan volume
Money Transmitter$10K-$550KRCW 19.230.050$10K per $1M transmission volume
Consumer Loan Company$30,000+RCW 31.04Filed with DFI
Credit Services Organization$10,000RCW 19.134Filed with DFI
Escrow Agent$1M fidelity + $10K suretyRCW 18.44Both fidelity and surety required

Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC)

Insurance industry bonds

Bond TypeAmountStatuteNotes
Public Adjuster$5,000RCW 48.17.430Filed with OIC
Insurance Producer$2,500-$100KRCW 48.17.250Varies by premium volume
Title Insurance Agent$200K fidelity + suretyRCW 48.29Both fidelity and surety required

Other Washington Bond Requirements

Seller of Travel Bonds

Washington requires travel sellers to post a surety bond ranging from $10,000 to $50,000, scaled by annual gross income, under RCW 19.138. This protects consumers who prepay for travel services that are never delivered.

RCW 19.138 -- Scaled by gross income

Court Bonds

Appeal bonds, probate bonds, fiduciary bonds, and guardian bonds for all 39 Washington Superior Courts. Amounts set by the presiding judge or statute.

All Court Bonds

Construction Bonds

Bid bonds, performance bonds, and payment bonds for Washington public and private projects. Public works bonds at 100% of contract value per RCW 39.08.

Performance & Payment Bonds

Commercial Bonds

Freight broker bonds, commercial surety bonds, and business license bonds for Washington companies operating across industries.

All Surety Bonds

How to Get Your Washington Surety Bond

1

Identify Your Agency

Determine which agency oversees your bond -- L&I for contractors, DOL for notaries and dealers, DFI for financial services, or OIC for insurance professionals.

2

Apply Online

Provide your business details and bond type. We match you with Treasury-certified sureties authorized to write bonds in Washington State.

3

Get Approved

Most Washington bonds are approved the same business day. Contractor bonds and notary bonds typically take less than 24 hours.

4

File with Your Agency

Receive your bond in the format your agency accepts. We can submit directly to L&I, DOL, or other agencies on your behalf.

Serving All 39 Washington Counties

Including local jurisdictions with additional bonding requirements

Seattle
Spokane
Tacoma
Vancouver
Bellevue
Kent
Everett
Renton
Federal Way
Kirkland
Yakima
Bellingham

Washington Surety Bond Questions

HB 1534 changes, L&I registration, and agency-specific rules

Why did Washington contractor bond amounts double in 2024?
House Bill 1534, signed into law in 2024, doubled contractor registration bond amounts effective July 1, 2024. General contractor bonds increased from $12,000 to $30,000 and specialty contractor bonds went from $6,000 to $15,000. The legislature cited rising construction costs and the need for greater consumer protection. These are the first increases since the Contractor Registration Act was originally enacted. Electrical and plumbing bonds were not affected by HB 1534 because they fall under separate statutes (RCW 19.28 and RCW 18.106 respectively).
What is the difference between contractor registration and contractor licensing in Washington?
Washington uses a registration system, not a licensing system. The Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) administers registration under RCW 18.27. There is no state exam or trade qualification test to register. Instead, contractors must file a surety bond, show proof of liability insurance and workers' compensation coverage, and pay the registration fee. This is different from states like California, which require trade exams through their licensing board. Washington's system focuses on financial accountability -- the bond, insurance, and workers' comp requirements -- rather than testing trade knowledge.
Are electrical and plumbing contractor bonds different from general contractor bonds?
Yes. Electrical contractor bonds ($4,000 under RCW 19.28.041) and plumbing contractor bonds ($6,000 under RCW 18.106) are governed by separate statutes and were not changed by HB 1534. Electrical contractors must also hold a valid electrical contractor license from L&I, which is separate from general contractor registration. Plumbing contractors similarly need their own certification. If an electrical or plumbing contractor also performs general or specialty contracting work, they need both the trade-specific bond and the general/specialty contractor registration bond.
Which Washington agencies require surety bonds?
Four main agencies oversee bonding in Washington. The Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) handles contractor registration bonds, electrical bonds, and plumbing bonds. The Department of Licensing (DOL) oversees notary bonds ($10,000), auto dealer bonds ($30,000), collection agency bonds ($5,000), and PI agency bonds ($10,000). The Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) manages mortgage broker bonds ($20K-$60K), consumer loan bonds ($30K+), and money transmitter bonds ($10K-$550K). The Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) handles public adjuster bonds ($5,000), insurance producer bonds, and title insurance agent fidelity bonds ($200,000).
How much does a Washington auto dealer bond cost?
A Washington motor vehicle dealer bond costs $150-$600 per year for applicants with good credit. The bond amount is $30,000 per location under RCW 46.70.070. Miscellaneous vehicle dealers need a $5,000 bond. Bonds are filed with the Department of Licensing (DOL) and must be renewed annually. Each dealer location requires its own separate bond. Rates for applicants with credit challenges may be 5-10% of the bond amount.
Does Washington require performance and payment bonds on public works?
Yes. Under RCW 39.08.010, contractors on public works projects must furnish a performance and payment bond equal to 100% of the contract price for contracts over $150,000. For contracts of $150,000 or less, the public body may accept a 10% retainage in lieu of a bond, or may require a bond equal to 25% of the contract price. These are separate from the L&I registration bond and protect the government entity and subcontractors or suppliers.
Can I get a Washington surety bond with bad credit?
Yes. Washington notary bonds ($10,000) require no credit check and are approved instantly. For the new $30,000 general contractor bond, applicants with credit scores between 500 and 650 can still get approved at higher rates -- typically 5-12% of the bond amount rather than the 1-3% that strong-credit applicants pay. We work with sureties that specialize in substandard credit, prior bankruptcies, and applicants with liens or judgments.
What happens if my Washington contractor bond is canceled?
If your surety cancels your bond, they must provide written notice to L&I. Your contractor registration will be suspended if no replacement bond is on file when the cancellation takes effect. Working without a current registration is a gross misdemeanor under RCW 18.27.020, with penalties of up to $5,000. Arrange a replacement bond before the cancellation date to avoid any gap in your registration.

Official Washington Resources

Government sources for Washington bond requirements

RCW 18.27.040 -- Contractor Surety Bond Required

Updated statute with HB 1534 bond amounts ($30K general / $15K specialty)

L&I -- Contractor Registration

Registration process, bond amounts, insurance requirements, and renewal information

RCW 19.28.041 -- Electrical Contractor Bond

Separate $4,000 electrical contractor bond statute (not affected by HB 1534)

RCW 42.45.050 -- Notary Public Bond

Washington statute requiring $10,000 notary bond for a 4-year commission

RCW 46.70.070 -- Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond

$30,000 motor vehicle dealer bond / $5,000 miscellaneous dealer bond

U.S. Treasury Surety Bond List

Federal listing of Treasury-certified surety companies authorized to write bonds for U.S. government contracts

Nick Thoroughman
Reviewed by Nick Thoroughman, Founder
8+ years in surety bond technology. All content is researched from official state and federal sources (.gov) and reviewed for accuracy before publication. BuySuretyBonds.com works with Treasury-certified, A- minimum rated surety carriers serving all 50 states.

Other Washington Bonds

Additional surety bonds available in Washington

Washington Notary Bond

Notary public bond

Washington Contractor License Bond

Contractor licensing

Washington Auto Dealer Bond

DMV dealer licensing

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