Find out which L&I requirements apply to your business.

My Business

Uses independent contractors or casual labor.

Has (or will have) employees.

Provides construction, remodeling or repair services, or

related work such as painting/installing floor coverings, or develops property, fixes up and then sells ("flips") homes, or manages/consults on construction or landscaping projects.

Works with low or high voltage wiring, or installs or maintains electrically powered equipment.

Examples:

  • Uses custom designed or modified electrically powered equipment
  • Installs wiring for computers, audio/visual equipment, alarm systems
  • Installs lighted fixtures or signage, solar panels, wired modular office panels

Works with plumbing fixtures and traps, potable water building supply and distribution pipes, drainage and vent pipes, medical gas and medical vacuum systems, or water heaters.

Has an elevator, escalator, moving walk, or other type of conveyance or lifting equipment.

Uses compressed air systems, boilers, or other pressurized tanks or vessels.

Uses, builds, or modifies mobile food (food trucks/trailers) or medical facilities, modular or portable buildings, trailers, RVs, manufactured homes, or other similar structures.

I want to know about other requirements that may apply to my business.

My Business Uses Independent Contractors or Casual Labor

Assume anyone you hire to be your employee for workers' compensation insurance purposes unless they meet all requirements in the law, as described in L&I's Independent Contractor Guide (F101-063-000). The 6-part test every worker must pass to be considered an independent contractor is summarized in Independent Contractor or Covered Worker? (F212-250-000) or on the Independent Contractor E-learning Tool.

Safety and health rules apply to independent contractors, even if you're not required to pay workers' compensation premiums, if the contract involves primarily personal labor. See definitions of "employer" and "employee" in the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act, RCW 49.17.020 (4) and (5).

While the laws are different, if your independent contractors can meet the legal test for exemption from workers' compensation requirements, they will generally also be exempt from wage and hour* and prevailing wage** requirements (see *RCW 49.46, **RCW 39.12.100).

My Business Has (or Will Have) Employees

Meet all of your workers' comp insurance requirements:

Comply with safety and health requirements for your workplace:

Follow all "wage and hour" laws:

Know your requirements in the event of a workplace injury:

My Business Provides Construction, Remodeling or Repair Services, or Related Work Such as Painting/Installing Floor Coverings, or Develops Property, or Fixes Up and Then Sells ("Flips") Homes, or Manages/Consults on Construction or Landscaping Projects

Most activities listed above require contractor registration. If you're not sure if your specific business activity does, email ContReg@Lni.wa.gov or call 1-800-647-0982.

Contractors must:

My Business Works With Low or High Voltage Wiring, or Installs or Maintains Electrically Powered Equipment

Examples:

  • Uses custom designed or modified electrically powered equipment
  • Installs wiring for computers, audio/visual equipment, alarm systems
  • Installs lighted fixtures or signage, solar panels, wired modular office panels

If your business works with low or high voltage wiring, or installs or maintains electrically powered equipment:

My Business Works With Plumbing Fixtures and Traps, Potable Water Building Supply and Distribution Pipes, Drainage and Vent Pipes, Medical Gas and Medical Vacuum Systems, or Water Heaters.

My Business Has an Elevator, Escalator, Moving Walk, or Other Type of Conveyance or Lifting Equipment

If your business has conveyance equipment, such as an elevator, escalator, dumbwaiter, belt manlift, automobile parking elevator, moving walk, or other elevating devices, you must have it inspected and permitted.

Follow any machine guarding requirements that apply, in addition to basic worker safety and health requirements.

My Business Uses Compressed Air Systems, Boilers, or Other Pressurized Tanks or Vessels

If your business uses pressurized equipment, you must have each pressurized tank or vessel inspected and permitted. Tanks under 5 cubic feet, or 37.5 gallons, are exempt.

My Business Uses, Builds, or Modifies Mobile Food or Medical Facilities, Modular or Portable Buildings, Trailers, RVs, Manufactured Homes, or Other Similar Structures

If your business uses, builds, repairs, modifies, or remodels factory-assembled structures, you must have each structure permitted and inspected.

Examples:

  • Mobile medical facilities
  • Modular or portable buildings
  • RVs or recreational park trailers
  • Food trucks, trailers, or concession vans 
  • Trailers used as temporary or portable buildings
  • Manufactured or mobile homes (including installation)
  • Shelters, enclosures, or similar structures containing electrical or mechanical equipment

I Want To Know About Other Requirements That May Apply to My Business

See the Washington Small Business Guide.

 

Contact L&I's Small Business Office