Contractor Laws & Rules

Laws and rules about contractor registration can be found in the:

• Washington Administrative Code (WAC) Chapter 296-200A.
• Revised Code of Washington (RCW) Chapter 18.27.

The laws and rules are maintained and updated by the State Office of the Code Reviser.

All Rulemakings in the Contractor Registration Program can be found here.

2024 rulemaking

Fee increase

L&I is considering fee increases to cover operating expenses for the Contractor Registration Program. 

The changes under consideration would increase fees by the fiscal growth factor (average personal income growth over the past decade). The preliminary fiscal growth factor rate is 6.20% for fiscal year 2026. The agency filed a CR-101 Preproposal Statement of Inquiry on Oct. 22.

The fee increase would affect WAC 296-200A-900, What fees does the department charge contractors for issuance, renewal, reregistration, and reinstatement of certificates of registration?.

Rulemaking documents

Notice of Intent

• CR-101 Preproposal Statement of Inquiry

Here’s what happens next:

• Jan. 21, 2025: The Proposed rules (CR-102) are expected to be filed with the state Office of the Code Reviser.
• Feb. 25, 2025: A public hearing on the proposed rules is tentatively scheduled.
• Apr. 22, 2025: The final rules (CR-103) are expected to be filed with the state Office of the Code Reviser.
• July 1, 2025: The new rules are expected to take effect.