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
2023 rulemaking
L&I is proposing changes to the state’s contractor registration rules. The amendments affect the definitions, penalty and bond amounts, and fees for general and specialty contractors. The amendments are necessary due to the passage of legislation and the need to support operating expenses for the Contractor Registration program.
The agency filed a CR-102 Proposal on Feb. 21, 2024, for changes under
About the new laws
2023’s Second Substitute House Bill 1534 (2SHB 1534) (Chapter 213, Laws of 2023) helps to strengthen protections for consumers in the construction industry. Provisions of the bill increase fines, penalties, and bond amounts for contractors. These provisions take effect July 1, 2024.
2019’s Senate Bill 5795 (SB 5795) (Chapter 155, Laws of 2019) increases bond requirements for contractors. The law gives L&I the authority to require up to three times the normal bond amount if there has been one court judgment against a contractor involving a residential single-family dwelling. The law took effect July 28, 2019.
The rule amendments under consideration include:
- Increasing fees by the fiscal growth factor of 6.4% to support operating expenses.
- Amendments for consistency with the statutory amendments under 2SHB 1534. This includes:
- Defining the meaning of “due diligence” related to a successor of an entity verifying the entity is in good standing related to unsatisfied final judgment against it for work performed under chapter 18.27 RCW or owes money to L&I for assessed penalties or fees as a result of a final judgment.
- Increasing surety bond amounts for general and specialty contractors.
- Increasing the monetary penalty amounts for infractions by contractors.
- Amendments for consistency with the statutory amendments under SB 5795. This includes:
- Amending the number of final judgments and single family dwelling structures involved for when a bond or savings account can be increased.
- Making amendments for updates and clarification. These include:
- Clarifying the existing filing fee for summons and complaints against a contractor.
- Clarifying the requirements to collect penalties from a contractor and restitution payments.
For details on the changes, see the CR-102 Proposal below.
How to Participate
Public comments on the proposed rule will be accepted through the end of the business day, Mar. 26, 2024.
A public hearing on the proposed rule is scheduled for Mar. 26, 2024, at 9 a.m. The public hearing will be a “hybrid” event, that is, people can attend in person, by telephone, or Zoom.
The public hearing will take place at the L&I headquarters building, 7273 Linderson Way S.W., Tumwater .
You can also join by either:
Zoom
Click here to join the meeting:
https://lni-wa-gov.zoom.us/j/82737231807?pwd=VmdmTGdkMGh2dDAybGpnbjRsOHBBUT09
Passcode: hearing1@!
Telephone
1-253-215-8782
Webinar ID: 827 3723 1807
Passcode: 5064095270
You can provide testimony or written comments at the above hearing, or send written comments by 5 p.m. on March 26, 2024, to:
-
- Alicia Curry
Email: Alicia.Curry@lni.wa.gov
Department of Labor & Industries, Field Services & Public Safety Division, PO Box 4400, Olympia, WA 98504-4400
Fax: 360-704-1980
- Alicia Curry
Rulemaking Documents
CR-101 Preproposal Statement of Inquiry - Draft Rule Language – Version 1
- CR-102 Proposed Rulemaking
- CR-102 Proposed Rule Language
- Public Hearing Information Packet
Here's what happens next
- March 26, 2024: A public hearing on the proposed rules is scheduled for 9 a.m.
- April 30, 2024: The final rules (CR-103) are expected to be filed with the state Office of the Code Reviser.
- Jul. 1, 2024: The rule changes are expected to take effect.