- A single job under $500 for labor and materials that is casual, minor or inconsequential is exempt. The exemption is lost if the job is part of a larger one, if work is split to stay under $500, or if you advertise as a contractor.
- L&I's registration steps do not list an experience requirement.
- Plan for a trade exam and a business and law exam.
- $15,000 surety bond as a specialty contractor, or $30,000 as a general contractor.
- Every two years, by the expiration date.
Do you need a state license in Washington?
Washington licenses some handyman work at the state level and leaves the rest alone. Which side of that line a job falls on decides whether you need the state license.
A single job under $500 for labor and materials that is casual, minor or inconsequential is exempt. The exemption is lost if the job is part of a larger one, if work is split to stay under $500, or if you advertise as a contractor.
Plumbing and electrical work carry extra state education, exam and licensing rules on top of contractor registration.
Washington license types for handyman work
Washington splits the work into 2 licenses. Pick the one that matches the jobs you take, since working outside its scope is the same as working without one.
| License | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Specialty contractor | Only the registered specialty, and may not hire subcontractors |
| General contractor | Most kinds of construction work, and may hire subcontractors |
Steps to get licensed in Washington
- Decide whether you register as a specialty contractor (one kind of work) or a general contractor.
- Get a UBI number from the Department of Revenue.
- Buy liability insurance at the required limits.
- Buy the bond: $15,000 for specialty or $30,000 for general.
- File the notarized L&I application with the $150.20 fee.
- Renew every two years.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. L&I's registration steps do not list an experience requirement.
The license to apply for. Specialty or general contractor registration (L&I).
Washington handyman exams
Trade exam. L&I's registration steps do not include an exam.
Business and law exam. L&I's registration steps do not include a business and law exam.
What it costs in Washington
The board lists 2 fees along the way. These are the state's own numbers. Insurance, any bond, exam prep and your business registration come on top.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Registration fee | $150.20 |
| Renewal fee | $150.20 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. General liability of $200,000 public liability and $50,000 property damage, or $250,000 combined single limit.
Bond. $15,000 surety bond as a specialty contractor, or $30,000 as a general contractor.
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Every two years, by the expiration date.
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in Washington
- Advertising, or putting out a sign or card that shows you are a contractor, takes away the under $500 exemption.
After you are licensed
The license lets you take the work. Getting the work is the next job.
- Register the business. If you work under a name other than your own, register it where your state asks (often the Secretary of State, sometimes the county), and keep the name the same on your license, your truck and your invoices.
- Claim your Google Business Profile. It is the listing people see when they search for a handyman near them. Fill in your service area, hours and real photos of your work.
- Put up a website that shows the license. Customers look for it before they call. Koira builds a contractor website for you and keeps it current.
- See where you stand. The free Koira report checks how your business shows up in search and on maps against shops near you.
Where this comes from
Every fact on this page comes from the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I), Contractor Registration and the official pages below, checked October 8, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.
More for your trade: how handyman businesses run on Koira.