- A $15,000 continuous contractor surety bond for specialty contractors.
Do you need a state license in Washington?
Washington licenses some landscaping 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.
Washington license types for landscaping work
Washington splits the work into 3 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 |
|---|---|
| BW Landscaping | Landscaping specialty |
| BV Irrigation sprinkler systems | Irrigation sprinkler specialty |
| RF Tree removal | Tree removal specialty |
Steps to get licensed in Washington
- Register your business with the Department of Revenue.
- Buy a $15,000 surety bond and liability insurance in your exact business name.
- File the notarized Application for Contractor Registration and pay $150.20.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
The license to apply for. Specialty contractor registration (Landscaping, or Irrigation sprinkler systems).
Washington landscaping exams
Trade exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
What it costs in Washington
The board lists one fee for this license. These are the state's own numbers. Insurance, any bond, exam prep and your business registration come on top.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Registration application | $150.20 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. General liability of $200,000 public liability and $50,000 property damage, or a $250,000 combined single limit, with L&I listed as certificate holder.
Bond. A $15,000 continuous contractor surety bond for specialty contractors.
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in Washington
- L&I lists managing or consulting on landscaping projects among the activities that most often require contractor registration.
- Specialty contractors can only do work in their registered specialty and cannot hire subcontractors.
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 landscaper 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 and the official pages below, checked October 9, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.
More for your trade: how landscaping companies run on Koira.