How to Check a Contractor's License in Washington State (and Why You Should)
Washington requires anyone doing construction work for hire to register with the Department of Labor & Industries. Registration means they've posted a bond and carry liability insurance. It is not a skill test, but it is a meaningful filter, and it's the difference between having recourse and having none.
Checking takes about two minutes. Here's how.
The two-minute check
- Go to lni.wa.gov and find "Verify a Contractor, Tradesperson or Business."
- Search by business name, or by the registration number if you have it.
- Read what comes back.
You're looking at five things:
Status. It should say Active. Expired or suspended means stop.
Bond. General contractors carry a $30,000 bond; specialty contractors $15,000. The bond is a limited pool that claims are paid from, it's protection, but it's shared across everyone with a claim, so it's not unlimited.
Insurance. There should be a general liability policy listed with a current expiration date.
Registration date. This tells you how long the business has actually existed under that name. A registration opened four months ago on a company claiming twenty years' experience is worth a question.
Lawsuits and claims. L&I lists suits against the bond. One dispute over a long history isn't necessarily alarming. A pattern is.
Our information
We think every contractor should hand this over without being asked, so here's ours:
OG Contracting Inc.
WA Contractor Registration: OGCONCI799MM
Status: Active · Bonded · Insured
Serving the greater Seattle–Tacoma area
Look us up. Then look up whoever else you're considering.
Beyond the license
Registration is the floor, not the ceiling. A few other things worth doing:
Get it in writing. Washington law requires a written contract for residential work over $1,000. It should cover scope, price, payment schedule, and approximate start and completion dates. If someone resists putting it on paper, that tells you something.
Understand the lien notice. You may receive a "Notice to Owner" or a disclosure statement about lien rights. This is normal and required, it's not a threat. It exists so you understand that suppliers and subcontractors can file against your property if they aren't paid, which is a reason to make sure they are.
Be wary of large deposits. A reasonable deposit covers materials and mobilization. A demand for most of the job up front, in cash, is the most common pattern in contractor fraud.
Ask who's actually doing the work. Some companies sell the job and subcontract all of it. That's not automatically bad, but you should know before you sign, and you should know who to call when there's a question.
Ask about permits. Some work needs them, some doesn't. What matters is that your contractor tells you which applies and who's responsible, in writing.
Why we're direct about this
We're a small, second-generation family crew working in this area, and most of our work comes from referrals and repeat customers. That only works if people trust us, and trust starts with being easy to verify.
Have a project in mind? Estimates are free and you'll deal with Omar directly, start to finish. Call (253) 258-9141 or get in touch.