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To register as a contractor in Washington, L&I requires a continuous contractor surety bond of $30,000 for general contractors or $15,000 for specialty contractors, plus general liability insurance of $200,000 public liability and $50,000 property damage, or $250,000 combined single limit.<\/strong> L&I must be listed as certificate holder, and the bond and policy must use your exact business name (WA L&I<\/a>). This applies to contractors in Wenatchee, East Wenatchee, Cashmere, Chelan and across the state.<\/p>\n By the team at Blue Horizon Insurance & Financial Services<\/a>, an independent local agency at 12 S Wenatchee Ave, Wenatchee.<\/em><\/p>\n Need a certificate of liability insurance for your L&I registration?<\/strong> We shop many insurance companies for small contractors. Start here:<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.bhifs.com\/insurance-quotes.html<\/a><\/p>\n Or call 509-293-7500.<\/p>\n According to the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries<\/a>, registering takes these pieces:<\/p>\n Fees and amounts can change, so check the L&I page before you file.<\/p>\n Contractors mix these up all the time, and they do very different jobs:<\/p>\n The bond names the State of Washington as obligee. It protects the public, such as customers or suppliers, if a contractor doesn’t meet certain obligations. It isn’t insurance for your business. If the surety pays a claim, the surety can generally seek repayment from you. The bond is continuous. If it is cancelled, your registration is automatically suspended until a new bond is filed (RCW 18.27.040).<\/p>\n General liability is insurance for your<\/em> business. Depending on the policy terms, it can respond when your work causes injury to someone else or damage to their property, for example a customer who trips over materials or a water line damaged during a remodel. If the policy expires or is cancelled, your registration is also automatically suspended (RCW 18.27.050).<\/p>\n The L&I amounts are what you need to register<\/em>. They aren’t the same as what a general contractor, property manager or commercial customer may require before you can start a job. Here’s what we see often:<\/p>\n Also note that Washington workers’ compensation for employees runs through L&I itself, not through a private policy, so it is a separate step from your liability insurance.<\/p>\n For more, see Commercial Insurance for Central Washington Contractors<\/a> and Does Your Wenatchee Business Qualify for a BOP?<\/a>, or visit our commercial insurance page<\/a>.<\/p>\n L&I’s Verify a Contractor, Tradesperson or Business<\/a> tool shows whether a registration, bond and insurance are on file and current. Homeowners can use it before they hire. Contractors can use it before renewal to make sure their bond and insurance information is up to date.<\/p>\n Blue Horizon Insurance is an independent agency. We are not the insurance company. We shop many insurance companies for small contractors and explain the options in plain English. We have been a Ramsey Trusted provider (a Dave Ramsey endorsed local provider) for more than 10 years, and our office is in downtown Wenatchee.<\/p>\n $30,000 for general contractors and $15,000 for specialty contractors (RCW 18.27.040<\/a>).<\/p>\n $200,000 public liability and $50,000 property damage, or $250,000 combined single limit (L&I<\/a>).<\/p>\n Your contractor registration is automatically suspended until new coverage is filed and approved (RCW 18.27.050<\/a>).<\/p>\n No. The bond protects the public and names the State as obligee. Liability insurance is what protects your business, subject to its terms.<\/p>\n Tell us your trade, your vehicles and what your contracts require. We’ll shop many insurance companies and walk you through the options.<\/p>\nWhat does L&I require to register a contractor in Washington?<\/h2>\n
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What’s the difference between the bond and the liability insurance?<\/h2>\n
Contractor surety bond<\/h3>\n
General liability insurance<\/h3>\n
Is the L&I minimum enough for your jobs?<\/h2>\n
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What do small contractors in Chelan and Douglas Counties ask us?<\/h2>\n
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How to check a contractor’s registration, or your own<\/h2>\n
Why work with a local independent agency?<\/h2>\n
FAQ: Washington contractor bond and insurance<\/h2>\n
How much is the contractor bond in Washington?<\/h3>\n
How much liability insurance does L&I require?<\/h3>\n
What happens if my insurance lapses?<\/h3>\n
Does the bond protect my business?<\/h3>\n
Get your contractor insurance shopped locally<\/h2>\n