Title 18 — Title 18 BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS

This chapter shall be strictly enforced. Therefore, the doctrine of substantial compliance shall not be used by the department in the application and construction of this chapter. Anyone engaged in the activities of a contractor is presumed to know the requirements of this chapte…

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 6039-S.SL) ***The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1)(a) "Contractor" includes any person, firm, corporation, or other entity who or which, in the pursuit of an independent busines…

(1) Every contractor shall register with the department.(2) It is a gross misdemeanor for any contractor to:(a) Advertise, offer to do work, submit a bid, or perform any work as a contractor without being registered as required by this chapter;(b) Advertise, offer to do work, sub…

(1) An applicant for registration as a contractor shall submit an application under oath upon a form to be prescribed by the director and which shall include the following information pertaining to the applicant:(a) Employer social security number or individual taxpayer identific…

(1) Each applicant shall file with the department a surety bond issued by a surety insurer who meets the requirements of chapter 48.28 RCW in the sum of $30,000 if the applicant is a general contractor or $15,000 if the applicant is a specialty contractor. If no valid bond is alr…

(1) At the time of registration and subsequent reregistration, the applicant shall furnish insurance or financial responsibility in the form of an assigned account in the amount of fifty thousand dollars for injury or damages to property, and one hundred thousand dollars for inju…

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 6039-S.SL) ***(1) A certificate of registration shall be valid for two years and shall be renewed on or before the expiration date. The department shall issue to the applicant a certificate of registration upon compliance with the registration requirem…

A contractor must maintain and have available for inspection by the department a list of all direct subcontractors and a copy of their certificate of registration.[ 2009 c 432 s 1.]

A partnership or joint venture shall be deemed registered under this chapter if any one of the general partners or venturers whose name appears in the name under which the partnership or venture does business is registered.[ 1983 1st ex.s. c 2 s 16.]Notes:Effective date—1983 1st …

The department shall charge fees for issuance, renewal, and reinstatement of certificates of registration; and changes of name, address, or business structure. The department shall set the fees by rule.The entire amount of the fees are to be used solely to cover the full cost of …

The department shall charge a fee of one hundred dollars for issuing or renewing a certificate of registration during the 2001-2003 biennium. The department shall revise this amount at least once every two years for the purpose of recognizing economic changes as reflected by the …

No person engaged in the business or acting in the capacity of a contractor may bring or maintain any action in any court of this state for the collection of compensation for the performance of any work or for breach of any contract for which registration is required under this c…

The registration provisions of this chapter do not apply to:(1) An authorized representative of the United States government, the state of Washington, or any incorporated city, town, county, township, irrigation district, reclamation district, or other municipal or political corp…

(1) Except as provided in RCW 18.27.065 for partnerships and joint ventures, no person who has registered under one name as provided in this chapter shall engage in the business, or act in the capacity, of a contractor under any other name unless such name also is registered unde…

When determining a violation of RCW 18.27.100, the director and administrative law judge shall hold responsible the person who purchased or offered to purchase the advertising.[ 1993 c 454 s 4; 1987 c 362 s 4.]Notes:Finding—1993 c 454: See note following RCW 18.27.010.

(1) If, upon investigation, the director or the director's designee has probable cause to believe that a person holding a registration, an applicant for registration, or a person acting in the capacity of a contractor who is not otherwise exempted from this chapter, has violated …

(1) No city, town or county shall issue a construction building permit for work which is to be done by any contractor required to be registered under this chapter without verification that such contractor is currently registered as required by law. When such verification is made,…

See RCW 39.06.010.

(1) Any contractor agreeing to perform any contracting project: (a) For the repair, alteration, or construction of four or fewer residential units or accessory structures on such residential property when the bid or contract price totals one thousand dollars or more; or (b) for t…

The legislature finds that setting up and siting mobile/manufactured homes must be done properly for the health, safety, and enjoyment of the occupants. Therefore, when any of the following cause a health and safety risk to the occupants of a mobile/manufactured home, or severely…

(1) The department shall compile a list of all contractors registered under this chapter and update the list at least bimonthly. The list shall be considered as public record information and shall be available to the public upon request: PROVIDED, That the department may charge a…

The director shall adopt rules in compliance with chapter 34.05 RCW to effect the purposes of this chapter.[ 1986 c 197 s 12.]

The provisions of this chapter relating to the registration or licensing of any person, firm, or corporation, including the requirement of a bond with the state of Washington named as obligee therein and the collection of a fee therefor, shall be exclusive and no political subdiv…

It is the purpose of this chapter to afford protection to the public including all persons, firms, and corporations furnishing labor, materials, or equipment to a contractor from unreliable, fraudulent, financially irresponsible, or incompetent contractors.[ 1983 1st ex.s. c 2 s …

(1) It is a violation of this chapter and an infraction for any contractor to:(a) Advertise, offer to do work, submit a bid, or perform any work as a contractor without being registered as required by this chapter;(b) Advertise, offer to do work, submit a bid, or perform any work…

A contractor found to have committed an infraction or violation under this chapter for performing work as an unregistered contractor shall, in addition to any penalties under this chapter, be subject to the penalties in RCW 39.12.055.[ 2008 c 120 s 4.]Notes:Conflict with federal …

(1) The director shall appoint compliance inspectors to investigate alleged or apparent violations of this chapter.(a) The director, or authorized compliance inspector, upon presentation of appropriate credentials, may inspect and investigate jobsites at which a contractor had bi…

If he or she has reason to believe there has been a violation of this chapter, the director and the director's authorized representatives may issue subpoenas to enforce the production and examination of any of the following, whether written or electronic: A listing of the contrac…

Wilful refusal to provide information identifying a contractor as required by RCW 18.27.210 is a misdemeanor.[ 1983 1st ex.s. c 2 s 12.]Notes:Effective date—1983 1st ex.s. c 2: See note following RCW 18.27.200.

(1) If, upon inspection or investigation, the director or authorized compliance inspector reasonably believes that a contractor has failed to register in accordance with this chapter or the rules adopted under this chapter, the director shall issue an order immediately restrainin…

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 6039-S.SL) ***The department may issue a notice of infraction if the department reasonably believes that the contractor has committed an infraction under this chapter. A notice of infraction issued under this section shall be personally served on the c…

The form of the notice of infraction issued under this chapter shall include the following:(1) A statement that the notice represents a determination that the infraction has been committed by the contractor named in the notice and that the determination shall be final unless cont…

A violation designated as an infraction under this chapter shall be heard and determined by an administrative law judge of the office of administrative hearings. If a party desires to contest the notice of infraction, the party shall file a notice of appeal with the department sp…

Unless contested in accordance with this chapter, the notice of infraction represents a determination that the contractor to whom the notice was issued committed the infraction.[ 1983 1st ex.s. c 2 s 6.]Notes:Effective date—1983 1st ex.s. c 2: See note following RCW 18.27.200.

(1) A contractor who is issued a notice of infraction shall respond within thirty days of the date of issuance of the notice of infraction.(2) If the contractor named in the notice of infraction does not elect to contest the notice of infraction, then the contractor shall pay to …

It is a gross misdemeanor for a contractor who has been personally served with a notice of infraction to willfully fail to respond to a notice of infraction as provided in this chapter, regardless of the ultimate disposition of the infraction.[ 2007 c 436 s 16; 1983 1st ex.s. c 2…

A contractor subject to proceedings under this chapter may appear or be represented by counsel. The department shall be represented by the attorney general in administrative proceedings and any subsequent appeals under this chapter.[ 1986 c 197 s 7; 1983 1st ex.s. c 2 s 8.]Notes:…

(1) The administrative law judge shall conduct contractors' notice of infraction cases pursuant to chapter 34.05 RCW.(2) The burden of proof is on the department to establish the commission of the infraction by a preponderance of the evidence, unless the infraction is issued agai…

The administrative law judge shall dismiss the notice of infraction at any time upon written notification from the department that the contractor named in the notice of infraction was registered, without suspension, at the time the work was performed.[ 2001 c 159 s 11; 1993 c 454…

(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (3) of this section, a contractor found to have committed an infraction under RCW 18.27.200 shall be assessed a monetary penalty of not less than $200 and not more than $10,000.(2) The director may waive collection in favor of paymen…

The consumers of this state have a right to be protected from unfair or deceptive acts or practices when they enter into contracts with contractors. The fact that a contractor is found to have committed a misdemeanor or infraction under this chapter shall be deemed to affect the …

(1) A notice of infraction issued under this chapter constitutes a notice of assessment for purposes of this section.(2) A notice of infraction becomes final thirty days from the date it is served upon the contractor unless a timely appeal of the infraction is received as provide…

(1) The department shall use reasonable means, including working cooperatively with construction industry, financial institution, local government, consumer, media, and other interested organizations and individuals, to increase:(a) Consumer awareness of the requirements of this …

The department shall create an expanded social marketing campaign using currently available materials and newly created materials as needed. This campaign should be aimed at consumers and warn them of the risks and potential consequences of hiring unregistered contractors or othe…

(1) The legislature finds that it is contrary to public policy to allow unregistered contractors to continue doing business illegally.(2) The department of labor and industries, the employment security department, and the department of revenue shall establish an unregistered cont…

All moneys, except fines and penalties, received or collected under the terms of this chapter must be deposited into the construction registration inspection account. All fines and penalties received or collected under the terms of this chapter shall be deposited in the homeowner…

(1) Subject to the availability of funds appropriated for this purpose, the homeowner recovery program is created and administered by the department. The department shall have such rule-making authority as the department deems necessary to administer the program.(2)(a) Beginning …

The homeowner recovery account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. All repayments under RCW 18.27.410, private contributions, and other moneys transferred or directed to the account must be deposited into the account. Expenditures from the account may only be used f…

(1) By December 1st of each year through 2034, the department must submit an annual report to the appropriate committees of the legislature, in accordance with RCW 43.01.036, on the homeowner recovery program under RCW 18.27.410, including the following information for the previo…

The department of labor and industries, the employment security department, and the department of revenue shall coordinate and report to the appropriate committees of the legislature by December 1st of each year on the effectiveness of efforts implemented since July 1, 2008, to a…