Michigan to Washington: general contractor license reciprocity

1. 1Application fee. Pay the application fee ($150.20). Contractor registration issuance fee (WAC 296-200A-900(1)). The registration is valid for two years from issuance and renews for the same $150.20; reinstatement after a suspension costs $70.90 and a duplicate certificate costs $16.50. L&I mails a renewal notice no more than 45 days before expiry, and it is the contractor's duty to notify the department in writing within ten days of any change of address..
2. 2Surety bond. Post a surety bond ($30,000). Continuous Contractor's Surety Bond (F625-003-000) in the sum of $30,000 for a general contractor, issued by a surety insurer meeting chapter 48.28 RCW and naming the State of Washington as obligee. The original, uncorrected bond must be filed with L&I with the bonding company's seal, or filed electronically by the surety, and it must carry the exact business name on file. An assigned savings account for the same amount (form F625-008-000) held at a bank, savings and loan or credit union with a Washington branch may be posted instead. The bond answers claims by workers, the state for taxes and contributions, suppliers and customers; cancellation suspends the registration automatically, and a contractor that switches from a general to a specialty registration may not reduce the bond amount for two years..
3. 3Insurance. Carry the required insurance ($250,000). General liability insurance of $200,000 public liability and $50,000 property damage, or a $250,000 combined single limit policy, written in the exact business name with L&I named as certificate holder. The statute states it as $50,000 for property damage, $100,000 for injury or death to any one person and $200,000 for injury or death to more than one person. Certificates reach L&I by mail, through the designated insurance agent portal or in person, never by email or fax, and an assigned account in the statutory amounts may be filed instead as proof of financial responsibility. Cancellation or expiry automatically suspends the registration..
4. 4Business license. Obtain a business license. A Washington Business License Application filed with the Department of Revenue Business Licensing Service, producing the nine-digit Uniform Business Identifier (UBI) required on the registration application and required to stay active and valid throughout. A corporation, limited partnership, LLP or LLC formed in another state registers with the Washington Secretary of State first, and a copy of the Secretary of State certificate is filed with L&I. L&I will not process the registration until it verifies that the business license application has been filed and an excise tax account is open. The Department of Revenue's application fee varies with the endorsements the business needs and is not published as a single figure; see dor.wa.gov for the current processing fee..
5. 5Other. Notarized Application for Construction Contractor Registration (F625-001-000), with an individually notarized affidavit of signature from each owner, member, partner and corporate officer. All signatures must be original, so a copy or an emailed application is not accepted; file it in person at a local L&I office or mail it to Contractor Registration, PO Box 44450, Olympia WA 98504-4450 with the bond, the insurance certificate and the fee..
6. 6Other. Workers' compensation coverage and an employment security department number if the business will have employees in Washington; a business with no Washington employees may substitute its UBI account number. An applicant domiciled in a state or Canadian province covered by an extraterritorial workers' compensation agreement may file that jurisdiction's certificate of coverage instead of opening a Washington industrial insurance account (RCW 18.27.030(1)(c)(iii)). An employer identification number is needed from the IRS unless the applicant is a sole proprietor with no employees..
7. 7Other. Model Disclosure Statement, Notice to Customer (F625-030-000), required on every residential job of $1,000 or more and on commercial projects of $1,000 to $60,000; failing to give it can cost the contractor its lien rights. The registration number must appear on all business communications, including advertising, bids, estimates and business cards, and a city, town or county may not issue a building permit without verifying that the contractor is registered..
8. 8Other. Separate trade licensing where the work calls for it. Contractor registration does not authorize plumbing, electrical, elevator, boiler, asbestos or mobile home installation work; each carries its own education, examination and licensing requirements, and electrical contracting is licensed under chapter 19.28 RCW rather than as a registration specialty. A general contractor may meet these by subcontracting to, or employing, the appropriately licensed firm or certified tradesperson. (if applicable).

Published fees on this path total $150.20, excluding exam-vendor fees, bonds, and insurance.