Are you registered with L&I as a general or specialty contractor? Washington state law requires that all contractors register with L&I. General contractors can perform more than one specialty and subcontract to other contractors. However, specialty contractors, such as roofing or siding contractors, can perform only one trade and cannot subcontract to others.
Plumbing and electrical contractors must be properly licensed, as well. There are additional requirements for education, examinations, licensing and certification for contractors who handle asbestos, lead and other hazardous materials. For details, select the “Licensing and Permits” tab on the L & I website.
The process for registration applications can be time consuming so please start early. L&I’s contractor registration process outlines the requirements:
1. Decide on your business structure and name and obtain a UBI (Unified Business Identifier) number from the state Department of Revenue (DOR).
2. Purchase your surety bond ($6,000 for specialty, $12,000 for general) and insurance ($250,000 combined single limit liability plus property damage).
3. Complete the contractor application and submit via email or visit your local L&I office with the required documents.
Besides registering and licensing contractors, L&I inspects electrical work, boilers, elevators and manufactured homes.
Do you have the proper permit to do the work on a manufactured home? The L&I web page for Manufactured Home Permits & Inspections (wa.gov) is a great starting point to answer this and other pertinent questions. You can determine which work performed on manufactured or mobile homes requires an appropriate permit and inspection at Washington Administrative Code 296-150M-0302. Permits may be purchased by mail, in person, or online and are good for one year. Please see L&I Purchasing Manufacture/Mobile Home Permits Online for details.
Does the work require inspection and if so, is a pre-inspection checklist available? Pre-inspection checklists for a number of projects can be downloaded from the Do the Work tab on the L&I Manufactured Home Permits & Inspections webpage. Inspections can be requested online at L&I inspection request, by phone, or in person at the local L&I office nearest you.
For guidance, L&I has a helpful page where you can review pertinent laws and rules. Please view the page at Factory Assembled Structures Laws and Rules (wa.gov).
Additionally, strict rules apply if the home you are working on is considered manufactured, modular, or mobile. If you are performing work as an independent contractor on this type of home, take steps to ensure that you are properly registered for the work you perform and that subcontractors are properly registered or licensed.
All finished? Great! You’ve performed your due diligence and are ready to do the work safely and legally!
Do you have questions about licensing and permits, or anything else L&I-related? PIM Savvy is ready to help you with these and other topics individually over the phone, via online meetings, or in person at one of our virtual workshops. Call or text our (FREE to you) workplace safety info line at 206-565-2961. We have safety and labor expertise to share with you and we can connect you with L&I.
Cheers!
PIM Savvy Inc.
Additional Resources:
Licensing and Permits (wa.gov)
