CONTRACTORLANE
Free roadmap builder · Washington

Build your Washington contractor license roadmap

Tell us the work you will actually perform. The tool separates plumbing, drain cleaning, electrical, and construction so you can identify the correct license and bond before you buy anything. Free.

Important Washington license split

Plumber or drain cleaner? The company name does not decide the bond.

Washington classifies the work you perform. Select every service below so the roadmap can show one license or both when your scope crosses regulatory chapters.

Licensed plumber who also cleans drains

Chapter 18.106 plumbing contractor license. $6,000 bond. Drain cleaning covered by the plumbing license does not create a second $15,000 specialty bond. See RCW 18.106.400 and RCW 18.106.410.

Drain-cleaning-only company

Chapter 18.27 specialty registration. $15,000 bond. This path covers camera examination, cleaning, and snaking, but not repairing, installing, or replacing plumbing. See WAC 296-200A-016(13).

Mixed plumbing and exterior construction: sewer excavation or other non-plumbing construction can add Chapter 18.27 registration and a separate $15,000 specialty or $30,000 general bond. Confirm borderline scope with L&I.

1. What work will your business do?
Search or scroll and check everything you plan to offer. Trade selection identifies obvious trade-specific checks. It does not decide general versus specialty registration.
2. On one job, project, or permit, will you offer or perform more than one building trade or craft?
Washington uses the scope of work on a single job, project, or permit to distinguish general from specialty contractor registration. The number of services on your company menu does not answer this by itself.
3. Will you hire employees (W-2)?
This adds workers' comp and employer steps. Subcontractors are different — answer for real W-2 staff.
4. How do you want to be set up?
LLC adds liability separation and a Secretary of State filing. Sole proprietor is simpler and skips that step.
Do any of these specific work scopes apply?
Select only what you expect to perform. These add scope-specific items to verify. They do not automatically declare that you hold or need a credential.
Free. No email required to see your result.
Your customized path

Do these in order

Steps marked Free you can do yourself with the links. Steps marked are where the paid roadmap walks you through each one step by step.

    Free account

    Create a free account and keep your roadmap in one place.

    No card, no cost. A free account gives you a real login on app.contractorlane.com with the same roadmap checklist — answer the same quick questions there once and your progress saves permanently. This page's result doesn't transfer automatically yet, so use "Copy roadmap summary" below to keep this version handy. A free account is also what unlocks the full roadmap the moment you upgrade.

    Create my free account
    Still optional — you can use everything above without one.
    Keep a local copy

    Copy the summary without sharing personal information.

    The builder runs in your browser. Use the button below to copy the result to your clipboard, or print the full page as a PDF.

    Printable report

    Washington Contractor Startup Report

    Your selected services, likely registration path, scope-specific checks, and next steps are packaged here so you can print or save the result.

    Bond + insurance

    What to ask for next

    When you call a bond or insurance agent, ask for these exact items:

    • Washington contractor surety bond for your registration type and legal business name.
    • General liability certificate using the same legal name and UBI.
    • L&I listed as certificate holder if required for your registration packet.
    • Confirmation that bond and insurance effective dates do not lapse before filing.

    Want it done right, not guessed?

    The $148 Washington Contractor Startup Roadmap walks every step above with source links, filing walkthroughs, the bond & insurance wording to request, DBA setup, and first-job paperwork points to review. One time. Yours.

    Get the $148 Startup Roadmap

    Best value: roadmap + 12 months of deadline reminders — $223.50

    One-time payment · Washington-specific · Operator-built, not a generic filing service
    Washington licensing FAQ

    Plumbing and drain-cleaning roadmap answers

    Can a Washington plumbing contractor clean drains with the plumbing contractor bond?

    Yes. A contractor licensed under Chapter 18.106 RCW may perform drain cleaning covered by that plumbing license and does not need a separate Chapter 18.27 registration for that work. The plumbing contractor bond is $6,000.

    What bond does a drain-cleaning-only company need in Washington?

    A company limited to camera examination, cleaning, or snaking of drainage, vent, or sewer pipe follows the Chapter 18.27 specialty path and carries a $15,000 specialty contractor bond. That specialty does not allow plumbing repair, installation, or replacement.

    When can a sewer and drain company need more than one Washington license?

    A business that performs plumbing work plus exterior sewer excavation or other non-plumbing construction may need both a Chapter 18.106 plumbing contractor license and a Chapter 18.27 contractor registration. Confirm the exact work scope with L&I before buying bonds.