Contractor bond in Washington: amount and cost
Washington raised its contractor bonds on July 1, 2024: $30,000 for general and $15,000 for specialty contractors.
Contractor bond premium in Washington
$225 to $450
estimated, per year, for a $30,000 bond
| Bond the state requires | $30,000 |
| Which amount | General contractor |
| Rate for credit 700 or higher | 0.75 % to 1.5 % a year |
| Term | 1 year, renewed yearly |
Estimate from published rate grids, not a quote. RCW 18.27.040. Amount read on the official page, October 22, 2026.
Compiled by Radif Partners · Method and sources · rule read October 22, 2026
A Washington contractor registers with the Department of Labor and Industries and files a continuous surety bond under RCW 18.27.040. Since July 1, 2024, the department requires "a Washington Continuous Contractor Surety Bond in the amount of $30,000 for general contractors and $15,000 for specialty contractors". Before that date the amounts were $12,000 and $6,000, so both bonds more than doubled at once, and every registered contractor had to raise its bond at its next renewal. Contractors with unpaid final judgments against them can be required to post a larger bond under the department's rules. The bond protects consumers, workers and suppliers against a contractor's failure to meet the registration law or its contracts. The premium follows credit: on published grids, a $30,000 general contractor bond costs about $225 to $450 a year with a score of 700 or more, and the $15,000 specialty bond $113 to $225. Rule read on October 22, 2026.
The 2024 increase
Washington had kept its contractor bonds at $12,000 and $6,000 for years. The amounts rose on July 1, 2024 to $30,000 and $15,000. Existing contractors moved to the new amounts as their registrations renewed, often through a rider from their surety. Some guides still print the old figures, which no longer allow a contractor to register.
General contractors may take on or supervise work across trades; specialty contractors register for one primary trade, such as roofing, painting or flooring. Electricians and plumbers also hold separate licenses with their own rules.
General or specialty: your premium
Contractor bond premium in Washington
$300 to $750
| Bond the state requires | $30,000 |
| Which amount | General contractor |
| Rate for credit 650 to 699 | 1 % to 2.5 % a year |
| Term | 1 year, renewed yearly |
A continuous bond
The Washington bond is continuous: it stays in force until cancelled, and it renews with the registration. A surety that cancels must give notice to the department, and the contractor's registration is suspended if no new bond arrives before the cancellation takes effect. The surety bills a premium each year. The bond amount is the total available for all claims, so a contractor with several unpaid claimants can exhaust it, and the department may then require a new bond.
Judgments and higher bonds
Washington's rules let the department require a larger bond from a contractor with unpaid final judgments related to its construction work. A contractor in that position may also face a higher premium or a refusal from sureties. Clearing judgments before renewal keeps both the amount and the rate at the standard level.
Contractors working across the Columbia River should note that Oregon sets its own bonds by endorsement. The contractor bond overview compares all states read.
Washington's registration search shows each contractor's bond and its amount, so a homeowner can confirm that a contractor carries the post-2024 bond before signing. A registration showing a bond below $30,000 for a general contractor, or a cancelled bond, is a reason to ask questions or look elsewhere.
The Washington rule as read
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| General contractor | $30,000 |
| Specialty contractor | $15,000 |
| Amount before the change | $12,000 |
| Rule | RCW 18.27.040 |
| Line read | “a Washington Continuous Contractor Surety Bond in the amount of $30,000 for general contractors and $15,000 for specialty contractors” |
| Page | lni.wa.gov |
| Read on | October 22, 2026 |