Washington State Increases Bond Amount for General and Specialty Contractors

Effective July 1, 2024, Washington state has raised the bond amount for general and specialty contractors to register or renew their registration with the Washington Department of Labor & Industries (L&I). The bond amount for general contractors increased from $12,000 to $30,000. For specialty contractors (registered in one specialty, such as concrete or painting), the bond amount increased from $6,000 to $15,000.

According to the Washington Legislature, the bond increases are intended to strengthen consumer protections and ensure that contractors have the financial resources to meet their obligations. There hasn’t been an increase in bond amounts in 22 years since the original law went into effect.

New bond clients must comply with the new regulation before a bond can be issued. The increase will go into effect for existing bond clients at the time of renewal.

The new bond requirements do not affect electrical and plumbing contractors, who are licensed under different laws.

For more information about the bond increases, please visit our FAQs.