Washington Painting & Decorating Contractor (C-33)

Yes. In Washington, performing painting contractor contracting work requires regulatory approval overseen by the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I). Operating without proper credentials can subject contractors to stop-work orders, administrative citations, and fines.

While specific municipal requirements can exceed state minimums, contractors typically must carry at least $300,000 - $1,000,000 Each Occurrence / $1,000,000 General Aggregate. General liability coverage protects your business against third-party bodily injury, property damage, and completed operations claims during and after construction.

The statutory bond requirement in Washington is generally $12,000 General Contractor Bond / $6,000 Specialty Bond. With good credit (scores above 680), an annual surety bond premium typically costs between $144 and $216 per year (1% to 2% of total bond penalty value). Contractors with lower credit scores can expect rates between $259 and $360 annually.

Mandatory state-fund workers' compensation for all employees. Regardless of state minimum thresholds, commercial project owners, general contractors, and municipal permitting offices almost always mandate a valid Certificate of Insurance (COI) listing workers' comp before releasing jobsite access.

Washington currently maintains reciprocal licensing or exam waiver agreements with: OR, ID. Qualifying out-of-state contractors in good standing may apply to waive the trade examination portion of the license application.