General and specialty contractors are required to register with the Department of Labor and Industries.  In addition to registering, contractors must follow requirements relating to advertising, bonds and insurance, and other matters.  In addition to the general contractor licensing statute, separate contractor licensing provisions exist for electrical and elevator contractors.  Other statutes, including various public works, prevailing wage, and workers' compensation laws make references to the contractor registration laws.

Prior to 2020, plumbing contractors registered under the general construction contractor registration laws.  In 2020, the Legislature passed SB 6170, which created a separate plumbing contractor licensing law, requiring plumbing contractors to register under the new law rather than the general construction contractor registration laws. 

Cross-references to the plumbing contractor licensing laws are added to the following statutes:

• the requirement that a public works contractor must verify the responsibility criteria for certain subcontractors;
• the prevailing wage statutes establishing penalties for filing a false statement, failing to file a required statement or record, and for failing to pay prevailing wages;
• the independent contractor tests for workers' compensation and the references in the workers' compensation statute to those tests; and
• state workers' compensation laws regarding out of state employers covering workers in Washington, record keeping, prime contractor liability for workers' compensation premiums, and stop work orders for failing to secure payment of industrial insurance. 

Cross-references to the plumbing, elevator, and electrical contractor licensing laws are added to the following statutes:

• the responsible bidder criteria for public works contracts; and
• the debarment statutes for public works contracts.

Cross-references to the plumbing and elevator contractor licensing laws are added to the independent contractor test for the prevailing wage statutes.