Registration required — Prohibited acts — Criminal penalty — Monitoring program.
RCW 18.27.020
in effect(1) Every contractor shall register with the department. (2) It is a gross misdemeanor for any contractor to: (a) Advertise, offer to do work, submit a bid, or perform any work as a contractor without being registered as required by this chapter; (b) Advertise, offer to do work, submit a bid, or perform any work as a contractor when the contractor's registration is suspended or revoked; (c) Use a false or expired registration number in purchasing or offering to purchase an advertisement for which a contractor registration number is required; (d) Transfer a valid registration to an unregistered contractor or allow an unregistered contractor to work under a registration issued to another contractor; or (e) Subcontract to or use an unregistered contractor. (3) It is not unlawful for a registered contractor to employ an unregistered contractor who was registered at the time he or she entered into a contract with the registered contractor, unless the registered contractor or his or her representative has been notified in writing by the department of labor and industries that the contractor has become unregistered. (4) All gross misdemeanor actions under this chapter shall be prosecuted in the county where the infraction occurs. (5) A person is guilty of a separate gross misdemeanor for each day worked if, after the person receives a citation from the department, the person works while unregistered, or while his or her registration is suspended or revoked, or works under a registration issued to another contractor. A person is guilty of a separate gross misdemeanor for each worksite on which he or she violates subsection (2) of this section. Nothing in this subsection applies to a registered contractor. (6) The director by rule shall establish a two-year audit and monitoring program for a contractor not registered under this chapter who becomes registered after receiving an infraction or conviction under this chapter as an unregistered contractor. The director shall notify the departments of revenue and employment security of the infractions or convictions and shall cooperate with these departments to determine whether any taxes or registration, license, or other fees or penalties are owed the state.
(1) Every contractor shall register with the department.
(2) It is a gross misdemeanor for any contractor to:
(a) Advertise, offer to do work, submit a bid, or perform any work as a contractor without being registered as required by this chapter;
(b) Advertise, offer to do work, submit a bid, or perform any work as a contractor when the contractor's registration is suspended or revoked;
(c) Use a false or expired registration number in purchasing or offering to purchase an advertisement for which a contractor registration number is required;
(d) Transfer a valid registration to an unregistered contractor or allow an unregistered contractor to work under a registration issued to another contractor; or
(e) Subcontract to or use an unregistered contractor.
(3) It is not unlawful for a registered contractor to employ an unregistered contractor who was registered at the time he or she entered into a contract with the registered contractor, unless the registered contractor or his or her representative has been notified in writing by the department of labor and industries that the contractor has become unregistered.
(4) All gross misdemeanor actions under this chapter shall be prosecuted in the county where the infraction occurs.
(5) A person is guilty of a separate gross misdemeanor for each day worked if, after the person receives a citation from the department, the person works while unregistered, or while his or her registration is suspended or revoked, or works under a registration issued to another contractor. A person is guilty of a separate gross misdemeanor for each worksite on which he or she violates subsection (2) of this section. Nothing in this subsection applies to a registered contractor.
(6) The director by rule shall establish a two-year audit and monitoring program for a contractor not registered under this chapter who becomes registered after receiving an infraction or conviction under this chapter as an unregistered contractor. The director shall notify the departments of revenue and employment security of the infractions or convictions and shall cooperate with these departments to determine whether any taxes or registration, license, or other fees or penalties are owed the state.
Source: WA Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=18.27&full=trueFetched: 6/29/2026