Washington roofer registration, bond and insurance, explained

Registration

Construction contractors in Washington must register with L&I, and roofing is one of the 63 specialties that require it. (L&I)

Registration is not a skills test. Washington does not test contractors to register; it tests and licenses electricians and plumbers. (L&I F625-084-000)

Specialty or general

• Specialty contractor (roofing only): $15,000 bond. (RCW 18.27.040, read Oct 17, 2026) It may work only in its specialty and cannot hire subcontractors. (L&I)
• General contractor: $30,000 bond. (RCW 18.27.040, read Oct 17, 2026)

Sources: L&I, RCW 18.27.040. Contractors registered before July 2024 at the old $6,000 and $12,000 amounts must carry the higher bond when they renew or reinstate. (L&I, read Oct 17, 2026)

Liability insurance

L&I describes the required coverage as $200,000 public liability and $50,000 property damage, or $250,000 combined single limit. (L&I, read Oct 17, 2026) (RCW 18.27.050) Verify shows whether the policy is on file.

What registration leaves out

• Workers' comp. Washington employers buy it from L&I or self-insure. (L&I) If you hire someone unregistered, L&I warns you could be treated as their employer, and most homeowner policies do not cover workers. (L&I)
• Liens. Unpaid suppliers, subcontractors or workers can lien your property. Ask for lien releases. (RCW 18.27.114)
• Damage beyond the bond. The bond company pays no more than the bond amount, though you can sue the contractor for more. (L&I F625-088-000)

If a court rules for you against a registered contractor and the judgment goes unpaid, the Homeowner Recovery Fund can pay up to $25,000 per contractor per parcel. It covers owner-occupied single-family and 2-4 unit homes, not condos, for judgments ordered after July 1, 2026. Apply within 90 days. (L&I, read Oct 17, 2026)

A leaking new roof: how a bond claim works

If the reroof leaks because it was installed wrong, or the roofer strips the old shingles and disappears, that is a breach of contract. A court judgment for it can be paid from the roofer's bond. The same bond also stands behind the crew's wages, the shingle supplier, rented equipment and state taxes. (RCW 18.27.040)

Steps, in L&I's order:

1. Send the roofer a written list of the defects and a deadline. Mediation is worth trying. (L&I)
2. Sue within two years if the roofer does not fix it. The window opens at substantial completion of the roof or when the job was abandoned, whichever came sooner. (RCW 18.27.040)
3. File in superior court for the county the house is in and name the surety as a defendant. You may file with or without an attorney. (L&I)
4. Mail L&I three copies of the summons and complaint and $66.20, certified or registered. A process server delivers the papers to the roofer. (L&I, read Oct 18, 2026) The law sets that fee by rule at not less than $50, and service on the bond is not complete until L&I receives the fee and the three copies. L&I then sends the papers to the roofer and the surety within two days. (RCW 18.27.040, read Oct 18, 2026)

A roofer's bond is $15,000, or $30,000 for a general contractor, and that is the total the surety pays on it. Suppliers and others who are not homeowners split half of it at most. Win as a homeowner, and your costs, interest and reasonable attorney fees are added, still capped at the bond. (RCW 18.27.040, read Oct 17, 2026) After the case ends, the winner must send L&I a certified copy of the final judgment or settlement papers within 10 days. If they do not, L&I may assess a penalty of not less than $250. (RCW 18.27.040, read Oct 18, 2026)

How to check

1. Search the business on L&I Verify. It shows active registration, bond, insurance, safety violations and license history, including lawsuits. (L&I)
2. Match the name on Verify to the name on the bid and the truck.
3. On a home job of $1,000 or more, get the signed Notice to Customer with the registration number, bond amount and bond expiration before work starts. (RCW 18.27.114, read Oct 17, 2026)

Next: roofer red flags after a storm or how to hire an emergency roofer.