The 10 Best Seattle, WA General Contractors

You must hire a contractor registered with the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries for any work that impacts the value of real estate in Washington.

The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries requires all general contractors to register. There is no test of skills or relevant law, or requirement to prove prior experience in the trade to be registered. Applicants must have a Washington business license and prove they hold a bond and general liability insurance. Contractors must renew their registration every two years for a fee of $113.40.

Registered general contractors are required to hold general liability insurance with a minimum of $50,000 for property damage and $200,000 public liability policy, or a $250,000 combined single limit policy. It is highly recommended that you only hire a contractor who also holds an active workers’ compensation policy. Request copies of each insurance certificate for your records before any work begins.

A permit is required in Seattle for new construction, demolitions, additions, extensions, remodels or modifications to existing buildings, and projects that involve a change in use of the property. Common projects requiring a permit include building accessory dwelling units, decks more than 18 inches above the ground, fences over 8 feet, most garages, sheds over 120 square feet or one story, retaining walls over 4 feet, parking spaces and the addition or replacement of more than 2,000 square feet of existing paving. If you build without a permit when one is required, you may be fined $500 per day. For questions about whether or not a project requires a permit, contact the Department of Planning and Development at 206.684.8850.

The Seattle Department of Planning and Development handles the permitting process. You and your contractor should agree at the start of project planning who will be responsible for acquiring the necessary permits. The Department provides a number of services to assist with the process, including free advice sessions with permit specialists or land use specialists and geotechnical engineers. The method for acquiring a permit will vary depending on the type and complexity of your project. Most permit applications can be applied for electronically. More details are available on the Seattle Department of Planning and Development’s website.

Registered general contractors in Washington must hold a surety bond of $12,000 and specialty contractors are required to maintain a $6,000 bond. Homeowners can file a claim against this bond for financial compensation in case of loss or damage in the event of faulty work or violations of license regulations.

The BuildZoom score is based on a number of factors including the contractor's registration information, which is gathered from the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries; building permit data, gathered from the Seattle Department of Planning and Development; and feedback and behavior we have observed in the BuildZoom marketplace and in other, third-party review sites.

We have analyzed every licensed contractor who has worked in Seattle, Washington. Using this information, we’re able to save you time, money and lessen your risk by providing you with a simple and straight-forward way to gather and receive multiple bids from vetted general contractors in Seattle. Click here to get started by providing us with a few details about your project.