What you need to do to get your Washington contractors license back
To reinstate a Washington contractors license, you file a reinstatement process with the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), pay the reinstatement fee, and meet any conditions tied to why your license was suspended or revoked in the first place. The process takes roughly two to four weeks from the time L&I receives a complete process. You cannot legally work as a contractor in Washington while your license is inactive, even if you have pending reinstatement paperwork.
The exact steps and cost depend on whether your license was suspended (temporarily inactive) or revoked (permanently canceled). Suspension is reversible; revocation usually requires you to reapply as a new contractor and pass the exam again. Most contractors face suspension rather than revocation, so reinstatement is the faster route.
Key Takeaways
- You must file a reinstatement process with Washington L&I and pay a reinstatement fee, which varies by license class and reason for suspension.
- If your license was suspended for unpaid taxes or L&I penalties, you must resolve those debts before L&I will process your reinstatement.
- If your license was revoked, you cannot reinstate it; you must reapply as a new contractor, retake the exam, and meet current requirements.
- You cannot legally perform contractor work while your license is inactive, even if your reinstatement process is pending.
- L&I will mail you a new license card once your reinstatement is approved; you should not work until you receive it.
Suspension versus revocation: which one you have matters
Washington L&I distinguishes between suspension and revocation. A suspension is temporary; your license is inactive but not canceled. A revocation is permanent; your license is canceled and you must start over. The reason your license became inactive determines which one applies to you.
Common reasons for suspension include failure to renew on time, unpaid L&I penalties, unpaid taxes owed to the state, or failure to maintain required insurance. If your license was suspended for one of these reasons, you can reinstate it by fixing the underlying problem and submitting a reinstatement process.
Revocation happens when L&I cancels your license permanently, usually because of serious violations such as working without a license, repeated safety violations, fraud, or criminal activity. If your license was revoked, reinstatement is not an option. You must reapply as a new contractor, which means retaking the contractor exam, submitting new references, and paying the full initial process fee.
Check your L&I account or call the L&I Licensing Division at 360-902-5800 to confirm whether your license is suspended or revoked. This determines your entire next step.
Resolving the reason your license was suspended
Before L&I will process your reinstatement process, you must address whatever caused the suspension. If you do not, L&I will deny your process and return your fee.
If your suspension was due to unpaid L&I penalties or citations, contact the L&I Compliance and Safety Division to arrange payment or a payment plan. You will need to provide proof of payment or a signed payment agreement before submitting your reinstatement process.
If your suspension was due to unpaid state taxes, contact the Washington Department of Revenue. You must either pay the full amount owed or enter into a payment agreement. L&I will verify this with the Department of Revenue before approving your reinstatement.
If your suspension was due to failure to maintain required insurance (workers' compensation or liability), obtain a new policy and submit proof of current coverage to L&I along with your reinstatement process. The policy must be active on the date you submit your process.
If your suspension was due to failure to renew on time, you do not need to resolve a separate debt, but you will still pay the reinstatement fee in addition to any late renewal penalties.
Filing your reinstatement process with L&I
You file your reinstatement process through the L&I online licensing system or by mail. The online system is faster and lets you upload documents directly.
To file online, log into your L&I account at find.lni.wa.gov, navigate to your license record, and select the reinstatement option. You will be asked to confirm your business information, upload proof that you have resolved the reason for suspension (such as proof of insurance or a tax clearance letter), and pay the reinstatement fee by credit card or electronic check.
To file by mail, read the reinstatement process form from the L&I website, complete it, and mail it to the address listed on the form along with a check or money order for the reinstatement fee and copies of any required documents. Mailed applications take longer to process because L&I must manually enter your information.
The reinstatement fee varies by license class. As of 2024, fees range from roughly $150 to $400, depending on your classification. L&I's website lists the exact fee for your license class. This fee is separate from any late renewal penalties you may owe.
What happens after you submit your process
Once L&I receives your complete process, they will review it to confirm that you have resolved the reason for suspension and that your process is filled out correctly. This review usually takes two to four weeks.
If your process is incomplete or L&I cannot verify that you have resolved the suspension reason, they will contact you by email or phone and ask you to submit missing documents or information. Respond promptly; delays in providing what L&I asks for will slow your reinstatement.
If your process is approved, L&I will mail you a new license card to the address on file. You should receive it within one to two weeks of approval. Do not perform contractor work until you have the card in hand; working without an active license is illegal in Washington and can result in fines and additional penalties.
If your process is denied, L&I will send you a letter explaining why. Common reasons for denial include failure to resolve the underlying debt, submission of an incomplete process, or discovery that your license was revoked rather than suspended. If your process is denied, you can reapply once you have addressed the reason for denial.
Reinstating a license that expired during suspension
If your license was suspended and then expired before you filed for reinstatement, the process is slightly different. You cannot straightforward reinstate an expired license; you must renew it instead.
To renew an expired license, file a renewal process (not a reinstatement process) with L&I, pay the renewal fee, and provide proof that you have resolved the reason the license was originally suspended. The renewal fee is the same as the standard renewal fee for your license class, not the reinstatement fee.
If more than three years have passed since your license expired, L&I may require you to retake the contractor exam or provide updated references. Call L&I at 360-902-5800 to confirm what is required for your specific situation before you file.
If your license was revoked instead of suspended
If your license was revoked, you cannot reinstate it. You must reapply as a new contractor. This means starting from the beginning: passing the contractor exam, submitting references, and paying the full initial process fee.
Before you reapply, confirm with L&I whether you are may be able to access to reapply. Some revocations come with a waiting period; for example, if your license was revoked for fraud, L&I may require you to wait one or more years before you can explore again. Call 360-902-5800 to ask about your specific situation.
If you are may be able to access to reapply, you will need to register for and pass the Washington Contractors Examination. The exam covers state and local building codes, business practices, and safety standards. You can study using L&I's exam study guide, which is free and available on their website. Most people spend four to eight weeks preparing.
Once you pass the exam, you will submit a new process with references, proof of insurance, and the process fee. This process takes roughly six to eight weeks from exam passage to license issuance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work while my reinstatement process is pending?
No. You cannot legally perform contractor work in Washington while your license is inactive, even if your reinstatement process has been submitted and is under review. Working without an active license is a violation and can result in fines, penalties, and additional license actions. Wait until you receive your new license card before you take on any work.
How much does it cost to reinstate my license?
The reinstatement fee varies by license class and ranges from roughly $150 to $400 as of 2024. You may also owe late renewal penalties if your license expired while suspended. Check the L&I website or call 360-902-5800 to confirm the exact fee for your classification.
What if I cannot pay the reinstatement fee right now?
L&I does not offer payment plans for reinstatement fees. You must pay the full amount when you submit your process. If you are facing financial hardship, contact L&I to discuss your situation; in rare cases, they may be able to work with you, but this is not may provide.
How long does reinstatement usually take?
From the time L&I receives a complete process, reinstatement typically takes two to four weeks. If your process is incomplete or L&I needs to verify that you have resolved the suspension reason, it may take longer. Online applications are processed faster than mailed applications.
What if L&I denies my reinstatement process?
L&I will send you a letter explaining the reason for denial. Common reasons include failure to resolve the underlying debt, missing documents, or discovery that your license was revoked rather than suspended. Once you address the reason for denial, you can reapply. There is no limit on how many times you can reapply.