Wash. Rev. Code » Title 18 · Chapter 18.27
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 18.27.020 (2026)

✓ current as of May 2026
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(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.
[ 2007 c 436 s 2; 1997 c 314 s 3; 1993 c 454 s 6; 1987 c 362 s 1; 1986 c 197 s 1; 1983 1st ex.s. c 2 s 17; 1973 1st ex.s. c 153 s 2; 1963 c 77 s 2.]

Notes:

Finding—1993 c 454: See note following RCW 18.27.010.
Effective date—1983 1st ex.s. c 2: See note following RCW 18.27.200.
Violations as infractions: RCW 18.27.200.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 40 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1969–2021 · leading case: Murphy v. Campbell Inv. Co., 486 P.2d 1080 (Wash. 1971).
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Murphy v. Campbell Inv. Co., 486 P.2d 1080 (Wash. 1971). · cites it 16× “27, or that appellants did not possess the requisite certificate of registration prescribed by RCW 18.27.020. The trial court felt constrained to dismiss appellants' first three claims in light of the wording of RCW 18.”
Vedder v. Spellman, 480 P.2d 207 (Wash. 1971). · cites it 9× “At *835 the time this work was performed, the plaintiffs were not licensed to do contracting work, as required by RCW 18.27.020, which provides: It shall be unlawful for any person to submit any bid or do any work as a contractor until such person shall have been issued a…”
Cosmopolitan Eng. Grp. v. Ondeo Degremont, Inc., 149 P.3d 666 (Wash. 2006). · cites it 2× “RCW 18.27.020(1); RCW 18.27.010(2). The statute makes it a misdemeanor to do work as a contractor without being registered.”
Cosmopolitan Eng'g Grp., Inc. v. Ondeo Degremont, Inc., 159 Wash. 2d 292 (Wash. 2006). · cites it 2× “RCW 18.27.020(1), .010(2). The statute makes it a misdemeanor to do work as a contractor without being registered.”
Davidson v. Hensen, 954 P.2d 1327 (Wash. 1998). · cites it 2× “They further allege the arbitrator had no authority to issue an award because their contract with Hensen was illegal by virtue of Hensen's alleged noncompliance with RCW 18.27.020. [3] The Davidsons' contentions are governed by the provisions of RCW 7.”
Davidson v. Hensen, 135 Wash. 2d 112 (Wash. 1998). · cites it 2× “They further allege the arbitrator had no authority to issue an award because their contract with Hensen was illegal by virtue of Hensen’s alleged noncompliance with RCW 18.27.020. 3 The Davidsons’ contentions are governed by the provi *120 sions of RCW 7.”
State v. Jasper, 271 P.3d 876 (Wash. 2012). “010 and RCW 18.27.020. A construction compliance inspector with the Department of Labor and Industries (DLI), Mathew Jackson, testified for the State.”
Stewart v. Hammond, 471 P.2d 90 (Wash. 1970). · cites it 4× “Noncompliance was discouraged by providing a criminal penalty, RCW 18.27.020, and by denying offenders access to the courts for collection of compensation for performance of work or for breach of contract.”
Ahten v. Barnes, 158 Wash. App. 343 (Wash. Ct. App. 2010). “RCW 18.27.020(2)(a). RCW 18.27.385, *351 entitled “Marketing campaign,” requires the Department to create a campaign aimed at consumers and warn them about the risks and consequences of hiring unregistered contractors.”
Ahten v. Barnes, 242 P.3d 35 (Wash. Ct. App. 2010). “RCW 18.27.020(2)(a). RCW 18.27.385, entitled, "Marketing campaign" requires the Department to create a campaign aimed at consumers and warn them about the risks and consequences of hiring unregistered contractors.”
Coronado v. Orona, 137 Wash. App. 308 (Wash. Ct. App. 2007). · cites it 2× “Those who do not comply are subject to a criminal penalty, RCW 18.27.020, and are denied access to the courts for compensation or for breach of contract claims: No person engaged in the business or acting in the capacity of a contractor may bring or maintain any action in any…”
Nw. Cascade Constr., Inc. v. Custom Component Structures, Inc., 519 P.2d 1 (Wash. 1974). · cites it 3× “010, and thus did not have to register under the law. The trial court accordingly entered judgment for all three plaintiffs.”
Show all 40 citing cases →
— Wash. Rev. Code § 18.27.020(1) — 8 cases
Cosmopolitan Eng. Grp. v. Ondeo Degremont, Inc., 149 P.3d 666 (Wash. 2006). “RCW 18.27.020(1); RCW 18.27.010(2). The statute makes it a misdemeanor to do work as a contractor without being registered.”
Cosmopolitan Eng'g Grp., Inc. v. Ondeo Degremont, Inc., 159 Wash. 2d 292 (Wash. 2006). “RCW 18.27.020(1), .010(2). The statute makes it a misdemeanor to do work as a contractor without being registered.”
Davidson v. Hensen, 954 P.2d 1327 (Wash. 1998). “They further allege the arbitrator had no authority to issue an award because their contract with Hensen was illegal by virtue of Hensen's alleged noncompliance with RCW 18.27.020. [3] The Davidsons' contentions are governed by the provisions of RCW 7.”
Davidson v. Hensen, 135 Wash. 2d 112 (Wash. 1998). “They further allege the arbitrator had no authority to issue an award because their contract with Hensen was illegal by virtue of Hensen’s alleged noncompliance with RCW 18.27.020. 3 The Davidsons’ contentions are governed by the provi *120 sions of RCW 7.”
Neil v. NWCC Investments V, LLC, 155 Wash. App. 119 (Wash. Ct. App. 2010).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 18.27.020(2)(a) — 7 cases
Cosmopolitan Eng. Grp. v. Ondeo Degremont, Inc., 149 P.3d 666 (Wash. 2006). “RCW 18.27.020(1); RCW 18.27.010(2). The statute makes it a misdemeanor to do work as a contractor without being registered.”
Cosmopolitan Eng'g Grp., Inc. v. Ondeo Degremont, Inc., 159 Wash. 2d 292 (Wash. 2006). “RCW 18.27.020(1), .010(2). The statute makes it a misdemeanor to do work as a contractor without being registered.”
Ahten v. Barnes, 158 Wash. App. 343 (Wash. Ct. App. 2010). “RCW 18.27.020(2)(a). RCW 18.27.385, *351 entitled “Marketing campaign,” requires the Department to create a campaign aimed at consumers and warn them about the risks and consequences of hiring unregistered contractors.”
Ahten v. Barnes, 242 P.3d 35 (Wash. Ct. App. 2010). “RCW 18.27.020(2)(a). RCW 18.27.385, entitled, "Marketing campaign" requires the Department to create a campaign aimed at consumers and warn them about the risks and consequences of hiring unregistered contractors.”
Pope & Talbot, Inc. v. Productization, Inc., 872 P.2d 78 (Wash. Ct. App. 1994).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 18.27.020(2)(b) — 2 cases
Coronado v. Orona, 137 Wash. App. 308 (Wash. Ct. App. 2007). “Those who do not comply are subject to a criminal penalty, RCW 18.27.020, and are denied access to the courts for compensation or for breach of contract claims: No person engaged in the business or acting in the capacity of a contractor may bring or maintain any action in any…”
Coronado v. Orona, 153 P.3d 217 (Wash. Ct. App. 2007).
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