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

Wash. Rev. Code § 18.27.090 (2026)

Exemptions

✓ current as of May 2026
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The registration provisions of this chapter do not apply to:
(1) An authorized representative of the United States government, the state of Washington, or any incorporated city, town, county, township, irrigation district, reclamation district, or other municipal or political corporation or subdivision of this state;
(2) Officers of a court when they are acting within the scope of their office;
(3) Public utilities operating under the regulations of the utilities and transportation commission in construction, maintenance, or development work incidental to their own business;
(4) Any construction, repair, or operation incidental to the discovering or producing of petroleum or gas, or the drilling, testing, abandoning, or other operation of any petroleum or gas well or any surface or underground mine or mineral deposit when performed by an owner or lessee;
(5) The sale of any finished products, materials, or articles of merchandise that are not fabricated into and do not become a part of a structure under the common law of fixtures;
(6) Any construction, alteration, improvement, or repair of personal property performed by the registered or legal owner, or by a mobile/manufactured home retail dealer or manufacturer licensed under chapter 46.70 RCW who shall warranty service and repairs under chapter 46.70 RCW;
(7) Any construction, alteration, improvement, or repair carried on within the limits and boundaries of any site or reservation under the legal jurisdiction of the federal government;
(8) Any person who only furnished materials, supplies, or equipment without fabricating them into, or consuming them in the performance of, the work of the contractor;
(9) Any work or operation on one undertaking or project by one or more contracts, the aggregate contract price of which for labor and materials and all other items is less than five hundred dollars, such work or operations being considered as of a casual, minor, or inconsequential nature. The exemption prescribed in this subsection does not apply in any instance wherein the work or construction is only a part of a larger or major operation, whether undertaken by the same or a different contractor, or in which a division of the operation is made into contracts of amounts less than five hundred dollars for the purpose of evasion of this chapter or otherwise. The exemption prescribed in this subsection does not apply to a person who advertises or puts out any sign or card or other device which might indicate to the public that he or she is a contractor, or that he or she is qualified to engage in the business of contractor;
(10) Any construction or operation incidental to the construction and repair of irrigation and drainage ditches of regularly constituted irrigation districts or reclamation districts; or to farming, dairying, agriculture, viticulture, horticulture, or stock or poultry raising; or to clearing or other work upon land in rural districts for fire prevention purposes; except when any of the above work is performed by a registered contractor;
(11) An owner who contracts for a project with a registered contractor, except that this exemption shall not deprive the owner of the protections of this chapter against registered and unregistered contractors. The exemption prescribed in this subsection does not apply to a person who performs the activities of a contractor for the purpose of leasing or selling improved property he or she has owned for less than twelve months;
(12) Any person working on his or her own property, whether occupied by him or her or not, and any person working on his or her personal residence, whether owned by him or her or not but this exemption shall not apply to any person who performs the activities of a contractor on his or her own property for the purpose of selling, demolishing, or leasing the property;
(13) An owner who performs maintenance, repair, and alteration work in or upon his or her own properties, or who uses his or her own employees to do such work;
(14) A licensed architect or civil or professional engineer acting solely in his or her professional capacity, an electrician certified under the laws of the state of Washington, or a plumber certified under the laws of the state of Washington or licensed by a political subdivision of the state of Washington while operating within the boundaries of such political subdivision. The exemption provided in this subsection is applicable only when the person certified is operating within the scope of his or her certification;
(15) Any person who engages in the activities herein regulated as an employee of a registered contractor with wages as his or her sole compensation or as an employee with wages as his or her sole compensation;
(16) Contractors on highway projects who have been prequalified as required by RCW 47.28.070, with the department of transportation to perform highway construction, reconstruction, or maintenance work;
(17) A mobile/manufactured home dealer or manufacturer who subcontracts the installation, set-up, or repair work to actively registered contractors. This exemption only applies to the installation, set-up, or repair of the mobile/manufactured homes that were manufactured or sold by the mobile/manufactured home dealer or manufacturer.
[ 2020 c 153 s 22; 2013 c 23 s 13; 2007 c 436 s 6; 2003 c 399 s 401; 2001 c 159 s 7; 1997 c 314 s 8; 1987 c 313 s 1; 1983 c 4 s 1; 1980 c 68 s 2; 1974 ex.s. c 25 s 2. Prior: 1973 1st ex.s. c 161 s 1; 1973 1st ex.s. c 153 s 6; 1967 c 126 s 3; 1965 ex.s. c 170 s 50; 1963 c 77 s 9.]

Notes:

Effective date—2020 c 153 ss 21, 22, and 28: See note following RCW 18.27.060.
Part headings not law—2003 c 399: See note following RCW 19.28.006.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 38 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1970–2021 · leading case: Stewart v. Hammond, 471 P.2d 90 (Wash. 1970).
Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment
Stewart v. Hammond, 471 P.2d 90 (Wash. 1970). · cites it 18× “27 for which registration is required and, if so, whether he either has alleged and proved his registration or is excused from this requirement by an exclusion under RCW 18.27.090. Plaintiff claims the status of an "employee with wages as his sole compensation," and thus within…”
Pope & Talbot, Inc. v. Productization, Inc., 872 P.2d 78 (Wash. Ct. App. 1994). · cites it 25× “010, and Productization must not be exempt from registering under RCW 18.27.090. Productization acknowledges it was a contractor within the meaning of RCW 18.”
Coronado v. Orona, 137 Wash. App. 308 (Wash. Ct. App. 2007). · cites it 9× “RCW 18.27.090(5). Schultheis, J. — ¶2 Adolfo Coronado, doing business as Royal Landscaping & Gardening Company, contracted with Patty Orona and her boyfriend, Leslie Rucker (hereafter Ms.”
Arctic Stone, Ltd. v. Dadvar, 127 Wash. App. 789 (Wash. Ct. App. 2005). · cites it 14× “19 We held that RCW 18.27.090 allowed the contractor to recover for exempt items even if other items under the contract were not exempt.”
Jeanneret v. Rees, 511 P.2d 60 (Wash. 1973). · cites it 16× “RCW 18.27.090 contains the following exception: This chapter shall not apply to: .”
Andries v. Covey, 113 P.3d 483 (Wash. Ct. App. 2005). · cites it 7× “Fischer [29] held that a person who performs work on a residence with the intention of improving the residence for sale does not qualify for the exemption provided by RCW 18.27.090. But Frank did not focus on owners versus residents, but on the difference between owners who…”
Frank v. Fischer, 739 P.2d 1145 (Wash. 1987). · cites it 6× “010 by virtue of an exemption provided by RCW 18.27.090(12). Frank , at 138-39. RCW 18.”
Bremmeyer v. Peter Kiewit Sons Co., 585 P.2d 1174 (Wash. 1978). · cites it 5× “Some members of the court felt that statute was intended to bar the subcontractor's action because RCW 18.27.090 contained no specific exemption for them.”
Andries v. Covey, 113 P.3d 483 (Wash. Ct. App. 2005). · cites it 4× “010 and RCW 18.27.090(12) because the Coveys performed work for the purpose of selling the property and because they hired other trades and supplied materials to perform the work.”
Harbor Millwork, Inc. v. Achttien, 496 P.2d 978 (Wash. Ct. App. 1972). · cites it 7× “In this regard we believe that RCW 18.27.090 (5) is relevant. This section provides: *813 This chapter shall not apply to: (5) The sale or installation of any finished products, materials or articles of merchandise which are not actually fabricated into and do not become a…”
Dep't of Labor & Indus. v. Davison, 109 P.3d 479 (Wash. Ct. App. 2005). · cites it 6× “The trial court’s ruling reversed an earlier *733 determination by an administrative law judge (ALJ) that Woodpro’s cabinet manufacture and installation activities are exempt from contractor registration under former RCW 18.27.090(5) (2001). That statute exempts from…”
Indus. Power & Lighting Corp. v. W. Modular Corp., 623 P.2d 291 (Alaska 1981). · cites it 3× “Subsection (8) of RCW 18.27.090 provided that: Any person who only furnished materials, supplies or equipment without fabricating them into, or consuming them in the performance of, the work of the contractor .”
Show all 38 citing cases →
— Wash. Rev. Code § 18.27.090(10) — 5 cases
Jeanneret v. Rees, 511 P.2d 60 (Wash. 1973). “RCW 18.27.090 contains the following exception: This chapter shall not apply to: .”
Bremmeyer v. Peter Kiewit Sons Co., 585 P.2d 1174 (Wash. 1978). “Some members of the court felt that statute was intended to bar the subcontractor's action because RCW 18.27.090 contained no specific exemption for them.”
Bremmeyer v. Peter Kiewit Sons Co., 555 P.2d 1183 (Wash. Ct. App. 1976).
Martinson v. Publishers Forest Prods. Co., 521 P.2d 233 (Wash. Ct. App. 1974).
Mike's Rental Mach., Inc. v. Corbett Draw Farms, Inc., 721 P.2d 1000 (Wash. Ct. App. 1986).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 18.27.090(11) — 6 cases
Hinton v. Johnson, 942 P.2d 1061 (Wash. Ct. App. 1997).
Neil v. NWCC Investments V, LLC, 155 Wash. App. 119 (Wash. Ct. App. 2010).
Neil v. Nwcc Investments v. LLC, 229 P.3d 837 (Wash. Ct. App. 2010).
Montgomery v. Engelhard, 352 P.3d 218 (Wash. Ct. App. 2015).
William Insulation Co. Inc v. JH Kelly LLC (W.D. Wash. 2021).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 18.27.090(12) — 6 cases
Pope & Talbot, Inc. v. Productization, Inc., 872 P.2d 78 (Wash. Ct. App. 1994). “010, and Productization must not be exempt from registering under RCW 18.27.090. Productization acknowledges it was a contractor within the meaning of RCW 18.”
Frank v. Fischer, 739 P.2d 1145 (Wash. 1987). “010 by virtue of an exemption provided by RCW 18.27.090(12). Frank , at 138-39. RCW 18.”
Andries v. Covey, 113 P.3d 483 (Wash. Ct. App. 2005). “Fischer [29] held that a person who performs work on a residence with the intention of improving the residence for sale does not qualify for the exemption provided by RCW 18.27.090. But Frank did not focus on owners versus residents, but on the difference between owners who…”
Andries v. Covey, 113 P.3d 483 (Wash. Ct. App. 2005). “010 and RCW 18.27.090(12) because the Coveys performed work for the purpose of selling the property and because they hired other trades and supplied materials to perform the work.”
Frank v. Fischer, 730 P.2d 70 (Wash. Ct. App. 1986).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 18.27.090(13) — 1 case
Pope & Talbot, Inc. v. Productization, Inc., 872 P.2d 78 (Wash. Ct. App. 1994). “010, and Productization must not be exempt from registering under RCW 18.27.090. Productization acknowledges it was a contractor within the meaning of RCW 18.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 18.27.090(15) — 2 cases
Stewart v. Hammond, 471 P.2d 90 (Wash. 1970). “27 for which registration is required and, if so, whether he either has alleged and proved his registration or is excused from this requirement by an exclusion under RCW 18.27.090. Plaintiff claims the status of an "employee with wages as his sole compensation," and thus within…”
Kim v. W.-Blossom Hill Investors (W.D. Wash. 2019).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 18.27.090(3) — 1 case
Jeanneret v. Rees, 511 P.2d 60 (Wash. 1973). “RCW 18.27.090 contains the following exception: This chapter shall not apply to: .”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 18.27.090(5) — 9 cases
Coronado v. Orona, 137 Wash. App. 308 (Wash. Ct. App. 2007). “RCW 18.27.090(5). Schultheis, J. — ¶2 Adolfo Coronado, doing business as Royal Landscaping & Gardening Company, contracted with Patty Orona and her boyfriend, Leslie Rucker (hereafter Ms.”
Dep't of Labor & Indus. v. Davison, 109 P.3d 479 (Wash. Ct. App. 2005). “The trial court’s ruling reversed an earlier *733 determination by an administrative law judge (ALJ) that Woodpro’s cabinet manufacture and installation activities are exempt from contractor registration under former RCW 18.27.090(5) (2001). That statute exempts from…”
Arctic Stone, Ltd. v. Dadvar, 127 Wash. App. 789 (Wash. Ct. App. 2005). “19 We held that RCW 18.27.090 allowed the contractor to recover for exempt items even if other items under the contract were not exempt.”
Coronado v. Orona, 153 P.3d 217 (Wash. Ct. App. 2007).
Arctic Stone, Ltd. v. Dadvar, 112 P.3d 582 (Wash. Ct. App. 2005).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 18.27.090(6) — 3 cases
Bremmeyer v. Peter Kiewit Sons Co., 585 P.2d 1174 (Wash. 1978). “Some members of the court felt that statute was intended to bar the subcontractor's action because RCW 18.27.090 contained no specific exemption for them.”
Clevenger v. Peterson Constr. Co., 542 P.2d 470 (Wash. Ct. App. 1975).
Alaska Cascade Fin. Servs., Inc. v. Doors Nw., Inc., 762 P.2d 362 (Wash. Ct. App. 1988).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 18.27.090(7) — 1 case
Lyda v. Port of Walla Walla, 510 P.2d 1172 (Wash. Ct. App. 1973).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 18.27.090(8) — 7 cases
Arctic Stone, Ltd. v. Dadvar, 127 Wash. App. 789 (Wash. Ct. App. 2005). “19 We held that RCW 18.27.090 allowed the contractor to recover for exempt items even if other items under the contract were not exempt.”
Pope & Talbot, Inc. v. Productization, Inc., 872 P.2d 78 (Wash. Ct. App. 1994). “010, and Productization must not be exempt from registering under RCW 18.27.090. Productization acknowledges it was a contractor within the meaning of RCW 18.”
Indus. Power & Lighting Corp. v. W. Modular Corp., 623 P.2d 291 (Alaska 1981). “Subsection (8) of RCW 18.27.090 provided that: Any person who only furnished materials, supplies or equipment without fabricating them into, or consuming them in the performance of, the work of the contractor .”
Harbor Millwork, Inc. v. Achttien, 496 P.2d 978 (Wash. Ct. App. 1972). “In this regard we believe that RCW 18.27.090 (5) is relevant. This section provides: *813 This chapter shall not apply to: (5) The sale or installation of any finished products, materials or articles of merchandise which are not actually fabricated into and do not become a…”
Farwest Steel Corp. v. Mainline Metal Works, Inc., 741 P.2d 58 (Wash. Ct. App. 1987).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 18.27.090(9) — 1 case
Pope & Talbot, Inc. v. Productization, Inc., 872 P.2d 78 (Wash. Ct. App. 1994). “010, and Productization must not be exempt from registering under RCW 18.27.090. Productization acknowledges it was a contractor within the meaning of RCW 18.”
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