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Do I need a specialty contractor license for light handyman work in Washington State
Anonymous5 views3 answers
I do small jobs like put up curtain rods, move furniture and paint bathrooms (for example). Most jobs are less than two hours and are not structural. I also repair dishwashers and and other small appliances if the job is simple. It looks like I don't need a license since nothing is structural, electrical or plumbing. Am I correct in this?
General handyman work doesn't usually require a special license, no matter which state you are referencing. That said, some insurance might be a wise investment. Best of luck!
WAC 296-200A-016 (What are the definitions of the specialty contractor classifications for the purpose of contractor registration only?) provides: "(26) "Handyman"—A contractor in this specialty must be an individual who does all work personally without employees or other specialty contractors. A handyman may perform more than one unrelated specialty trade or craft provided they do all work themselves. All work shall be limited to minor and casual work of existing residential maintenance and repair with a total dollar value of time and materials under two thousand dollars. Work requiring a building permit may not be done by this specialty. If the registered contractor is a corporation or limited liability company (LLC), one person must be identified as a handyman. Work in this specialty may also require plumber certification per chapter 18.106 RCW and/or an electrical license per chapter 19.28 RCW."
If WA Labor & Industries does not agree with your belief that you do not need to be registered as a contractor, you face being fined a minimum of $1000. L&I handles contractor registration and enforcement in WA.
You better check with L&I on whether you need to be registered as a contractor.
Whether you need to be registered as a contractor, you definitely need to be licensed, both by the state and the city.
I agree with Mr. Nguyen, and also consider the fact that many outfits (churches, apartments, condo associations, etc.) will not hire even a handyman unless they are registered, bonded, and insured. This is because they have duties and obligations toward their own client/customer/member base. The registration is a badge of professionalism that carries credibility and a sense of professionalism with it. If you are retired and just do this on the "side," well fine. If you seriously intend to make this your profession, then in my opinion, pursuing registration makes sense. It also helps if you decide to file a lien should you ever be "stiffed," as you avoid the fight over whether (for this particular job), you should have been registered. GOOD LUCK! If you choose to review the statutes on this yourself, go to: http://www.leg.wa.gov and try 18.27 in the first dialog box, then "document" and then "RCW" and "WAC." The relevant statute and associated regulations will pop up for your review.
