Before you hire
How to verify a contractor's licence
Two states, two credentials, and a handful of things worth checking that most people skip.
A licence number gives the most accurate match. State files often record a business name differently from how it appears on a truck or a business card.
What the number on the quote tells you
- Washington L&I
- A contractor registration number, typically letters drawn from the business name followed by digits and a two-character suffix. Registration proves the business filed with L&I and carried a bond and liability insurance at the time of registration.
- Washington UBI
- A separate nine-digit business identifier. If a quote shows a UBI but no contractor registration number, the business is registered with the state but that is not the same as being registered to contract.
- Oregon CCB
- A numeric licence number issued by the Construction Contractors Board, with an endorsement class that determines what work the licence covers — residential or commercial, general or specialty.
Check it with the agency, not just here
This directory is a copy of the public file and it is a snapshot, so it can lag a suspension, a revocation or a renewal. The agencies are the authority and both lookups are free. Use this site to find the record and read it; use theirs to confirm status the day you hire.
Two trades this directory cannot help with
Washington licenses electricians and plumbers through separate programmes that are not part of the contractor registration file. Neither trade appears as a classification in this directory. To check an electrical or plumbing credential, go straight to L&I — do not treat an absence here as an answer either way.
Questions people ask
Does a licence mean the contractor is any good?
No. A registration means the business met the state's filing requirements — it is a threshold, not a quality signal. Most registrations in these two states were issued in the last ten years. Licensing tells you a business exists on paper and can be held to account; it says nothing about workmanship.
What is the difference between a Washington registration and an Oregon licence?
They are separate legal instruments issued under different statutes. Washington L&I registers contractors; the Oregon CCB licenses them. Holding one grants nothing in the other state, so a firm working both sides of the Columbia needs both.
What is a UBI number?
A Unified Business Identifier — Washington's nine-digit business registration number. It identifies the business entity across state agencies and is distinct from the contractor registration number, which is specific to the contracting credential.
The licence is expired. Is that bad?
Usually it just means the renewal has not been reflected yet. An expiry date is not a finding of wrongdoing. If the agency lookup also shows it lapsed, ask the contractor about it before work starts — an unregistered contractor limits your recourse.
What should I check besides the licence?
Bond and liability insurance status, any citations, and whether the business name on the quote matches the name on the registration. This directory does not carry bond, insurance or citation records — the agencies do.
Method and known limits are documented on the sources page.
Verify any record directly with the issuing agency: WA L&I Verify a Contractor · Oregon CCB licence search