Paul Graham Drilling/Srvc CO

To register as a specialty contractor in Washington, a business must file a $15,000 surety bond with the Department of Labor & Industries; general contractors file $30,000.

The bond is a limited fund a homeowner (or subcontractor or supplier) can make a claim against, through the courts, if a registered contractor fails to meet its obligations on a job. Contractors must also keep general liability insurance on file — at least $50,000 in property damage and $200,000 in public liability coverage, or a $250,000 combined single limit — which covers damage the contractor causes, not workmanship disputes. The rows above are the bond and insurance filings L&I publishes for this registration; whether a specific filing applies to a specific project depends on its dates and terms.

Well drilling contractors drill and develop water wells, set casing and screens, and install the equipment that draws groundwater. Typical projects include new domestic wells, deepening or reworking existing wells, and well decommissioning. As a condition of registration, contractors in this category file a $15,000 surety bond and proof of general liability insurance with WA L&I.