13.3 Electrical Contractors, Administrators, Bonds & Exemptions
Key Takeaways
- Under RCW 19.28.041, no one may advertise, bid, or engage in the business of installing or maintaining electrical wiring or equipment without an electrical contractor license, which expires 24 months after issue.
- An electrical contractor license application must include a $4,000 bond naming the State of Washington; if the bond is canceled, the license is suspended until a new bond is approved (RCW 19.28.041(3)).
- Every contractor must designate a master electrician or administrator who is a member of the firm or a full-time supervisory employee, and no person may be the designee for more than one contractor at a time (RCW 19.28.041(5), .061(1)).
- If the designee leaves, the contractor's license is void in 90 days unless another qualified designee is assigned (180 days after the designee's death or incapacity) (RCW 19.28.061(1)).
- Owners doing work on their own residence, farm, or place of business need no license or certificate, unless the work is a new building for rent, sale, or lease or the property is sold within 12 months (RCW 19.28.261).
Why this section matters
The WA Codes section tests the business side of the trade as well as field rules. Expect questions on the bond amount, the administrator's duties, what happens when the administrator leaves, and when an owner may do his or her own work.
Contractor license (RCW 19.28.041)
It is unlawful to "advertise, offer to do work, submit a bid, engage in, conduct, or carry on the business of installing or maintaining wires or equipment to convey electric current" without an unrevoked, unsuspended, unexpired electrical contractor license (RCW 19.28.041(1)). Key points:
- Licenses expire 24 calendar months after issue.
- The application lists the business name and location, the owners or officers, and workers' compensation coverage. L&I also requires a valid UBI number.
- The application must include a $4,000 bond with the State of Washington as obligee. L&I also accepts an assignment of savings in place of the bond. If the bond is canceled or the surety withdraws, the license is suspended until a new bond is approved (RCW 19.28.041(3)).
- The applicant must designate someone who holds a master journey level certificate, a master specialty certificate in that specialty, or an administrator certificate (RCW 19.28.041(5)).
- Only L&I licenses electrical contractors. No city or county may require a separate electrical license, bond, or fee for the same purpose (RCW 19.28.041(4)).
A person damaged by a contractor's breach of the bond conditions may sue the surety in superior court (RCW 19.28.071).
Telecommunications contractors also need a UBI number, a $4,000 bond or assignment of savings, a designated telecommunications administrator, and at least $170,000 of general liability insurance (L&I).
The designated master electrician or administrator (RCW 19.28.061)
| Rule | What the statute says |
|---|---|
| Who can be designated | A member of the firm or a full-time supervisory employee |
| One contractor only | "No person may concurrently qualify as master electrician or administrator for more than one contractor." |
| Designee leaves | The contractor's license is void within 90 days unless another master electrician or administrator is qualified |
| Designee dies or is incapacitated | License void within 180 days unless replaced; the contractor notifies L&I in writing within 10 days |
| Designee quits | The master electrician or administrator notifies L&I in writing within 10 days |
Duties under RCW 19.28.061(5): the designee must:
- be available during working hours to carry out the administrator's duties;
- ensure that all electrical work complies with Washington's installation laws and rules;
- ensure that proper electrical safety procedures are used;
- ensure that all required labels, permits, and licenses are used;
- see that correction notices from an inspecting authority are complied with; and
- notify L&I within 10 days if the relationship with the contractor ends.
L&I may not change these duties by rule (RCW 19.28.061(6)).
Administrator certificates. An administrator certificate requires passing an administrator exam. No L&I pre-approval or experience is required (L&I; PSI bulletin). The 01 general administrator exam has 65 NEC and theory questions, 17 Washington codes questions, and 10 major load calculation questions. The certificate is renewed every three years on or before the holder's birthday (RCW 19.28.061(2)). An administrator certificate alone does not allow the holder to perform electrical installations. The holder also needs an electrician certificate, or must work as a supervised trainee.
Exemptions from licensing and certification (RCW 19.28.261)
| Exemption | Condition |
|---|---|
| Owner's own property | A person may do electrical work at his or her own residence, farm, place of business, or other owned property unless the work is on a new building intended for rent, sale, or lease, or on property offered for sale within 12 months after it was obtained |
| Owner-occupied new residential of up to four units | Exempt if the owner files a signed affidavit to do the work and live in one unit as a principal residence. Available once every 24 months; the owner is expected to live there 24 months after completion. |
| Employees on employer's premises | The certification provisions don't apply to regularly employed employees working on their employer's premises, with the same new-building and 12-month-sale limits |
| Utilities | An electrical utility and its employees working on the utility's own lines and systems |
| Telephone, telegraph, radio, television | Installation and maintenance of those wires and equipment (RCW 19.28.261(4)) |
| Householder help | A householder may help, or be helped by, a friend, neighbor, or relative when none of them holds out as being in the electrical business |
| Common carriers | Common carriers and their employees under the Interstate Commerce Act |
An exemption from licensing or certification is not an exemption from permits and inspection. An owner doing exempt work still buys an electrical work permit and gets the work inspected (WAC 296-46B-901).
Temporary construction services. A registered general contractor may install one temporary construction service per address and is treated as the owner when all of these are true (WAC 296-46B-901(14)):
- the work is limited to mounting and bracing a preassembled pole or pedestal service, driving a ground rod or plate, and connecting the grounding electrode conductor;
- the service is 200 A or less at 250 V or less;
- it supplies no feeders, and branch circuits of 50 A or less supply only receptacles on the service or pole;
- the general contractor owns the equipment and was hired by the property owner;
- the general contractor buys a permit and gets the service inspected before it is energized.
Penalties (WAC 296-46B-915)
| Violation | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Each after |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offering, bidding, advertising, or doing electrical work without an electrical contractor license | $1,000 | $2,000 | $3,000 | $10,000 |
| Work outside the scope of the firm's specialty contractor license | $500 | $1,500 | $3,000 | $6,000 |
| Employing someone without a valid certificate or training certificate | $250 | $500 | $500 | $500 |
What bond amount must accompany an application for a Washington electrical contractor license under RCW 19.28.041?
An electrician holds a master electrician certificate and is the designated master electrician for Contractor A. Contractor B, a separate company, wants to designate the same person. What does RCW 19.28.061 allow?
A homeowner rewires the house she lives in, then offers it for sale nine months after buying it. How does RCW 19.28.261 treat the work?