Does Washington cap how much deposit a contractor can ask for?

Washington does not set a percentage cap. Its protections are contractor registration, a required surety bond, and a written disclosure statement given before work begins.

How big is a Washington contractor’s bond?

A registration applicant must file a surety bond of $30,000 for a general contractor or $15,000 for a specialty contractor.

How Much Deposit Can a Contractor Ask For in Washington?

Washington does not cap the deposit by percentage, but a contractor must be registered, carry a surety bond of $30,000 or $15,000, and give a written disclosure before work.

Washington protects a homeowner's deposit through contractor registration rather than a percentage cap. It is a gross misdemeanor to work as a contractor without being registered,¹ registration requires a surety bond,² and the contractor must give the customer a written disclosure statement before starting work.³ This page explains what stands behind a deposit in Washington.

Registration and the surety bond

The threshold protection is registration. It is a gross misdemeanor for any contractor to advertise, offer to do work, submit a bid, or perform any work as a contractor without being registered.¹ Checking that a contractor is registered before you pay a deposit is the single most useful step.

Registration is backed by a bond. An applicant must file with the department a surety bond in the sum of $30,000 if a general contractor or $15,000 if a specialty contractor.² The bond is a limited pool a homeowner may be able to reach if a registered contractor takes money and fails.

The written disclosure before work

Washington also requires disclosure up front. A contractor must provide the customer with the prescribed disclosure statement, in the form the statute sets out, before starting work.³ The disclosure is meant to reach you before money changes hands, not after.

The practical takeaway in Washington is to confirm registration and the bond, get the written disclosure before work begins, and keep any deposit proportionate, since the state relies on registration and the bond rather than a statutory deposit ceiling.

Sources

In Washington, it is a gross misdemeanor for any contractor to advertise, offer to do work, submit a bid, or perform any work as a contractor without being registered.
Wash. Rev. Code § 18.27.020Revised Code of Washington § 18.27.020, Registration requiredVerified August 3, 2026a b
In Washington, a contractor registration applicant must file with the department a surety bond in the sum of $30,000 if a general contractor or $15,000 if a specialty contractor.
Wash. Rev. Code § 18.27.040Revised Code of Washington § 18.27.040, Bond requiredVerified August 3, 2026a b
In Washington, a contractor must provide the customer with the prescribed disclosure statement, in the form the statute sets out, before starting work.
Wash. Rev. Code § 18.27.114Revised Code of Washington § 18.27.114, Disclosure statementVerified August 3, 2026a b

Frequently asked questions

Does Washington cap how much deposit a contractor can ask for?: Washington does not set a percentage cap. Its protections are contractor registration, a required surety bond, and a written disclosure statement given before work begins.
How big is a Washington contractor’s bond?: A registration applicant must file a surety bond of $30,000 for a general contractor or $15,000 for a specialty contractor.
What must a Washington contractor give me before starting work?: The contractor must provide the customer with the prescribed disclosure statement, in the form the statute sets out, before starting work.

This page is general information about state law, not legal advice. Laws change, and how they apply depends on the facts of your situation.