Washington
Performance and payment bonds in Washington
Construction data, public works bond rules, and city guides for Washington contractors. A quote is not a binder.
Washington had 27,190 construction establishments employing 229,133 people in 2023, and builders pulled permits for 37,778 new housing units in 2024. Public owners across the state require bid, performance, and payment bonds on most construction contracts. Below are the state's construction numbers, the bond law that applies to public work, the factors sureties weigh, and guides for the largest cities.
Washington construction at a glance
| Measure | Washington | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Construction establishments (2023) | 27,190 | Census CBP |
| Construction employees (2023) | 229,133 | Census CBP |
| Annual payroll per construction employee | $83,136 | Census CBP |
| Commercial and institutional building contractors | 782 | Census CBP |
| Heavy and civil engineering contractors | 909 | Census CBP |
| Construction firms with fewer than 5 employees | 68% | Census CBP |
| New housing units authorized (2024) | 37,778 | Census BPS |
| Value of new housing units authorized (2024) | $10,381,973,000 | Census BPS |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023: construction (NAICS 23), commercial and institutional building construction (NAICS 236220), and heavy and civil engineering construction (NAICS 237); U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual state estimates.
Public works bond law in Washington
State and local public construction in Washington is governed by RCW 39.08 (contractor's bond). Federal projects in Washington are bonded under the Miller Act. Thresholds, notice periods, and claim deadlines differ, so read each solicitation and the statute. More in our public works bond laws guide.
What moves a Washington bond quote
- Credit of the company and its owners.
- Financial statements: working capital, net worth, and profitability.
- Experience with jobs of similar type and size.
- Backlog compared with your approved capacity.
- Job terms: bond form, schedule, warranty period, and liquidated damages.
- Bank support and an available line of credit.
See bond cost factors and bonding capacity.
City guides for Washington
- Seattle
- Spokane
- Tacoma
- Vancouver
- Bellevue
- Kent
- Everett
- Spokane Valley
- Renton
- Federal Way
- Yakima
- Bellingham
- Kirkland
- Kennewick
- Auburn
- Redmond
- Pasco
- Marysville
- Sammamish
- Shoreline
- Richland
- Lakewood
- Lacey
- Olympia
- Burien
- Bothell
- Bremerton
- Edmonds
- Puyallup
- Lynnwood
Bond types and guides
- Performance bonds for contractors
- Payment bonds
- Bid bonds
- Maintenance bonds
- Supply bonds
- Contractor license and permit bonds
- How to get bonded as a contractor
- Bonding capacity explained
- What determines performance bond cost
- Public works bond laws: the Miller Act and state statutes
- Surety prequalification checklist for contractors
More Washington communities
We accept bond requests for projects anywhere in Washington. Other communities, A to Z:
A — Aberdeen · Airway Heights · Albion · Algona · Almira · Anacortes · Arlington · Asotin
B — Bainbridge Island · Battle Ground · Beaux Arts Village · Benton City · Bingen · Black Diamond · Blaine · Bonney Lake · Brewster · Bridgeport · Brier · Buckley · Bucoda · Burlington
C — Camas · Carbonado · Carnation · Cashmere · Castle Rock · Cathlamet · Centralia · Chehalis · Chelan · Cheney · Chewelah · Clarkston · Cle Elum · Clyde Hill · Colfax · College Place · Colton · Colville · Conconully · Concrete · Connell · Cosmopolis · Coulee City · Coulee Dam · Coupeville · Covington · Creston · Cusick
D — Darrington · Davenport · Dayton · Deer Park · Des Moines · DuPont · Duvall
E — East Wenatchee · Eatonville · Edgewood · Electric City · Ellensburg · Elma · Elmer City · Endicott · Entiat · Enumclaw · Ephrata · Everson
F — Fairfield · Farmington · Ferndale · Fife · Fircrest · Forks · Friday Harbor
G — Garfield · George · Gig Harbor · Gold Bar · Goldendale · Grand Coulee · Grandview · Granger · Granite Falls
H — Hamilton · Harrah · Harrington · Hartline · Hatton · Hoquiam · Hunts Point
I — Ilwaco · Index · Ione · Issaquah
K — Kahlotus · Kalama · Kelso · Kenmore · Kettle Falls · Kittitas · Krupp
L — La Center · La Conner · LaCrosse · Lake Forest Park · Lake Stevens · Lamont · Langley · Latah · Leavenworth · Liberty Lake · Lind · Long Beach · Longview · Lyman · Lynden
M — Mabton · Malden · Mansfield · Maple Valley · Marcus · Mattawa · McCleary · Medical Lake · Medina · Mercer Island · Mesa · Metaline · Metaline Falls · Mill Creek · Millwood · Milton · Monroe · Montesano · Morton · Moses Lake · Mossyrock · Mount Vernon · Mountlake Terrace · Moxee · Mukilteo
N — Naches · Napavine · Nespelem · Newcastle · Newport · Nooksack · Normandy Park · North Bend · North Bonneville · Northport
O — Oak Harbor · Oakesdale · Oakville · Ocean Shores · Odessa · Okanogan · Omak · Oroville · Orting · Othello
P — Pacific · Palouse · Pateros · Pe Ell · Pomeroy · Port Angeles · Port Orchard · Port Townsend · Poulsbo · Prescott · Prosser · Pullman
Q — Quincy
R — Rainier · Raymond · Reardan · Republic · Ridgefield · Ritzville · Riverside · Rock Island · Rockford · Rosalia · Roslyn · Roy · Royal City · Ruston
S — SeaTac · Sedro-Woolley · Selah · Sequim · Shelton · Skykomish · Snohomish · Snoqualmie · Soap Lake · South Bend · South Cle Elum · South Prairie · Spangle · Sprague · Springdale · St. John · Stanwood · Starbuck · Steilacoom · Stevenson · Sultan · Sumas · Sumner · Sunnyside
T — Tekoa · Tenino · Tieton · Toledo · Tonasket · Toppenish · Tumwater · Twisp
U — Union Gap · Uniontown · University Place
V — Vader
W — Waitsburg · Walla Walla · Wapato · Warden · Washougal · Washtucna · Waterville · Waverly · Wenatchee · West Richland · Westport · White Salmon · Wilbur · Wilkeson · Wilson Creek · Winlock · Winthrop · Woodinville · Woodland · Woodway
Y — Yacolt · Yarrow Point · Yelm
Z — Zillah
Contractor bonds in Washington: FAQ
Which law requires bonds on Washington public works?
RCW 39.08 (contractor's bond). Federal projects follow the Miller Act.
How many construction companies are in Washington?
The Census Bureau counted 27,190 construction establishments in Washington in 2023, including 909 heavy and civil engineering contractors.
Who regulates surety companies in Washington?
Surety companies are regulated by the Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner.
How do I get a performance bond in Washington?
Apply with your company and owner information, financial statements, and project details. The surety sets your limits and rate based on underwriting.
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023: construction (NAICS 23), commercial and institutional building construction (NAICS 236220), and heavy and civil engineering construction (NAICS 237)
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual state estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 (tables B25024, B25035)
- U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2024 city population estimates
- Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner
Start a Washington bond request
Last updated October 15, 2026 · How we research