2005 Washington Revised Code RCW 18.27.010: Definitions.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

     (1) "Contractor" means any person, firm, or corporation who or which, in the pursuit of an independent business undertakes to, or offers to undertake, or submits a bid to, construct, alter, repair, add to, subtract from, improve, move, wreck or demolish, for another, any building, highway, road, railroad, excavation or other structure, project, development, or improvement attached to real estate or to do any part thereof including the installation of carpeting or other floor covering, the erection of scaffolding or other structures or works in connection therewith or who installs or repairs roofing or siding; or, who, to do similar work upon his or her own property, employs members of more than one trade upon a single job or project or under a single building permit except as otherwise provided herein. "Contractor" includes any person, firm, corporation, or other entity covered by this subsection, whether or not registered as required under this chapter.

     (2) "Department" means the department of labor and industries.

     (3) "Director" means the director of the department of labor and industries or designated representative employed by the department.

     (4) "General contractor" means a contractor whose business operations require the use of more than two unrelated building trades or crafts whose work the contractor shall superintend or do in whole or in part. "General contractor" shall not include an individual who does all work personally without employees or other "specialty contractors" as defined in this section. The terms "general contractor" and "builder" are synonymous.

     (5) "Partnership" means a business formed under Title 25 RCW.

     (6) "Registration cancellation" means a written notice from the department that a contractor's action is in violation of this chapter and that the contractor's registration has been revoked.

     (7) "Registration suspension" means a written notice from the department that a contractor's action is a violation of this chapter and that the contractor's registration has been suspended for a specified time, or until the contractor shows evidence of compliance with this chapter.

     (8) "Residential homeowner" means an individual person or persons owning or leasing real property:

     (a) Upon which one single-family residence is to be built and in which the owner or lessee intends to reside upon completion of any construction; or

     (b) Upon which there is a single-family residence to which improvements are to be made and in which the owner or lessee intends to reside upon completion of any construction.

     (9) "Specialty contractor" means a contractor whose operations do not fall within the definition of "general contractor".

     (10) "Unregistered contractor" means a person, firm, corporation, or other entity doing work as a contractor without being registered in compliance with this chapter. "Unregistered contractor" includes contractors whose registration is expired, revoked, or suspended. "Unregistered contractor" does not include a contractor who has maintained a valid bond and the insurance or assigned account required by RCW 18.27.050, and whose registration has lapsed for thirty or fewer days.

     (11) "Unsatisfied final judgment" means a judgment that has not been satisfied either through payment, court approved settlement, discharge in bankruptcy, or assignment under RCW 19.72.070.

     (12) "Verification" means the receipt and duplication by the city, town, or county of a contractor registration card that is current on its face, checking the department's contractor registration data base, or calling the department to confirm that the contractor is registered.

[2001 c 159 § 1; 1997 c 314 § 2; 1993 c 454 § 2; 1973 1st ex.s. c 153 § 1; 1972 ex.s. c 118 § 1; 1967 c 126 § 5; 1963 c 77 § 1.]

Finding -- 1993 c 454: "The legislature finds that unregistered contractors are a serious threat to the general public and are costing the state millions of dollars each year in lost revenue. To assist in solving this problem, the department of labor and industries and the department of revenue should coordinate and communicate with each other to identify unregistered contractors." [1993 c 454 § 1.]      Effective date -- 1963 c 77: "This act shall take effect August 1, 1963." [1963 c 77 § 12.]