Hiring a Contractor

Make sure the contractor is properly licensed, bonded, and insured in Washington state.

You can use the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries contractor lookup to check a contractor’s status and see whether they have an active registration.

Verify Your Contractor

Consider getting at least three written bids before choosing a contractor. When comparing bids, look at more than the total price.

Make sure each bid clearly explains:

• The work that will be completed
• Materials and equipment included
• Permit and inspection costs
• Estimated project schedule
• Payment terms

Be cautious of bids that are significantly lower than others or don’t clearly explain what’s included.

Your contract should clearly describe the work, costs, payment schedule, and other important details you’ve agreed to.

Read the entire contract before signing and ask questions about anything you don’t understand. Keep a copy of the signed contract and any changes made during the project.

Get changes in writing: If the scope or cost of your project changes, make sure those changes are documented before additional work begins.

Most electrical work requires a permit and an inspection. Your electrical contractor will typically obtain the permit for the work they’re performing.

Before work begins, make sure you understand who is responsible for obtaining the permit.

Learn more about electrical permits and inspections

Electrical inspections help make sure work meets applicable safety requirements.

Before making your final payment, confirm that the permitted electrical work has passed its required inspection.

• Ask about insurance: consider asking your contractor for proof of liability insurance and workers’ compensation coverage when applicable
• Check references: Ask about similar projects the contractor has completed and consider contacting previous customers.
• Know your responsibilities: Property owners who choose to perform their own electrical work may have different permitting requirements than customers hiring a contractor.

We don’t recommend or endorse individual electrical contractors. You can use Washington State Labor & Industries’ contractor lookup to verify that a contractor is properly registered.

For some qualifying energy-efficiency projects, Tacoma Power has separate resources to help customers find participating contractors.

When you hire an electrical contractor, they will typically obtain the electrical permit for the work they’re performing. If you’re doing your own electrical work as a property owner, you may be able to obtain the permit yourself.

Most electrical installations, alterations, and repairs require a permit and inspection. Some minor work may be exempt. Check our electrical permitting information before you begin your project.

If you’re unsure about electrical permits or inspection requirements, contact our Electrical Inspection Office. We’re happy to help you understand what your project may require.

For complete information, see our Policies, Forms and Maps.