Current rulemaking activity

Professional industry licensing fees

  • All business and professional licensing
    • Appraisers
    • Architects
    • Camping resorts
    • Employment agencies
    • Funerals and cemeteries
    • Geologists
    • Landscape architects
    • Limousines
    • Notaries public
    • Real estate
    • Security guards
    • Sellers of travel
    • Tattoos, piercing, body art
    • Telephone solicitors
    • Timeshares
    • Whitewater river outfitters
In progress

We're considering splitting fees for a variety of professional industries. This helps to clarify the cost of processing and issuing licenses.

Current step

July 1, 2026

Intent to change a rule

Public hearing or comments

You can participate in this rulemaking activity by contacting us at rulescoordinator@dol.wa.gov.

Real estate broker and managing broker licensing fees

  • All business and professional licensing
    • Real estate
Completed

Current rule(s)

Real estate fees (WAC 308-124A-775)

We conducted rulemaking to increase the fees for new and renewed real estate broker and managing broker licenses. The new rule increases the fee from $10 to $20. The purpose of this increase is to fund the Real Estate Research Center.

Current step

August 19, 2025

Rule change adopted

Public hearing or comments

We conducted this rule change under an expedited process (RCW 34.05.353). This process eliminates the need for us to hold public hearings. If you object to the use of the expedited process for this rule change, you must object in writing. Email your objection to rulescoordinator@dol.wa.gov or mail it to:

Rules Coordinator
Department of Licensing
1125 Washington Street SE
Olympia, WA 98501

Real estate records and responsibilities

  • All business and professional licensing
    • Real estate
Completed

Current rule(s)

Real Estate - Records and Responsibilities (Chapter 308-124C WAC)

We clarified the required documentation related to broker price opinions.

Real estate appraiser fees and charges

  • All business and professional licensing
    • Appraisers
    • Real estate
Completed

Current rule(s)

Fees and charges (Chapter 308-125-120 WAC)

We're proposing an increase to fees for real estate appraisers. Current fees aren't enough to cover program costs. The law requires us to review program budgets and set fees to cover administration costs. The licensing fees we collect are the only source of funds that cover program costs.

We continue to look into ways to reduce budget gaps while minimizing the impact on our licensees. For example, we replaced travel for board meetings and investigations with virtual options, where possible. This reduces travel costs for rental space, lodging, meals, staffing, mileage and more.