Who sets class codes in Washington?

The state fund, Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) State Fund. More than 300 risk classes of its own.

COVERAGE / WORKERS' COMP / STATES / WASHINGTON

WORKERS' COMP · WASHINGTON

Workers' comp in Washington.

In Washington, workers' comp is bought from the state fund, Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) State Fund; private carriers don't sell it. Washington requires workers' comp from the first employee.

REQUIRED: From the first employee
RATING BUREAU: The state fund
CLASS CODES: Own system
BUY FROM: Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) State Fund only

WHO MUST CARRY IT

Required from the first employee.

The rule

Washington requires workers' comp from the first employee.

Source: L&I, How to get a workers' compensation account, checked October 5, 2026.

Coverage rules: L&I, How to get a workers' compensation account, checked October 5, 2026.

CLASS CODES HERE

The state fund, Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) State Fund, uses its own classes.

Rating bureau

The state fund, Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) State Fund, sets classes and rates.

Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), the state fund

Class system

More than 300 risk classes of its own.

Manual: WAC 296-17A: Classifications for Washington workers' compensation insurance

Codes on our pages

Washington uses its own classes; where a number matches a code on our class code pages, the state's class applies, not NCCI's.

All class codes, by industry

List: Washington L&I, Risk classes for workers' compensation, checked October 5, 2026.

COMMON QUESTIONS

Do I need workers' comp in Washington?: Yes. Washington requires workers' comp from the first employee.
How do I get coverage in Washington?: From the state fund, Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) State Fund: private carriers don't sell workers' comp in Washington. Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) State Fund for employers
Who sets class codes in Washington?: The state fund, Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) State Fund. More than 300 risk classes of its own.

SOURCES

L&I, How to get a workers' compensation accountWho must carry it, coverage rules, checked October 5, 2026.
Washington L&I, Risk classes for workers' compensationRating bureau, class system, class codes, checked October 5, 2026.

Figures as of October 5, 2026.

For planning, not a classification ruling. The state fund sets your class and rate.

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