Construction regulations and requirements ranging from the CSLB's requirements to same-day bid bonds on public works projects, Jet Surety offers the bonds contractors need to get licensed, win projects, and stay compliant.
License bonds, city bonds and project-specific performance/payment bonds are unique in their forms and filing process. Our simple application walks you through the process to ensure you get the right bond the first time, no matter if the obligee is the CSLB or a private project owner.
Not every bond serves the same purpose. License bonds satisfy regulators so you can hold an active contractor license. Contract bonds (bid, performance, and payment) satisfy project owners on specific jobs.
Required by state, county, or city agencies before you can be licensed, registered, or permitted. The bond protects consumers, employees, vendors, and regulators, not the contractor. Limits typically range from $10,000 to $25,000 for state-level requirements, with California set at $25,000.
A Project-specific type of bond that may be required before you can start work on a construction project. Depending on bond type, it helps protect the project owner, workers, and suppliers if a contractor fails to complete the project as agreed by the contract or fails to pay for labor or materials. These bonds can be a requirement for work performed for the federal government, state agencies, municipalities and even private project owners.
Over 1,000 state, county, and city agencies require contractor bonds nationwide. If a regulator told you that you need a bond before you can work, this is what it means and why it exists.
A contractor license bond is a regulatory surety bond that provides a form of financial protection for consumers, employees, or government agencies if a contractor fails to meet certain legal or contractual obligations.
State, county, and city agencies use license bonds to protect the public from defective work, unpaid wages, code violations, and breach of contract without requiring contractors to post the full penalty amount in cash.
Any registered contractor whose governing agency requires a bond to register and maintain licensing, or pull permits. Some agencies only require contractor registration for specific classification such as GCs, electricians, roofers, plumbers and certain specialty trades.
The CSLB requires an active $25,000 contractor's bond to issue, reactivate, or renew a California contractor license. The business name and license number on the bond must match the CSLB records exactly.
California LLC contractors must file a $100,000 LLC Employee/Worker bond with the CSLB in addition to the $25,000 contractor's bond. It protects employees and workers if the LLC fails to pay wages, interest on wages, or fringe benefits. Business name and license number must match the CSLB records exactly.
License bonds must stay active for the license to remain valid. We help with filing where electronic submission is allowed and send reminders before renewal deadlines.
The Contractors State License Board (CSLB) requires an active contractor's bond to issue, reactivate, or renew a license. Additional bonds may apply depending on your business structure and qualifying personnel.
Reference: the CSLB bond requirements
Contract bonds
Contract bonds are job-specific, not tied to your license. They give project owners confidence that work will be completed and that subs and suppliers will be paid if you cannot fulfill the contract.
Often required when submitting bid documents, it is a tool showing the project owner that your bid is serious and, if awarded the project, you have the backing of the surety to obtain the necessary bonds required by the contract. These are no-cost bonds, intended as a financial prequalification the surety provides.
Guarantee you will complete the project according to contract terms. If you default, the surety may step in to fulfill the obligation or compensate the owner up to the bond amount.
Ensure subcontractors, suppliers, and laborers get paid on public and many private projects. Often required alongside performance bonds under federal and state public works laws.
Cover post-completion defects for a defined period after substantial completion, protecting the owner if warranty work is not performed as required.
License bond, BQI, bid bond, or full contract bond package. Share your state, obligee, and bond amount or project value.
Many license bonds quote in minutes online. Larger contract bonds may require financials and a soft credit review without slowing down bid deadlines.
Choose annual or monthly terms where available. Your bond form and receipt are available immediately after purchase.
We electronically file with the CSLB and other agencies where permitted. When hand-filing is required, we provide clear instructions so nothing holds up your license or project.
Regulators could require you to post the full bond penalty in cash upfront. A surety bond lets you pay a small premium instead while still giving the public the same financial protection.
Rush requests are common around license renewals and bid deadlines. Contact our team with the obligee, bond form, and contract value, we will confirm capacity and next steps quickly.
A bond expert is ready to answer all your bond questions: license bonds, permit bonds, bid bonds, performance bonds, whatever your surety needs may be.
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