Who requires it
Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications
License & permit · District of Columbia
District of Columbia Notary Public Bond
Most District of Columbia notaries must file a two-thousand-dollar surety bond covering the five-year commission before performing notarial acts. The Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications supplies the only accepted bond form with the appointment notice.
Common bond amount
$2,000
Required $2,000 amount for the five-year commission. DC-government-only commissions are exempt.
How you file
Use the ONCA-supplied notary bond form; substitutes are not accepted
Renewal
New bond with each five-year commission renewal
Who requires it
Business, residential, federal-government, and dual-commissioned notaries. Notaries commissioned solely on behalf of the District of Columbia government are exempt from the individual surety under § 1-1231.19(f).
How much is required
D.C. Code § 1-1231.19(e) establishes a two-thousand-dollar bond (or another amount set by Mayor’s rules). Current ONCA materials use $2,000 for the five-year commission term.
How to get and file it
After receiving the Provisional Commission / Appointment Notice, have a surety authorized in the District complete the unaltered ONCA bond form for the exact commission dates, then return the original bond with the oath and proof of payment as ONCA directs (commonly within sixty days of the start date on the notice). A notary may perform notarial acts only while a valid bond is on file. The surety must give 30 days’ notice before canceling. Each five-year renewal needs a new bond on the ONCA form.
Cost note
Two thousand dollars is the required bond amount, not the premium you pay. See bond amount vs premium. Bond amount vs premium →
Requirement checklist
- Required amount
- $2,000
- Term
- Covers the five-year commission
- Form
- ONCA Appointment Notice bond form only
- Exemption
- DC-government-only notarial commissions
Official sources
Related resources
Frequently asked questions
Can my surety use its own bond form?
No. ONCA requires the bond form sent with the Appointment Notice. The form may not be altered except to add the bond number.
Do federal employees need the bond?
ONCA materials state federal-government and dual-commissioned notaries must obtain the $2,000 surety. Only commissions confined solely to District government official business are exempt.
Related District of Columbia bond guides
Mortgage Broker / Lender Bond
$12,500–$50,000
Mortgage lenders, mortgage brokers, and dual-authority licensees in the District of Columbia file a surety bond with each original and renewal application. Amounts run from $12,500 to $50,000 based on District loan volume. Firms with four or more offices may use a $200,000 bond that lists every office, if the Commissioner approves.
Home Improvement Contractor Bond
$25,000
Home improvement contractors licensed by the District of Columbia must file a twenty-five-thousand-dollar surety bond—or an accepted cash or securities substitute—with the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection. The bond covers the two-year Contractor and Construction Services license period.
Surety basics (not repeated here)
Universal surety concepts explained once—linked here instead of repeated on every state or bond page.
Continue with a District of Columbia application
District of Columbia will be preselected. Choose your bond type in the application—we confirm the correct product against your agency form before anything is issued.
Last verified 2026-08-11. This guide is based on verified educational content and official sources.
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