Who requires it
Rhode Island Contractors’ Registration and Licensing Board
License & permit · Rhode Island
Rhode Island Underground Utility Contractor Bond
Underground utility contractors who install, repair, alter, or replace covered sewer, storm-drainage, or water lines in Rhode Island must give the Contractors’ Registration and Licensing Board a twenty-thousand-dollar surety before the two-year license issues.
Common bond amount
$20,000
Fixed statutory amount under RIGL § 5-65.3-10; name RICRLB as bond holder.
How you file
File with CRLB naming RICRLB; two-year license
Renewal
Maintain while licensed; renew with each two-year license cycle
Who requires it
Applicants for an underground utility contractor certificate of license under RIGL Chapter 5-65.3. Ordinary CRLB contractor registration for other building trades does not use this underground-utility instrument.
How much is required
RIGL § 5-65.3-10 fixes the amount at $20,000, satisfactory to the board. Board regulations and the CRLB apply page require the same $20,000 bond naming RICRLB as holder for the two-year license period.
How to get and file it
Purchase a $20,000 surety naming the Rhode Island Contractors’ Registration and Licensing Board as holder, conditioned as § 5-65.3-10 requires, and upload or attach it with your OpenGov underground utility license application together with the liability insurance and other CRLB checklist items. Regulations require the bond to remain in force for the license; lapse, cancellation, or non-renewal can put the license at risk. Renewals again require a valid $20,000 bond naming RICRLB for the next two-year term.
Cost note
$20,000 is the required bond amount, not the premium you pay. See bond amount vs premium. Bond amount vs premium →
Requirement checklist
- Required amount
- $20,000 under RIGL § 5-65.3-10
- Who requires it
- Rhode Island Contractors’ Registration and Licensing Board (RICRLB)
- Related insurance
- CRLB also requires at least $1,000,000 general liability naming RICRLB (separate from the surety)
Official sources
Related resources
Frequently asked questions
Do all Rhode Island contractors need this bond?
No. This $20,000 surety is for the underground utility contractor license. Other contractors typically register with CRLB without this specific statewide license bond.
How long must the bond last?
Board rules tie the bond to the two-year license period and require it to stay in force while you are licensed.
Surety basics (not repeated here)
Universal surety concepts explained once—linked here instead of repeated on every state or bond page.
Apply for the Underground Utility Contractor Bond
The application can open with this bond already selected. You can still go back and change selections.
Last verified 2026-08-11. This guide is based on verified educational content and official sources.
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