Who requires it
City or county licensing / permit office (varies)
License & permit · Texas
Texas Contractor License & Permit Bonds
Texas does not use one statewide contractor license bond for every trade. Many contractors post a bond when a city or county registration, trade license, or permit ordinance asks for financial security. The right bond is the one that local agency names.
Common bond amount
Set by local ordinance
No single statewide contractor license bond amount is stated here because requirements are jurisdiction-specific.
How you file
File the city’s or county’s required bond form
Renewal
Often annual; follow the local registration cycle
Who requires it
You may need a contractor license or permit bond when a local jurisdiction builds a bond into contractor registration, a trade license, a right-of-way or construction permit, or a related compliance program. Statewide trade licenses through agencies such as TDLR follow their own checklists—some involve bonds, many do not. Always read the packet from the city, county, or state board that asked for the bond.
How much is required
Local ordinances and permit rules set the amount. This guide does not invent a single statewide figure. Use the amount on the current local form or ordinance. If the notice lists a range or tier schedule, match your registration class exactly.
How to get and file it
Give the surety producer the local bond form or ordinance excerpt, the agency’s exact legal name, the required amount, effective dates, and your legal entity name as it will appear on the registration. Ask the city whether originals, electronic filings, or an updated bond are required before you order. File the way the local office instructs. Some bonds stay in force with annual premium; others end with a permit or registration year. Calendar both the registration renewal and the bond renewal so a paperwork gap does not block permit pulls. If local registration depends on an active bond, cancellation can stop you from pulling permits.
Cost note
Whatever amount the ordinance lists is the required bond amount, not the premium you pay. See bond amount vs premium. Bond amount vs premium →
Requirement checklist
- Who requires it
- Named city, county, or local board on the bond form
- Amount
- As stated on the current ordinance or agency form
- Form
- Use the jurisdiction’s required bond form when one is prescribed
Related resources
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a Texas DMV dealer bond for city contractor registration?
No. Different agencies and statutes. Use the bond the registration packet specifies.
Why won’t this page list one dollar amount?
Because inventing a statewide amount would be inaccurate. Texas contractor permit and registration bonds are local. Your city’s form is the authority.
Surety basics (not repeated here)
Universal surety concepts explained once—linked here instead of repeated on every state or bond page.
Continue with a Texas application
Texas 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 2026-08-05. This guide is based on verified educational content and official sources.
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