Who requires it
Utah Division of Professional Licensing — Construction trades
License & permit · Utah
Utah Contractors License Bond
Utah contractor licensing through the Division of Professional Licensing does not automatically require every licensee to post a surety bond. When Utah Code § 58-55-306 and Rule R156-55a-602 require a license bond for financial-responsibility reasons, the minimum amount follows classification floors—$50,000 for general contractor classifications other than R100, $25,000 for R100, and $15,000 for other classifications—or higher amounts driven by debt or bankruptcy formulas.
Common bond amount
$15,000–$50,000+
Conditional; classification floors $50,000 (general except R100), $25,000 (R100), $15,000 (other); debt/bankruptcy formulas or Division increase may require more.
How you file
File with the Division of Professional Licensing when a bond is required
Renewal
Maintain until Division written permission to discontinue; resize after financial reviews
Who requires it
Contractor applicants or licensees whom DOPL requires to provide a license bond under Subsections 58-55-306(1)(b) or 58-55-306(5)(b)(iii), including unincorporated entities on the distribution-based path. Contractors who demonstrate financial responsibility without triggering those bond provisions may not need this bond.
How much is required
Rule R156-55a-602 consolidates one bond framework for contractor classifications rather than separate specialty statutes. For bonds other than the unincorporated-entity 20%-of-distributions path, the minimum is the greater of (a) 30% of bankruptcy Form 106 liabilities when a qualifying bankruptcy exists within the lookback window, or (b) if cumulative outstanding debts, judgments, child-support obligations, liens, and similar obligations total $1,000 or more, the greater of 30% of that total or the classification floor: $50,000 for any general contractor classification except R100; $25,000 for R100; $15,000 for other classifications. The Division and Commission may raise the amount when history shows the minimum is insufficient, or approve a lower amount when the contractor meets the rule’s clear-and-convincing criteria and accepts a restricted scope.
How to get and file it
Confirm with DOPL whether your application or renewal actually requires a bond and which amount applies to your classification and financial review. Have an acceptable Circular 570 surety issue a Utah contractor license bond covering the Title 58 and Rule R156-55a losses described in R156-55a-602(2), then file it as the Division directs and keep it until DOPL gives written permission to discontinue. Maintain the bond during licensure until the Division authorizes discontinuation in writing. Recalculate if ownership, debts, bankruptcy status, or classification changes trigger a new financial review. Do not treat a stale $15,000 quote as correct for a B100 or E100 file that falls on the $50,000 floor.
Cost note
Fifteen thousand to fifty thousand dollars (or a formula-driven higher amount) is the required bond amount when a license bond is required, not the premium you pay. See bond amount vs premium. Bond amount vs premium →
Requirement checklist
- Trigger
- Required under Utah Code § 58-55-306 / R156-55a-602—not automatic for every licensee
- General classifications (except R100)
- $50,000 minimum floor when the debt-based path applies
- R100
- $25,000 minimum floor
- Other classifications
- $15,000 minimum floor
- Unincorporated path
- 20% of annual gross distributions to owners when § 58-55-306(5)(b)(iii)(B) applies
Official sources
Frequently asked questions
Is the catalog $15,000 Utah contractor bond always correct?
No. Fifteen thousand dollars is only the Rule R156-55a-602 floor for classifications other than general contractors and R100, and only when a bond is required. B100/E100-style general classifications use a $50,000 floor; R100 uses $25,000; formulas can demand more. Many financially responsible contractors never post a license bond.
Do specialty trades each need a different Utah bond form?
Utah uses one contractor license-bond rule (R156-55a-602) with classification-based floors rather than a separate statute for every specialty. Confirm your classification and whether DOPL has required a bond on your file before ordering.
Related Utah bond guides
Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
$75,000 / $10,000
Utah motor vehicle dealers must keep a surety bond on file with the Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division for as long as they stay in business. MVED publishes fixed amounts: $75,000 for new or used motor vehicle dealers and $10,000 for motorcycle or small-trailer dealers. Operating without a current bond on file violates Utah Code § 41-3-205.
Mortgage Loan Originator Bond
$12,500–$50,000
Utah Department of Financial Institutions mortgage loan originators licensed under Title 70D must be covered by a surety bond under Rule R343-5. Individual amounts run $12,500, $25,000, or $50,000 based on prior-calendar-year origination volume. A qualified employer may elect entity coverage so exclusive originators do not each post a separate bond.
Notary Public Bond
$5,000
Utah notary applicants must obtain a four-year $5,000 notarial surety bond from a company authorized to write surety bonds. The Lieutenant Governor’s Notary Office requires the bond—signed, with the exact name on the notary application—before the commission is approved. Remote online notaries must raise total coverage to $10,000.
Surety basics (not repeated here)
Universal surety concepts explained once—linked here instead of repeated on every state or bond page.
Continue with a Utah application
Utah 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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