Contractor License Bonds: Verified Amounts and Costs
A license bond is not liability insurance for the contractor. California’s CSLB consumer guide (2025) says a bond claim may seek compensation if a contractor violates laws, causes property damage, or fails to pay workers. The stated bond amount is not the price of buying the bond.
Verified contractor bond amounts and related requirements
The linked requirements were checked October 2, 2026. “Undated” means no page-level effective or update date was found; the date of Minnesota’s plumbing bond form was not confirmed. Check the linked authority before applying. New Jersey’s amounts are for additional registration security, which can take forms other than a bond. Tennessee’s bond is optional, and North Carolina’s electrical rule states no dollar amount.
| State | Trade or license | Required amount | Official source and date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA | CSLB contractor’s bond | $25,000 | CSLB; effective Jan. 1, 2023 |
| CA | Bond of Qualifying Individual when an RME qualifies the license | $25,000, separate from the contractor’s bond | CSLB; Jan. 1, 2023 |
| CA | LLC wage and benefit bond; not required for an inactive LLC license | $100,000 in addition to the $25,000 contractor’s bond when required | CSLB; undated, checked Oct. 2, 2026 |
| WA | General contractor registration | $30,000 | L&I; effective July 1, 2024 |
| WA | Specialty contractor registration | $15,000 | L&I; July 1, 2024 |
| OR | Residential general endorsement | $25,000 | CCB endorsement chart; Nov. 2024 |
| OR | Residential specialty endorsement | $20,000 | CCB endorsement chart; Nov. 2024 |
| OR | Residential limited endorsement | $15,000 | CCB endorsement chart; Nov. 2024 |
| OR | Commercial general, level 1 | $80,000 | CCB endorsement chart; Nov. 2024 |
| OR | Commercial general, level 2 | $25,000 | CCB endorsement chart; Nov. 2024 |
| OR | Commercial specialty, level 1 | $55,000 | CCB endorsement chart; Nov. 2024 |
| OR | Commercial specialty, level 2 | $25,000 | CCB endorsement chart; Nov. 2024 |
| NV | Contractor license; board sets the amount | $1,000-$500,000 | Contractors Board; page timestamp Mar. 13, 2025 |
| MN | Electrical contractor | $25,000 | DLI licensing page; undated, checked Oct. 2, 2026 |
| MN | Plumbing contractor | $25,000 | DLI bond form; form date not confirmed, checked Oct. 2, 2026 |
| MN | Mechanical contractor (HVAC); bond filing without a state mechanical contractor license | $25,000 | DLI; undated, checked Oct. 2, 2026 |
| MN | Residential roofer | $15,000 | DLI bond form; June 20, 2024 |
| NYC | Home improvement contractor license, if not enrolled in the Trust Fund | $20,000 | DCWP checklist; Sept. 11, 2026 |
| NJ | Home improvement contractor business registration: additional security, based on contract size | $10,000 / $25,000 / $50,000 | Consumer Affairs notice; law signed Jan. 8, 2024; checked Oct. 2, 2026 |
| AZ | General residential contractor | $5,000-$15,000 | A.R.S. 32-1152; undated statute, checked Oct. 2, 2026 |
| AZ | Specialty residential contractor | $1,000-$7,500 | A.R.S. 32-1152; undated statute, checked Oct. 2, 2026 |
| AZ | General commercial contractor at estimated annual volume of $10 million or more | $50,000-$100,000 | A.R.S. 32-1152; undated statute, checked Oct. 2, 2026 |
| AZ | Specialty commercial contractor at estimated annual volume of $10 million or more | $37,500-$50,000 | A.R.S. 32-1152; undated statute, checked Oct. 2, 2026 |
| TN | Optional bond in place of a CPA-reviewed or audited financial statement | At least 50% of the requested monetary limit | Contractors Board; option available July 1, 2026 |
| NC | Intermediate or Unlimited electrical license activation | Statement of bonding ability; no amount stated | Electrical Contractors Board; undated, checked Oct. 2, 2026 |
Where the rules differ
California: A license qualified by a Responsible Managing Employee needs the separate qualifying-individual bond. An LLC also needs the additional wage and benefit bond listed above, except when its license is inactive. CSLB’s undated bond-alternatives page, checked October 2, 2026, allows a cashier’s or bank-certified check in the requisite amount instead of a contractor bond.
Oregon: The CCB chart (November 2024) sets amounts by endorsement. It says contractors with both residential and commercial endorsements need two bonds, one for each endorsement. A roofer should identify the applicable endorsement before using a table amount.
Minnesota: Mechanical contractors must file the bond shown above even though DLI says they do not need a state mechanical contractor license. The DLI residential contractor FAQ (undated; checked October 2, 2026) says the Contractor Recovery Fund replaces bonding requirements for residential building contractors and remodelers. After a Fund payout, reinstatement requires a bond of at least $40,000.
New York City and New Jersey: NYC’s September 11, 2026 checklist permits Trust Fund enrollment instead of its home improvement bond; it lists a $200 enrollment fee. The New Jersey notice (law signed January 8, 2024) calls its home improvement registration requirement “additional security.” Its contract-size tiers are $10,000 for contracts below $10,000, $25,000 for contracts between $10,000 and $120,000, and $50,000 for contracts above $120,000. The notice also provides a test based on work volume during the preceding 12 months. The security can be a compliance bond, letter of credit, or other permitted security; it is not a general trade license bond.
Arizona, Tennessee, and North Carolina: Arizona’s undated statute, checked October 2, 2026, gives ranges rather than one amount for every license. Tennessee’s board page presents the bond as an alternative to a CPA-reviewed or audited financial statement from July 1, 2026. North Carolina’s undated electrical licensing page, checked October 2, 2026, requires a statement of bonding ability to activate an Intermediate or Unlimited license but states no bond amount.
What does a contractor license bond cost?
The premium is the price paid to a surety. It is separate from the official bond amount above. These are surety-seller price quotes, not state-set fees, and the sellers describe different credit and underwriting circumstances:
- CCIS Bonds (undated page; checked October 2, 2026) advertises one-year California $25,000 bond tiers of $109, $165, $275+, and $1,500+. CCIS says pricing depends on factors including credit, license history, and years in business, and can change.
- Grit Insurance Group (undated page; checked October 2, 2026) gives $100-$300 per year for a contractor with good credit and $500-$2,500 or more with credit challenges, for a $25,000 bond.
- Surety First Insurance Services (marked “Updated for 2026 Requirements”; checked October 2, 2026) quotes $300-$600 for preferred credit on Washington’s $30,000 general contractor bond and $150-$300 for preferred credit on its $15,000 specialty bond.
Arithmetic example, using a seller’s example: The Bond Experts (April 25, 2026) gives a $15,000 bond at a 1% quoted rate: $15,000 × 1% = $150 for a year. This illustrates premium arithmetic; it is not a guaranteed rate. The CSLB bulletin (September 30, 2022) directs questions about premium increases to the broker or surety company.
How bonds fit with license fees
A bond amount states the required security; the premium is the expense of obtaining a surety bond. Account for the premium separately when estimating startup costs. See the contractor license cost index and the electrician, plumbing, HVAC, and roofing licensing guides.
States not covered yet
Official bond amounts were not verified for Florida, Georgia, Virginia, Illinois, Michigan, Massachusetts, Utah, Pennsylvania, Texas, Ohio, or New York State. The Texas electrical and HVAC application pages and the plumbing board page list insurance but do not mention a bond. That finding about those pages does not establish a statewide no-bond rule. Verify the applicable board and local requirements for the exact work and license.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a California contractor license bond?
CSLB lists a $25,000 contractor bond effective January 1, 2023. A separate $25,000 bond applies when a Responsible Managing Employee qualifies the license. LLC licensees have an additional $100,000 wage and benefit bond, but that wage bond is not required for an inactive LLC license. See the linked CSLB sources above.
What bond does Washington require for general and specialty contractors?
Washington L&I lists $30,000 for general registration and $15,000 for specialty registration, effective July 1, 2024. See the L&I links in the table.
Does an Oregon roofer need a bond?
Oregon sets bonds by CCB endorsement. The November 2024 chart lists $25,000 for residential general and $20,000 for residential specialty; the applicable endorsement controls.
Does a Minnesota residential building contractor post an upfront bond?
DLI says the Contractor Recovery Fund replaces bonding requirements for residential building contractors and remodelers. After a Fund payout, reinstatement requires a bond of at least $40,000. See the linked DLI FAQ above.
How much does a $25,000 contractor license bond cost per year?
The $25,000 is a bond amount, not the premium. On its page checked October 2, 2026, CCIS Bonds advertised $109 for a one-year California $25,000 bond in its Ultra-Preferred tier. Grit Insurance Group gave a $100-$300 per-year example for good credit. These are seller quotes, not official fees.
Does Texas require no contractor bond?
That conclusion is not supported here. The reviewed TDLR electrical and HVAC pages and TSBPE plumbing page list insurance and do not mention a bond. Check the exact license and jurisdiction.
Sources and method
Official links and their effective or check dates appear beside each table amount. The California CSLB bond page, Washington L&I registration page, Oregon CCB chart, Nevada Contractors Board, and the other authority links in the table support the listed requirements. Seller links in the premium section provide market quotes. Requirements and prices were checked October 2, 2026; recheck the linked authority and obtain an individual surety quote before acting.
Last updated: October 14, 2026