BROKLY
Insurance for your business
- Auto repair shops
- Bars
- Carpenters
- Electricians
- Fast food
- Home-health agencies
- Painters
- Physician offices
- Restaurants
- Roofers
- Trucking companies
Learn
Compare two coverages
Contractor license bond for electricians
Published 2026-06-05 · Updated 2026-06-11 · by Brokly
Required if…
Required if your state's (or city's) licensing law conditions the electrical or contractor license on filing a surety bond — the license won't issue or renew without it.
What it covers for electrical contractors
A contractor license bond is a financial-guarantee instrument the contractor buys from a surety and files with the licensing authority; it protects the public, not the contractor. Where a state conditions the electrical or contractor license on one, it must be on file before the license will issue or renew — the amounts, and which states require it, are below. Where the licensing board demands it, the bond is a gate on the license itself — a contractor in a bond state cannot legally operate without one on file.
Sources: California Contractors State License Board — Bond Requirements (retrieved 2026-06-06)
Electrical-contracting bond requirements by state
Whether each state conditions the credential to contract electrical work on a surety bond — and the amount. State-bond states show the filed figure; license-only, locally-licensed, and unlicensed states show "—".
| State | Requirement | State bond | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Alabama requires a statewide Electrical Contractor license from the Alabama Electrical Contractors Board to contract electrical work, and no surety bond conditions that state license — though individual cities such as Mobile separately require a $10,000 contractor bond for local licensing. | — | Alabama Electrical Contractors Board — Form EC-1, Application for Licensure (full submission checklist; no bond among requirements) |
| Alaska | Alaska conditions the statewide specialty-contractor registration a business needs for electrical contracting on a surety bond filed with the Department of Commerce — $10,000 for a specialty contractor, dropping to $5,000 where the whole project is $10,000 or less (AS 08.18.071(b)). | $5,000–$10,000 | Alaska DCBPL, Statutes and Regulations: Construction Contractors (AS 08.18.071, AS 08.18.026, AS 08.18.061) |
| Arizona | Arizona conditions its statewide ROC electrical contractor license (C-11 commercial, R-11 residential, or CR-11 dual — the business-level credential; Arizona has no separate state personal electrician license) on filing a continuous surety bond or cash deposit whose amount the Registrar fixes by license classification and estimated annual gross volume, running $2,500–$50,000 for commercial electrical and $4,250–$7,500 for residential electrical, with dual licensees posting the combined amount. | $2,500–$50,000 | Arizona Revised Statutes § 32-1152 (Bonds), Arizona State Legislature |
| Arkansas | Arkansas conditions the business-level credential for contracting electrical work — the Contractors Licensing Board commercial contractor license with the Electrical classification, required for jobs of $50,000 or more — on a fixed $10,000 surety (or cash) bond filed with the Board under Ark. Code Ann. § 17-25-401, without which the license is not valid; a separate $200,000 Electrical-classification bond exists only as an optional substitute for the CPA financial-statement requirement. | $10,000 | Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board — Instructions for Arkansas' $10,000 "SURETY" Bond (official bond form, A.C.A. § 17-25-401); corroborated by the Commercial New Application checklist (effective 1/2025), items 4 and 6b |
| California | California conditions the statewide contractor license that lets a business contract electrical work (CSLB C-10 Electrical Contractor classification) on filing a $25,000 Contractor's Bond with the Contractors State License Board before the license can be issued, reactivated, or renewed. | $25,000 | CSLB — Bond Requirements (Contractors State License Board, CA.gov) |
| Colorado | Colorado licenses electrical contracting businesses statewide through the State Electrical Board's Electrical Contractor Registration, which requires a responsible licensed master electrician and proof of workers'-compensation and unemployment-compensation compliance but no surety bond, though cities and counties layer their own contractor licenses and may bond locally for specific work such as right-of-way, concrete, or excavation. | — | Colorado Division of Professions and Occupations — Electrical Applications and Forms (Electrical Contractor Registration Requirements) |
| Connecticut | Connecticut requires a statewide E-1 Unlimited Electrical Contractor license from the Department of Consumer Protection to contract electrical work, and no surety bond conditions that license — the words 'bond' and 'surety' appear nowhere in the governing statute (CGS Chapter 393) — while CGS § 20-338 makes the license valid in every municipality without further local licensing. | — | Connecticut General Statutes, Chapter 393, Sec. 20-338 (Connecticut General Assembly) |
| Delaware | Delaware attaches no surety bond to the statewide credentials an electrical contracting business needs — the Division of Revenue contractor business license and Department of Labor contractor registration (electrical work runs under an individually licensed master electrician who carries at least $300,000 of liability insurance, not a bond) — though non-resident contractors must file a surety bond of 6% of each contract of $20,000 or more under 30 Del. C. § 375, and some localities bond contractor licenses (e.g., New Castle County's $25,000–$200,000 statutory compliance bond for permit-endorsed building contractors). | — | Delaware Code Online, 30 Del. C. § 375 (Furnishing of bonds by foreign persons or firms) |
| District of Columbia | The District of Columbia conditions its Electrical Contractor business license (DLCP, 17 DCMR ch. 2) on a fixed $4,000 surety bond under 17 DCMR § 210.16 — narrower business classes carry smaller fixed bonds (Special Contractor $2,000, Electrical Fixture Contractor $1,000), and the contractor's designated master electrician files a separate $2,000 personal bond. | $4,000 | D.C. Municipal Regulations, 17 DCMR § 210 (Bonding of Licensees), official rule text downloaded from the DCRegs portal (dcregs.dc.gov) |
| Florida | Florida licenses electrical contracting statewide through the DBPR Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board's Certified Electrical Contractor (EC) credential, which conditions licensure on insurance and evidence of financial responsibility and credit — not on a surety bond — although s. 489.537(3)(d), F.S. lets cities and counties require a local permit bond of up to $5,000 conditioned on Florida Building Code compliance. | — | Florida Statutes s. 489.515 (2025), The Florida Senate |
| Georgia | Georgia requires a statewide electrical contractor license (Class I or Class II) from the State Construction Industry Licensing Board's Division of Electrical Contractors, with businesses qualifying through a full-time licensed contractor, and no surety bond conditions that state credential — though local governments such as Columbia County separately require contractors to post a surety bond (minimum $15,000) to pull building permits. | — | Georgia Secretary of State — How-To Guide: Electrical Contractors (application checklists, Restricted & Non-Restricted) |
| Hawaii | Hawaii licenses electrical contractors statewide through the DCCA Contractors License Board (C-13 Electrical specialty license), which conditions licensure on liability and workers'-compensation insurance and a recovery-fund assessment rather than an across-the-board surety bond — the board may impose a bond only case-by-case as proof of financial integrity. | — | Hawaii Administrative Rules, Title 16, Chapter 77 (Contractors), §16-77-11(a)(3) — DCCA-posted compilation |
| Idaho | Idaho licenses electrical contracting businesses statewide through the Idaho Electrical Board (DOPL), and the Electrical Contractor license is conditioned on proof of $300,000 liability insurance — not a surety bond — with Idaho Code § 54-1002 placing electrical licensure under the exclusive jurisdiction of the state, so no city or county license or license bond applies. | — | Idaho Code § 54-1003A (Electrical Contractors and Journeymen), Idaho State Legislature |
| Illinois | Illinois has no statewide electrical contractor license or bond — electrical contracting is credentialed at the municipal level under 65 ILCS 5/11-33-1, and many municipalities condition local registration on a surety bond (e.g., Westmont requires a minimum $10,000 bond). | — | Illinois General Assembly — Illinois Municipal Code, 65 ILCS 5/11-33-1 (Electrical contractors) |
| Indiana | Indiana issues no statewide license or bond for electrical contracting — licensing is at the discretion of each local municipality, and many condition their local license on a surety bond (Indianapolis–Marion County requires a $10,000 bond with its electrical contractor license). | — | City of Indianapolis & Marion County, Department of Business and Neighborhood Services — Contractor Licenses (official indy.gov page) |
| Iowa | Iowa licenses electrical contractors statewide through the Electrical Examining Board (DIAL) with no surety bond conditioning the license — licensees must instead maintain at least $1,000,000 in liability insurance — though the prerequisite state contractor registration requires contractors based outside Iowa to file a $25,000 surety bond. | — | Iowa Administrative Code 481—Chapter 401 (Electrician and Electrical Contractor Licensing Program — Licensing Requirements, Procedures, and Fees); Iowa Code ch. 91C (Construction Contractors); Iowa Code ch. 103 |
| Kansas | Kansas issues no statewide license or bond for electrical contracting — under K.S.A. 12-1525 and 12-1526 electrical licensing is left to individual cities and counties (the state only standardizes exams and experience minimums), and some local jurisdictions condition their credential on a surety bond, e.g., the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas requires a $5,000 electrical bond. | — | K.S.A. 12-1526 (Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes) — 'Rules and regulations relating to examination and licensure; certificate of competency; uniform fee required; where licenses valid; continuing education; field experience' |
| Kentucky | Kentucky licenses electrical contractors statewide through the Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction under KRS 227A.060, which conditions the license on proof of at least $1,000,000 in general liability insurance and workers'-compensation/unemployment-insurance compliance rather than any surety bond, though some localities such as Louisville Metro impose surety-bond requirements on certain locally issued contractor licenses and permits. | — | Kentucky Revised Statutes 227A.060 (Kentucky Legislative Research Commission) |
| Louisiana | Louisiana licenses electrical contracting statewide through the LSLBC commercial contractor license with an Electrical Work classification (required once a job exceeds $10,000) and conditions it on a $50,000 net-worth showing or an irrevocable letter of credit — no surety bond — though some localities, such as Ascension Parish, require their own contractor bonds for local registration. | — | Louisiana State Legislature, La. R.S. 37:2156.1 (Requirements for issuance of a license), as amended by Acts 2025, No. 422, §1 |
| Maine | Maine conditions electrical contracting on individual licensure by the state Electricians' Examining Board — the master electrician license is the credential to 'engage in the business' of electrical installation, with no business-level contractor license since the electrical-company license was repealed in 2023 — and no surety bond conditions any electrical credential at the state level, while 32 M.R.S. §1103 bars municipalities from separately licensing state-licensed electricians. | — | Maine Revised Statutes, Title 32, Chapter 17 (Electricians), §1101(6) — Maine State Legislature |
| Maryland | Maryland's statewide credential for contracting electrical work — the State Board of Electricians' master electrician license, under which businesses operate — is conditioned on liability insurance ($300,000 general liability and $100,000 property damage), not a surety bond, though local registrations such as Baltimore City's add a $2,500 bond. | — | Maryland State Board of Electricians, Maryland Department of Labor |
| Massachusetts | Massachusetts licenses electrical contracting businesses statewide through the Board of State Examiners of Electricians' Certificate A master-electrician license — issuable to a person, firm, or corporation — with no surety bond conditioning the license, though M.G.L. c. 141 § 8 bars any city or town from issuing an electrical permit unless the licensee shows liability insurance with completed-operations coverage or a bond or other indemnity providing substantially equivalent coverage. | — | Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 141, Section 3 (Massachusetts Legislature) |
| Michigan | Michigan requires a statewide Electrical Contractor's License from LARA's Bureau of Construction Codes to contract electrical work (MCL 339.5711), conditioned on an associated resident master electrician but on no surety bond at the state level, though municipalities with qualifying ordinances may run their own electrical contractor licensing or registration. | — | Michigan Legislature — Skilled Trades Regulation Act, MCL 339.5711 (Act 407 of 2016, Article 7) |
| Minnesota | Minnesota conditions its statewide Electrical Contractor License — the business credential required to contract electrical work, issued by the Department of Labor and Industry — on filing a fixed $25,000 surety bond to the state. | $25,000 | Minnesota Statutes § 326B.33, subd. 15 (Office of the Revisor of Statutes); corroborated by MN DLI 'Electrical contractor licensing basics' |
| Mississippi | Mississippi licenses electrical contracting at the business level through the State Board of Contractors' Certificate of Responsibility, which is conditioned on a CPA-reviewed financial statement and liability insurance but no surety bond at the state level — though cities such as Vicksburg require their own bonds (a $5,000 surety bond before a permit is issued). | — | Mississippi State Board of Contractors — Commercial Laws and Rules (Miss. Code Ann. § 31-3-1 et seq. + Board Rule 1.1, Application for Certificate of Responsibility) |
| Missouri | Missouri requires no statewide license to contract electrical work — cities and counties license electrical contractors locally and many require their own bonds (e.g., St. Louis County's $10,000 electrical contractor bond) — and while an OPTIONAL statewide electrical contractor license (RSMo 324.900–324.945) exists that localities must accept in lieu of a local license, it carries no state-level bond, requiring instead $500,000 of liability insurance and proof of whatever bonds each city or county demands. | — | Revised Statutes of Missouri § 324.920 (Missouri Revisor of Statutes) |
| Montana | Montana licenses electrical contracting businesses statewide through the State Electrical Board's Electrical Contractor License, which conditions licensure on workers'-compensation and unemployment-insurance compliance and a Montana-licensed responsible electrician — not on any surety bond — though some cities (e.g., Missoula) require bonds for specific work such as right-of-way or excavation jobs. | — | Montana State Electrical Board — Electrical Contractor Licensing Requirements and Application Checklist |
| Nebraska | Nebraska licenses electrical contractors statewide through the State Electrical Division and conditions that license on keeping a public liability insurance policy rather than any surety bond, though cities such as Omaha separately require a $12,500 bond for their local electrical-contractor registration. | — | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 81-2104(6)(c), Nebraska Legislature (State Electrical Act) |
| Nevada | Nevada conditions the contractor's license required to contract electrical work — the C-2 Electrical Contracting classification issued by the Nevada State Contractors Board — on filing a surety bond (or cash deposit) in an amount the Board fixes between $1,000 and $500,000 based on the contractor's financial and professional responsibility and the magnitude of its operations. | $1,000–$500,000 | Nevada Revised Statutes, NRS 624.270 (Bond or deposit: Requirements; amount; conditions), Nevada Legislature |
| New Hampshire | New Hampshire licenses electrical contracting businesses statewide — corporations and partnerships must hold an OPLC Electrical Corporation/Partnership license with a licensed master electrician in charge (RSA 319-C:10) — and the state conditions that credential on no surety bond. | — | NH General Court — RSA 319-C:10 (Corporations and Partnerships), Chapter 319-C Electricians |
| New Jersey | New Jersey conditions the statewide Electrical Contractor Business Permit — the credential a company needs to contract electrical work — on filing a $1,000 surety bond in favor of the State on a 36-month cycle (N.J.S.A. 45:5A-19), plus $300,000 in general liability insurance or an equivalent bank letter of credit. | $1,000 | NJ Division of Consumer Affairs, Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors — Application for an Initial Business Permit (quotes N.J.S.A. 45:5A-19) |
| New Mexico | New Mexico conditions every Construction Industries Division contractor's license — including the electrical (EE-98) classification a business needs to contract electrical work — on filing a fixed $10,000 surety bond as proof of responsibility (NMSA 1978 § 60-13-49), and state law bars municipalities from requiring any additional license bond from state-licensed contractors. | $10,000 | NMSA 1978 § 60-13-49 (Construction Industries Licensing Act), official copy hosted by NM Regulation and Licensing Department |
| New York | New York has no statewide license or bond for electrical contracting — cities and counties license electrical contractors individually, and bond requirements vary by jurisdiction: New York City's Master Electrician license requires insurance but no surety bond, while Putnam County requires a $25,000 license and permit bond. | — | New York State Department of State, Division of Building Standards and Codes — Frequently Asked Questions |
| North Carolina | North Carolina licenses electrical contracting businesses statewide through the State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors and conditions no license classification on filing a surety bond — Intermediate and Unlimited applicants must instead furnish a one-time bonding-ability statement (or Board-approved financial information) verifying they could obtain performance bonds, but no bond is ever filed with the Board. | — | NCGS § 87-43.2(a)(4), Article 4 (Electrical Contractors), N.C. General Assembly |
| North Dakota | North Dakota licenses electrical contracting statewide — an electrical contracting license from the State Electrical Board plus a Secretary of State contractor license for jobs over $4,000 — and conditions neither credential on a surety bond, instead requiring at least $500,000 of public liability insurance (NDCC 43-09-20), though some cities (e.g., Grand Forks) impose license-and-permit bonds on other contractor trades locally. | — | North Dakota Century Code ch. 43-09 (Electricians), § 43-09-20 — ND Legislative Branch |
| Ohio | Ohio's statewide OCILB electrical contractor license — required to contract commercial electrical work and assigned to the contracting company — is conditioned on at least $500,000 of contractor liability insurance, not a surety bond, but many Ohio municipalities (e.g., Parma at $25,000) require their own contractor-registration surety bonds on top of, or in place of, the state license, particularly for residential work. | — | Ohio Revised Code section 4740.06 (codes.ohio.gov, official); corroborated by OCILB Examination Application, Ohio Department of Commerce (dam.assets.ohio.gov, rev. 9/2025) |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma conditions an active electrical contractor license on a fixed $5,000 continuous surety bond filed with the Construction Industries Board (plus $50,000 minimum general liability insurance), and that state bond is expressly in lieu of all other license bonds to any political subdivision. | $5,000 | Oklahoma Administrative Code, OAC 158:40-5-5 (Bond and insurance requirements), CIB official compilation 'Permanent Rules Effective 10/1/2020'; corroborated by CIB 'Active Contractor Requirements' page and CIB License Bond form (Revised December 2025, $5,000 penal sum payable to State of Oklahoma ex rel. Construction Industries Board) |
| Oregon | Oregon licenses electrical contracting businesses at the state level — a Building Codes Division electrical contractor license plus a Construction Contractors Board (CCB) license — and conditions the CCB license on a surety bond whose amount varies by endorsement, from $15,000 (residential limited) to $80,000 (commercial general level 1). | $15,000–$80,000 | Oregon CCB — Guide to Becoming a Licensed Contractor (amounts cross-confirmed against CCB Endorsement Chart, 11/2024) |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania issues no statewide license or bond for electrical contracting — cities and boroughs license electrical contractors locally, with most major cities (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Scranton) conditioning the license on insurance rather than a bond, though some municipalities such as Sharon require a surety bond ($10,000) to register contractors. | — | Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry — Contractor Licensing (Uniform Construction Code) |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island licenses electrical contracting businesses statewide through the Department of Labor and Training's Certificate A electrical contractor's license (R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-6-8), and no surety bond conditions that license — neither the statute nor the Board of Examiners of Electricians regulation (260-RICR-30-15-7) imposes a bond requirement at the state level. | — | R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-6-8 (Contractor's certificates/licenses), Rhode Island General Assembly |
| South Carolina | South Carolina's statewide Mechanical Contractor license (Electrical subclassification, Contractor's Licensing Board) is not conditioned on a surety bond — applicants instead prove net worth or working capital for their license group and may optionally file a surety bond in the same amount ($7,000–$300,000 across mechanical groups) in lieu of the financial statement — though firms contracting residential-scope electrical work need a $15,000 surety bond for the Residential Builders Commission's residential business certificate of authorization. | — | SC Code of Laws § 40-11-262 (Surety bonds in lieu of providing financial statements), SC Legislature |
| South Dakota | South Dakota conditions its statewide Electrical Contractor license on filing a fixed $10,000 surety undertaking (plus proof of liability insurance) with the State Electrical Commission under SDCL 36-16-20, and the statute expressly provides that no additional bond may be demanded for a municipal license. | $10,000 | SDCL 36-16-20, South Dakota Legislature (corroborated by SD Electrical Commission 'Undertaking & Insurance Requirement' page, dlr.sd.gov) |
| Tennessee | Tennessee requires a state contractor's license (CE–Electrical classification, Board for Licensing Contractors) to contract electrical work of $25,000 or more, and no surety bond conditions that license — the board's $500,000/$1,000,000 Contractor's License Bond is only an optional indemnity submitted in lieu of a Guaranty Agreement to shore up a deficient financial statement — though localities such as Memphis/Shelby County impose their own $25,000 electrical-contractor bond for local registration and permits. | — | Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors — “Indemnities: Guaranty Agreement and Bond Information” (TN Dept. of Commerce & Insurance) |
| Texas | Texas licenses electrical contracting businesses statewide through TDLR's Electrical Contractor License, which is conditioned on general liability insurance (minimum $300,000 per occurrence / $600,000 aggregate) rather than a surety bond — though some Texas municipalities, such as Eagle Pass, additionally require a local license-and-permit bond when electrical contractors register to pull permits. | — | Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation — Apply for a New Electrical Contractor License |
| Utah | Utah's statewide E200 General Electrical Contractor license from the Division of Professional Licensing carries no across-the-board surety bond — applicants instead demonstrate financial responsibility via a questionnaire, and DOPL requires a license bond (minimum $15,000 for electrical and other specialty classifications, or 30% of outstanding debts/bankruptcy liabilities if greater) only when that financial-responsibility review fails. | — | Utah Code § 58-55-306 (Financial responsibility), Utah Construction Trades Licensing Act — Utah State Legislature |
| Vermont | Vermont conditions no statewide credential for electrical contracting on a surety bond: companies contract electrical work under a Division of Fire Safety master electrician license (26 V.S.A. ch. 15), which carries no bond requirement, and the state's business-level residential-contractor registration requires $1,000,000/$2,000,000 liability insurance rather than a bond. | — | 26 V.S.A. § 902 (Master electricians), Vermont Statutes Online |
| Virginia | Virginia licenses electrical contracting businesses statewide through the DPOR Board for Contractors (a Class A, B, or C contractor license with the Electrical/ELE classification) and does not condition that license on a surety bond — Class A and B applicants may instead elect to file a $50,000 bond in lieu of proving the Board's minimum net worth, and some localities such as Danville additionally require their own contractor bonds. | — | Code of Virginia § 54.1-1106 (Class A application; identical bond-election language in § 54.1-1108 for Class B) |
| Washington | Washington conditions its statewide business-level electrical contractor license, issued by the Department of Labor & Industries under RCW 19.28.041, on filing a fixed $4,000 surety bond naming the State of Washington as obligee (or a cash deposit or assignment of savings in lieu). | $4,000 | RCW 19.28.041 — License required—General or specialty licenses—Fees—Application—Bond or cash deposit (Washington State Legislature) |
| West Virginia | West Virginia licenses electrical contractors statewide through the Contractor Licensing Board's electrical classification with no license surety bond attached, but construction businesses new to the state with employees must post a payroll-based wage bond (four weeks' gross payroll plus 15%) with the Division of Labor, and the license application is not processed without a Wage Bond Status Affidavit documenting bond-or-exemption status. | — | WV Division of Labor — Wage Bond Requirements packet (quoting WV Code §21-5-14) |
| Wisconsin | Wisconsin requires a statewide Electrical Contractor License from DSPS for any business that contracts electrical work, and no surety bond conditions that state license — though individual municipalities such as the City of Superior separately require registered contractors, including electrical contractors, to post a $25,000 surety bond. | — | Wisconsin DSPS — Electrical Contractor License Application Information (Form #3103) |
| Wyoming | Wyoming licenses electrical contractors statewide through the Department of Fire Prevention and Electrical Safety, and no surety bond conditions the state Electrical Contractor License, though some municipalities that license contractors locally (e.g., the Town of Jackson) require their own contractor-license bonds. | — | Wyoming State Fire Marshal — Electrical Safety Licensing |
Stay informed
We’ll notify you when this benchmark is ready.
No spam — one email.