Lee County transient merchant bonds.
$100 flat.

Lee County requires a fixed $5,000 bond for a transient merchant permit when the applicant is not a Lee County resident, or is a resident selling for a business based outside the county. It is filed with the Lee County Tax Collector. Ours is $100 flat — set by our carrier’s rate book for this specific bond, not a percentage of the amount.

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Required by Lee County of transient merchants based outside the county

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Fixed $5,000 amount — a consumer-protection bond standing behind temporary sales

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No credit info collected — and multi-year terms if you sell in the County each season

A-ratedA.M. Best carriersInstantunderwriting process1–3 yrterms available

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How it works

Three steps. One sitting.

Transient merchant bonds are simple. Here is the entire process:

NOW · ONLINE

Apply online

Business details and an effective date. That is the application — no financials, no credit section, no follow-up scavenger hunt.

MINUTES, USUALLY

Pay & e-sign

Permit bonds like this are among the thousands of bond types that issue right after purchase.

SAME DAY

File with the Tax Collector

Your executed bond arrives by email, ready to file with the Lee County Tax Collector alongside your transient merchant permit application. Wet-ink original mailed on request.

About this bond

What it is and who needs it.

What the bond actually guarantees

A transient merchant is a seller who sets up temporarily — a pop-up, a seasonal stand, a traveling vendor — without a fixed, year-round storefront in the County. Lee County permits these merchants and requires a $5,000 surety bond from applicants who are not Lee County residents, or who sell for a business based outside the county. The bond is a consumer-protection backstop in case the merchant takes money and disappears or sells goods that violate County rules.

The bond runs to Lee County for the benefit of harmed buyers. If a transient merchant fails to deliver, misrepresents goods, or violates the permit terms, a harmed buyer (or the County) can recover against the bond up to the $5,000 amount.

It is not insurance for you. If the surety pays a claim, you repay the surety. Merchants who deliver what they sell and follow the permit terms treat the bond as a permit formality.

Lee County Ordinance No. 85-7, Section SevenLee County Ordinance No. 85-7, Section Seven "Bond Required" (amended by Ord. 88-17; extended to Fort Myers Beach by Ord. 96-08): before a permit issues, every applicant who is not a Lee County resident, or who represents a business based outside the county, files with the Tax Collector a $5,000 surety bond payable to Lee County, for the use and benefit of the County and anyone entitled to it, covering damages from the merchant’s wrongful, fraudulent or illegal conduct during a sale.

You need this bond if you're

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A pop-up or seasonal vendor from outside Lee County, selling there temporarily

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A traveling merchant without a fixed year-round storefront in the County

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A Lee County resident selling for a business based outside the county

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A returning seasonal seller who wants a multi-year bond rather than per-season filings

One application, issued instantly.

These are the actual issuing fields — no credit section, because this bond's application doesn't collect credit information.

Start the application →

FAQ

Common questions.

How much is the Lee County transient merchant bond?The premium is $100 flat, set by our carrier’s rate book for this specific bond — not a percentage of the fixed $5,000 bond amount. There is no quote process.

Do I pay the $5,000?No. You pay $100. The $5,000 is the surety's maximum liability to harmed buyers and the County — not a deposit, and nobody holds your money.

Who requires this bond?Lee County Ordinance 85-7 requires it of transient merchant permit applicants who are not Lee County residents, or who represent a business based outside the county. You file it with the Lee County Tax Collector, which issues the permit. It protects consumers who buy from sellers without a fixed local storefront.

Is there a credit check?The application collects no credit information. Most applications approve instantly.

When does it renew?You can buy a 1, 2, or 3-year term. If you sell in Lee County each season, a multi-year term saves repeated filings; we send renewal notices 60 and 30 days out, with autopay available.

Which A-rated carriers underwrite these bonds?Typically Arch Insurance Company (A.M. Best A+) or Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company (A.M. Best A). Which one writes your bond depends on the bond type and your state. The carrier's name and official signature are printed on the bond you receive.

How do I contact Light RFP about this bond?Email insurance@lightrfp.com. It reaches the bond team at Light RFP Risk Management Services LLC (NY DFS License # PC-1978982). Write to us about quotes, applications, bond forms or certificates. We will respond within 24 hours.

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Get your Lee County permit today.

$100 flat, no credit review, bond often issued in the same sitting. Free until issued.

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Your price$100

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