Maryland highway performance bonds.
From $100.
When you do construction in the State highway right-of-way under an access or utility permit, the Maryland State Highway Administration requires a performance bond guaranteeing the work. The amount is tied to your cost estimate — pricing is 1% of that bond amount, with a $100 minimum. Enter the figure SHA set and see your price.
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How much does a Maryland highway performance bond cost?
1% of the bond amount, from $100. Enter your amount in the calculator for the exact price.
Three steps. One sitting.
No underwriting queue for the standard highway performance bond — enter your amount, pay, and file with your permit. Here is the whole thing:
Apply online
Your business details, a short description of the work, the bond amount SHA set, and the effective date — that is the application.
Issued on the spot
Most applicants are approved instantly — no waiting, and the executed bond is generated as soon as you pay.
File with the State Highway Administration
Submit the executed bond with your access or utility permit, naming SHA as obligee. Wet-ink originals mailed whenever the district office insists.
What it is and who needs it.
What the highway performance bond covers
The Maryland State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) issues access and utility permits for work that touches a State highway — new entrances, utility installations, and other construction in the right-of-way — under COMAR Title 11, Subtitle 04. As a condition, the permittee posts a performance bond, letter of credit, or certified check acceptable to the Administration.
The amount is driven by your construction cost estimate: SHA’s rule sets the bond at the next even thousand dollars above 150% of the cost estimate. SHA is named as the obligee and you, the permittee, as principal — the bond guarantees you complete the work to SHA’s standards and restore the right-of-way.
When the work is finished and SHA’s resident maintenance engineer approves it, the bond obligation is released. It is not insurance for you — if SHA draws on the bond to finish or correct the work, you repay the surety. We price the amount SHA set at 1% of that bond amount, $100 minimum.
You need this bond if you are
Claims, renewal, filing, and what sets the price.
If a claim is made
A claim comes from the party the bond protects, the obligee named on the form, when the duty the bond guarantees is not met.
The surety investigates and pays a valid claim, up to the bond amount. You then repay the surety: a surety bond is a guarantee of your performance, not insurance for you.
Renewal and term
The premium covers a one-year term from the effective date you choose.
Renew before the expiry date to keep the bond in force: the license, permit or contract it backs expects continuous coverage.
How to file it
File with the State Highway Administration. Submit the executed bond with your access or utility permit, naming SHA as obligee. Wet-ink originals mailed whenever the district office insists.
What sets the price
The premium is 1% of the bond amount, $100 minimum: the amount the obligee sets moves the price, not your business profile.
No credit check up to $100,000. Above that, the carrier may run a soft pull, which never affects your score.
Where a check runs, it decides approval; the rate is the same for everyone approved.
One application, issued on the spot.
Submit the application with the bond amount SHA set — the executed bond is generated instantly, naming SHA as obligee.
Start the application →Common questions.
Other Maryland bonds.
Price and requirements checked on the carrier’s application, . Page updated .
Highway performance bond, issued today.
Pricing from $100. Enter the amount SHA set and file with your permit the same day.