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, and approval runs a soft credit pull only, never a hard inquiry. Enter the figure SHA set and see your price.
















No underwriting queue for the standard highway performance bond — enter your amount, pay, and file with your permit. Here is the whole thing:
Your business details, a short description of the work, the bond amount SHA set, and the effective date — that is the entire application.
Most applicants are approved instantly — no waiting, and the executed bond is generated as soon as you pay. If a check runs, it is a soft pull that never affects your score.
Submit the executed bond with your access or utility permit, naming SHA as obligee. Wet-ink originals mailed whenever the district office insists.
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, with a soft credit pull only, never a hard inquiry.
Submit the application with the bond amount SHA set — the executed bond is generated instantly, naming SHA as obligee.
Start the application →If yours isn't here, the bond team can usually answer within the hour.
Five-minute application, pricing from $100. Enter the amount SHA set and file with your permit the same day.