MD highway performance bonds.
From $100. Enter your amount.

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.

Required for work in the State highway right-of-way under an MDOT SHA access or utility permit
Amount is set from your construction cost estimate — generally rounded up above 150% of the estimate
1% of the bond amount, $100 minimum — enter the amount SHA required to see your exact price; soft credit pull only
From $100your bond amountSoft pullnever a hard inquiryInstantapproval for most
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Capital
McKinney
Terra
JLL
Triple Five
Georgetown
How it works

Apply to filed in 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:

TODAY · 5 MINUTES

Apply online

Your business details, a short description of the work, the bond amount SHA set, and the effective date — that is the entire application.

INSTANTLY

Issued on the spot

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.

SAME DAY

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.

About this bond

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, with a soft credit pull only, never a hard inquiry.

COMAR Title 11, Subtitle 04 (State Highway Administration)Maryland State Highway Administration access and utility permits (COMAR Title 11, Subtitle 04 — e.g., 11.04.05 and 11.04.06) condition work in the State highway right-of-way on a performance bond, letter of credit, or certified check. SHA’s practice sets the bond at the next even thousand dollars above 150% of the approved construction cost estimate, with SHA as obligee and the permittee as principal. Confirm your amount on your permit.

You need this bond if you are

A contractor or developer building an entrance or access onto a State highway
A utility installing or relocating lines within the State right-of-way
Performing roadway construction SHA permits under an access or utility permit
A site developer whose SHA permit conditions on a performance guarantee

Five minutes, 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 →
FAQs

Common questions.

If yours isn't here, the bond team can usually answer within the hour.

How much is the Maryland highway performance bond?
Pricing is 1% of your bond amount, with a $100 minimum. The amount itself is set by SHA from your construction cost estimate — generally the next even thousand above 150% of the estimate. Enter that figure at the 60-second application to see your exact price.
Who is the obligee?
The Maryland State Highway Administration is named as obligee, with you, the permittee, as principal. The bond guarantees you complete the permitted work and restore the right-of-way to SHA’s standards.
When is the bond released?
After you tell SHA’s resident maintenance engineer the work is complete and SHA formally approves it, the performance guarantee is returned. Until then, the bond stays in place.
Is there a credit check?
Approval runs a soft credit pull only — never a hard inquiry, and it never affects your score. Most applications approve instantly, and the check informs approval, never your price, which is set by your bond amount.
Is this the same as a hauling performance bond?
No. SHA also uses a separate hauling performance bond for overweight/oversize hauling permits. This page is the performance bond for access and utility permits — work in the right-of-way. Send us your permit and we’ll confirm the right one.
Related bonds

Other Maryland bonds.

Highway performance bond, issued today.

Five-minute application, pricing from $100. Enter the amount SHA set and file with your permit the same day.

Your premiumfrom $100
Apply now →