Howard County solar bonds.
From $100. Enter your amount.

Before a solar energy facility is approved in Howard County, the developer must post a decommissioning bond guaranteeing the panels and infrastructure will be removed and the site restored at end of life. The County sets the amount from the estimated decommissioning cost; the bond is priced at 4% of the bond amount, $100 minimum, with your exact price shown in the calculator below.

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Required by Howard County before a solar energy generating facility is approved

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Amount set by the County — typically up to 125% of the estimated decommissioning cost less salvage value

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4% of the bond amount, $100 minimum — the exact price appears in the calculator, based on the amount you enter

4% of amount$100 minimumSoft pullnever a hard inquiryFastinstant underwriting for most

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How it works

Apply to filed in one sitting.

Howard County conditions solar approval on the decommissioning bond. Here is the whole process:

TODAY · ONLINE

Apply online

Your business details, the decommissioning bond amount from your Howard County requirement, and the effective date — plus a one-time consent to a possible soft credit check.

WITHIN 48 HOURS

Reviewed & approved

Decommissioning bonds run larger, so they get a brief underwriting review; an underwriter reaches out within 48 hours if anything else is needed. If a credit check runs, it is a soft pull that never affects your score.

1–2 BUSINESS DAYS

File with Howard County

Pay online and receive the executed bond, ready to post with Howard County for your solar facility approval. Wet-ink original mailed on request.

About this bond

What it is and who needs it.

What the Howard County bond guarantees

A utility-scale or community solar energy facility has a finite life. Howard County requires a decommissioning bond so that, when the facility is retired, there is money in place to remove the panels and related infrastructure and restore the site — preventing it from being left as an abandoned hazard or blight on the community.

It is a three-party arrangement: the developer (the principal), the surety, and Howard County (the obligee). If the facility is not properly decommissioned at end of life, the County can recover against the bond to remove the equipment and restore the land.

It is not insurance for the developer. If the County draws on the bond and the surety pays, the developer repays the surety. The bond amount is typically sized to up to 125% of the estimated decommissioning cost, less salvage value, and is reviewed over the life of the facility.

Howard County — solar energy facility decommissioningHoward County requires a decommissioning surety bond as a condition of approving a solar energy generating facility, consistent with its solar facility decommissioning policy under the Renewable Energy Certainty Act. The bond is generally sized to not more than 125% of the estimated future cost of decommissioning the facility and related infrastructure, less salvage value. The amount and terms are set by Howard County — confirm the required amount on your County approval or send it to us and we will verify it.

You need this bond if you are

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A solar developer seeking Howard County approval for a solar energy generating facility

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Posting decommissioning security as a condition of your County solar approval

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Updating the bond amount after a County review of the estimated decommissioning cost

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Replacing a prior surety that non-renewed your solar decommissioning bond

One application, issued instantly.

These are the actual underwriting fields, including a one-time consent to a soft credit pull. Decommissioning bonds run larger, so they get a brief review before issuance.

Start the application →

FAQ

Common questions.

How much is the Howard County solar decommissioning bond?The bond is priced at 4% of the bond amount, $100 minimum — set by our carrier’s rate book, not by credit tier. The amount itself is set by Howard County — generally up to 125% of the estimated future cost of decommissioning the facility, less salvage value. Enter that figure and your exact price appears.

Do I pay the full bond amount?No. The bond amount is the surety's maximum liability to Howard County if the facility is not properly decommissioned — it is not a deposit, and nobody holds your money. Your premium is a small fraction of it.

Is there a credit check?A quick soft credit check may apply — never a hard inquiry, no impact on your score. Decommissioning bonds run larger than a typical license bond, so underwriting reviews the application; your price is set at 4% of the bond amount, $100 minimum, not by credit tier.

How is the amount determined?Howard County sets it from an engineer-estimated decommissioning cost, generally up to 125% of that cost less salvage value, and may review it over the life of the facility. Confirm the figure on your County approval.

Where do I file it?With Howard County, as a condition of your solar energy facility approval. We deliver the executed bond by email, ready to post.

Related bonds

Other Maryland bonds.

Howard County solar approval needs this bond.

From $100, short application, executed bond in 1–2 business days. Free until issued.

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Howard County solar bonds.From $100. Enter your amount.