North Carolina public official bonds.
From $100.
North Carolina requires many elected and appointed officials — treasurers, tax collectors, finance officers, registers of deeds and others — to file a faithful-performance bond before taking office, under Chapter 58, Article 72 and Chapter 128. The governing body sets the amount; pricing starts from $100 with a soft credit check that never affects your score.
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How much does a North Carolina public official bond cost?
0.35% of the bond amount, from $100. Enter your amount in the calculator for the exact price.
Three steps to sworn in.
The official bond is one of the documents you file before taking office. Here is the whole process:
Apply online
Your details, the office, the obligee (the entity requiring the bond), the bond amount, and your term dates — plus a one-time consent to a soft credit pull.
Approved
Most are approved as soon as you apply. The soft credit pull never affects your score. If it needs a second look, one to two business days at most.
File and take office
Receive the executed bond ready to file — official bonds are generally recorded and filed with the Secretary of State or your governing body before you are sworn in.
What it is and who needs it.
What the official bond actually guarantees
North Carolina’s Official Bonds law (Chapter 58, Article 72), together with provisions in Chapter 128, requires many public officers to give a bond for the faithful performance of the duties of the office. It runs for the term of office and is a condition of taking office for the positions it covers.
The bond protects the public and the governing body — if the officer mishandles public funds or fails to perform the duties of the office, a harmed party can recover against the bond. It is a three-party arrangement: the officer (the principal), the surety, and the unit of government or the State (the obligee).
One honest note on who pays: for many offices, North Carolina lets the county or unit of government pay the premium on the official’s bond — G.S. 58-72-30 authorizes the commissioners to do so. Check with your clerk or finance officer; if your unit pays, you may not owe anything. Where the official pays, pricing starts from $100 with a quick soft credit check that never affects your score.
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 and take office. Receive the executed bond ready to file — official bonds are generally recorded and filed with the Secretary of State or your governing body before you are sworn in.
What sets the price
The premium is 0.35% of the bond amount, $100 minimum: the amount the obligee sets moves the price, not your business profile.
One soft credit pull, never a hard inquiry, and it never affects your score.
Where a check runs, it decides approval; the rate is the same for everyone approved.
One application, issued instantly.
These are the actual underwriting fields, including the obligee and office details and a one-time consent to a soft credit pull. Submit once and your bond is issued when you pay.
Start the application →Common questions.
Other North Carolina bonds.
The same bond in nearby states.
Price and requirements checked on the carrier’s application, . Page updated .
Official bond, before you are sworn in.
Pricing from $100, soft pull only. Enter the amount your office requires and file the same day.