Portsmouth contractor bonds.
$125 flat.
The City of Portsmouth requires a $25,000 contractor compliance bond from registered contractors who contract to work on City-owned property (Codified Ordinances §§ 1323.04(b)(2) and 1323.06(b)(2)). Ours is $125 flat — the price you see is the checkout price. No credit check.
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How much does a Portsmouth contractor bond cost?
$125 at the $25,000 amount, the same for every applicant.
Three steps. One sitting.
Contractor bonds are among the simplest in surety. Here's the entire process:
Apply online
Business details and an effective date. That is the application. No credit check.
Pay & e-sign
Contractor bonds like this are among the thousands of bond types that issue right after purchase.
File with the City of Portsmouth
Your executed bond arrives by email. The city’s registration form asks for the original compliance bond, so request the wet-ink original and we mail it to you.
What it is and who needs it.
What the bond actually guarantees
The City of Portsmouth registers contractors who work in the city. A contractor hired to work on City-owned property adds a $25,000 compliance bond running to the City of Portsmouth.
It's a three-party arrangement: you (the principal), the surety carrier, and the City of Portsmouth (the obligee). The bond guarantees you'll comply with the city's building codes and contractor ordinances; if you violate them and the city or a harmed party suffers a loss, they can recover against the bond.
It is not insurance for you. If the surety pays a claim, you repay the surety. Contractors who follow Portsmouth's codes treat the bond as a registration formality. We track the term and notify you 60 and 30 days out.
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 $25,000 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; a longer term is the same price per year, chosen at checkout.
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 City of Portsmouth. Your executed bond arrives by email. The city’s registration form asks for the original compliance bond, so request the wet-ink original and we mail it to you.
What sets the price
The premium is fixed at $125 at the $25,000 amount for every applicant: the carrier’s rate book prices this bond by the form, not by your credit or your business profile.
No credit check.
One application, issued instantly.
These are the actual issuing fields. No credit check.
Start the application →Common questions.
Other Ohio bonds.
Been told you need a different amount?
Price and requirements checked on the carrier’s application, . Page updated .
Register with Portsmouth today.
$125 flat, no credit check, bond often issued in the same sitting. Free until issued.