South Carolina residential builder bonds.
$100 flat.
South Carolina requires a $15,000 surety bond from residential builders licensing through a certificate of authorization with the Residential Builders Commission — ours is $100 flat, set by our carrier's rate book for this bond. The bond issues the moment you pay — no credit check.
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How much does a South Carolina residential builder bond cost?
$100 at the $15,000 amount, the same for every applicant.
Three steps. One sitting.
License bonds are the simplest thing in surety. Here's the entire process:
Apply online
Apply in the name of the individual seeking the license (not the business). Business details and an effective date — no financials, no credit check, no follow-up scavenger hunt.
Pay & e-sign
License bonds like this are among the thousands of bond types that issue right after purchase.
File with your license
Your executed bond and power of attorney arrive by email, ready to file with the Residential Builders Commission. Wet-ink original mailed on request.
What it is and who needs it.
What the bond actually guarantees
South Carolina licenses residential builders through the Residential Builders Commission at the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR). When a builder licenses by certificate of authorization, the Commission conditions it on a $15,000 surety bond for the protection of consumers.
It's a three-party arrangement: you (the principal), the surety carrier, and the State of South Carolina (the obligee), with homeowners you build for as the protected parties. If a builder violates the residential builders law or a covered consumer is harmed, a claim can be made against the bond.
It is not insurance for you — if the surety pays a claim, you repay the surety. The bond must stay active for as long as you hold the license, so we track it and notify you 60 and 30 days out to keep your $15,000 filing continuous.
You need this bond if you're
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 $15,000 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 your license. Your executed bond and power of attorney arrive by email, ready to file with the Residential Builders Commission. Wet-ink original mailed on request.
What sets the price
The premium is fixed at $100 at the $15,000 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. Apply in the individual's name, not the business.
Start the application →Common questions.
Other South Carolina bonds.
Been told you need a different amount?
Price and requirements checked on the carrier’s application, . Page updated .
Finish your license checklist today.
$100 flat, no credit check, bond often issued in the same sitting. Free until issued.