Alexandria street & sidewalk opening bonds.
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What the Alexandria street opening bond guarantees

Alexandria City Code § 5-2-141 makes it unlawful to dig up, break, excavate, tunnel or undermine any street, or to excavate in the right-of-way, without a permit from the Director of Transportation and Environmental Services (T&ES). The code’s definition of “street” in § 5-2-101 reaches public sidewalks, alleys, easements and rights-of-way the City accepts or maintains — which is why a sidewalk cut, a utility tap or a sewer lateral connection all need the same permit, and the same bonds.

Section 5-2-155 then requires two bonds before the permit issues. The performance and payment bond guarantees you complete the opening in compliance with the City’s street-opening regulations and other city and state law, and that you pay for any work beyond the original permit. The maintenance bond guarantees you keep the completed opening in good repair; it starts when you notify the City the work is done and ends on the Director’s final inspection, but never less than one year after that notice.

The Director sets each amount at the cost of the work. The City’s T&ES Permit Guidelines add a $1,000 minimum for each bond per permit, and a contractor expecting more than one permit a year may post continuing bonds of at least $5,000 each. For work at only one location, the guidelines allow a single combined bond that runs on the maintenance schedule. The principal on the bond must match the applicant or contractor on the permit exactly, and a certified or cashier’s check is accepted in its place.

It is a three-party arrangement: you (the principal), the surety, and the City of Alexandria (the obligee). If the surety pays a claim, you repay the surety. Liability insurance is a separate requirement, and so is the smaller per-location bond T&ES takes for permits to cross the curb, gutter and sidewalk.

You need this bond if you’re