California Public Works Payment Bond
What it is & who requires it
The direct (prime) contractor on a California public works contract over $25,000; protects subcontractors and suppliers.
Obligee: California public entities (the public entity awarding the contract). Citation: Cal. Civ. Code Sec. 9550, 9554.
Bond amount
Required when the public works contract involves an expenditure in excess of $25,000 (Civ. Code 9550); the bond is not less than 100 percent of the total amount payable under the contract (Civ. Code 9554).
How to get it
This bond is individually underwritten, so it is not issued instantly. Request a quote and a licensed producer follows up to walk you through it.
Request a bond quote
Tell us about the bond and the project. A licensed producer follows up — these bonds are individually underwritten, so they are not issued instantly.
Term & renewal
Term: Through completion plus the statutory claim period
Renewal: N/A (project-specific)
Filing
Required on California public works contracts under Cal. Civ. Code Sec. 9550 and 9554 to protect subcontractors and suppliers. The awarding public entity approves the bond before work begins, and its penal sum is set as a percentage of the total contract amount.
Source
Verified against the obligee source (last checked 2026-06-07).
Related California bonds
Frequently asked questions
- Who requires the California Public Works Payment Bond?
- It’s required by California public entities (the public entity awarding the contract) (Cal. Civ. Code Sec. 9550, 9554). The direct (prime) contractor on a California public works contract over $25,000; protects subcontractors and suppliers.
- How much is the California Public Works Payment Bond?
- Required when the public works contract involves an expenditure in excess of $25,000 (Civ. Code 9550); the bond is not less than 100 percent of the total amount payable under the contract (Civ. Code 9554).
- How do I get the California Public Works Payment Bond?
- This bond is individually underwritten, so it is not issued instantly. Request a quote and a licensed producer follows up to walk you through it.
- What is the term?
- Through completion plus the statutory claim period Renewal: N/A (project-specific)
- Is this bond insurance for me?
- No. It protects the obligee and the public — not you. If a valid claim is paid, you repay the surety.
- How is this requirement verified?
- We verify it against the obligee’s primary source (last checked 2026-06-07); the source link is on this page.
