Does Indiana issue a state contractor license?

No. Indiana has no statewide general contractor license. Licensing — and the bond that comes with it — is handled by each city and county. Plumbing is the one trade licensed at the state level.

Which Indiana cities require a contractor bond?

Many do. Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, South Bend, Mishawaka, Hammond, Gary, Southport, Lafayette, and Terre Haute each set their own license, permit, or right-of-way bond. Find yours in the directory below.

What bond do I need to cut a street in Indiana?

A right-of-way or street-opening permit bond from the city, county, or INDOT that owns the road. The amount is set per obligee, and it often comes with a separate maintenance bond.

Are Indiana public-works bonds different?

Yes. On public projects above $200,000 the board requires performance and payment bonds equal to the contract price, and state projects require a bid bond. These are financially underwritten, so they start with a conversation.

How fast can I get an Indiana license or permit bond?

License, permit, and bid bonds issue online, usually in one sitting. Performance and payment bonds are underwritten and start with a conversation.

Who is Wexford Bonds?

Wexford Bonds is the surety bond brand of Wexford Insurance, LLC, licensed in 48 states. We write Indiana contractor, right-of-way, and public-works bonds.

Indiana Surety Bonds

Contractor License & Permit Bonds in Indiana

Find the exact license, permit, right-of-way, or public-works bond your Indiana obligee requires — by city, county, and the state. License and permit bonds issue online.

Get Your Bond Online Call 317-942-0549

How contractor bonding works in Indiana

Indiana does not license general contractors at the state level

Indiana has no statewide general contractor license. Contractor license and permit bonds are set by each city and county, so the bond you need depends on where you work — not on a single state credential. Plumbing is the one trade Indiana licenses at the state level, and even there the bond, where required, is municipal.

Right-of-way and street-cut bonds recur across the state

Most Indiana cities and counties require a right-of-way, street-opening, or excavation permit bond before you cut into a public street. Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Hammond, Hamilton County, Boone County, Spencer County, Columbus, Terre Haute, and INDOT each run their own. Amounts are set per obligee, and a separate maintenance bond is common.

The Lake County recording quirk

In Lake County, contractor bonds for Hammond and Gary must be recorded at the Lake County Recorder’s Office and written to the Lake County Board of Commissioners and all municipalities in the county — not to the individual city.

Public works are bonded by statute

On Indiana public-works projects above $200,000, the awarding board or state agency requires a performance bond and a payment bond equal to the contract price (IC 36-1-12-14 and IC 36-1-12-13.1 for local boards; IC 4-13.6-7-6 and IC 4-13.6-7-7 for state agencies), and state projects require a bid bond with the bid (IC 4-13.6-7-5). These are financially underwritten — see the public-works bond pages in the directory below.

Indiana sets bonds at three levels — state, municipal, and statutory.

Indiana bonds we write

Contractor License & Permit Bonds

Statewide

INDOT Right-of-Way Permit Bond — State of Indiana (Indiana Department of Transportation) · Varies

County

Boone County Road Right-of-Way Permit Bond — Boone County Board of Commissioners · Varies
Hamilton County Road Right-of-Way Permit Bond — Board of Hamilton County Commissioners, Hamilton County Indiana · Varies
Lake County Unified Contractor License Bond — Board of Commissioners of Lake County (and all cities, towns, and municipalities within Lake County) · $5,000
Marshall County Contractor License & Permit Bond — Marshall County · $20,000
Porter County Unified Contractor License Bond — Porter County (and all cities, towns, and municipalities within Porter County) · $5,000
Spencer County Road Right-of-Way Permit Bond — Spencer County (County Highway Superintendent / Board of Commissioners) · Varies

City

Anderson Master Electrician / HVAC / Plumber License Bond — City of Anderson · Portal
Avon Right-of-Way Permit Bond — Town of Avon · Varies
Beech Grove Electrical & HVAC Contractor Bond — City of Beech Grove · $5,000
Beech Grove General Contractor Bond — City of Beech Grove · $10,000
Bloomington Right-of-Way / Street-Cut Bond — City of Bloomington · Varies
Carmel Right-of-Way Permit Bond — City of Carmel · $5,000
Columbus Contractor License / Registration Bond — City of Columbus (Building & Zoning) · $25,000
Columbus Permit to Excavate / Pavement Right-of-Way Bond — City of Columbus · Varies
Evansville-Vanderburgh Contractor License Bond — City of Evansville (Building Commission) · $25,000
Fishers Right-of-Way Performance Bond — City of Fishers · Portal
Fort Wayne Right-of-Way Permit Bond — City of Fort Wayne and/or County of Allen, State of Indiana · $5,000
Greenfield Right-of-Way Permit Bond — City of Greenfield · Portal
Greenwood Right-of-Way / Excavation Permit Bond — City of Greenwood · $15,000 minimum
Hammond Street Opening Bond — City of Hammond · $10,000
Indianapolis Electrical Contractor License Bond — Consolidated City of Indianapolis and/or an Unknown Third Party · $10,000
Indianapolis General Contractor License Bond — Consolidated City of Indianapolis and/or an Unknown Third Party · $10,000
Indianapolis Heating & Cooling (HVAC) Contractor License Bond — Consolidated City of Indianapolis / Marion County · $5,000
Indianapolis Right-of-Way Performance Bond — Single Street Cut — Department of Business and Neighborhood Services and the City of Indianapolis · $10,000
Indianapolis Right-of-Way Performance Bond — Unlimited Multiple Cuts — Department of Business and Neighborhood Services and the City of Indianapolis · $100,000
Indianapolis Wrecking (Demolition) Contractor License Bond — Type A — Consolidated City of Indianapolis and/or an Unknown Third Party · $30,000
Indianapolis Wrecking (Demolition) Contractor License Bond — Type B — Consolidated City of Indianapolis and/or an Unknown Third Party · $20,000
Indianapolis Wrecking (Demolition) Contractor License Bond — Type C — Consolidated City of Indianapolis and/or an Unknown Third Party · $10,000
Kokomo Contractor License Bond — City of Kokomo · Portal
La Porte Contractor License Bond — City of La Porte · Portal
Lafayette Electrical Contractor Bond — City of Lafayette · $1,000
Lafayette General Contractor Registration Bond — City of Lafayette · $5,000
Lafayette Interior-Only Demolition Bond — City of Lafayette · $5,000
Lafayette Plumbing Contractor Bond — City of Lafayette · $1,000
Lafayette Utility Contractor Bond — City of Lafayette · $5,000
Mishawaka Contractor License Bond — City of Mishawaka · $5,000
Mishawaka Demolition Contractor Bond — City of Mishawaka · $5,000
Muncie Electrical Contractor License Bond — City of Muncie · $5,000
Richmond Electrical Contractor License Bond — City of Richmond · $5,000
South Bend Building / Sign Contractor Registration Bond — City of South Bend / St. Joseph County · $5,000
South Bend Demolition Contractor Bond — City of South Bend / St. Joseph County · $10,000
South Bend Sign Contractor Bond — City of South Bend / St. Joseph County · $5,000
Southport Demolition / Wrecking Performance Bond — City of Southport · Varies
Southport General Contractor License Bond — City of Southport and/or an Unknown Third Party · $10,000
Terre Haute Fire Protection Contractor Bond — City of Terre Haute · $10,000
Terre Haute General Contractor Registration Bond — City of Terre Haute · $10,000
Terre Haute Right-of-Way Contractor Bond — City of Terre Haute · $25,000
West Lafayette Contractor Registration Bond — City of West Lafayette · Varies
Zionsville Right-of-Way Permit Bond — Town of Zionsville · $1,000 minimum

Bid Bonds

Statewide

Indiana Public Works Bid Bond — Indiana political subdivisions and state agencies (public-works boards) · Varies

Performance & Payment Bonds

Statewide

Indiana Public Works Payment Bond — Indiana political subdivisions and state agencies (public-works boards) · Varies
Indiana Public Works Performance Bond — Indiana political subdivisions and state agencies (public-works boards) · Varies

Underwritten bonds in Indiana

Bid, performance, and payment bonds are individually underwritten — request a quote rather than the instant portal:

Indiana surety bond FAQ

Does Indiana issue a state contractor license?: No. Indiana has no statewide general contractor license. Licensing — and the bond that comes with it — is handled by each city and county. Plumbing is the one trade licensed at the state level.
Which Indiana cities require a contractor bond?: Many do. Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, South Bend, Mishawaka, Hammond, Gary, Southport, Lafayette, and Terre Haute each set their own license, permit, or right-of-way bond. Find yours in the directory below.
What bond do I need to cut a street in Indiana?: A right-of-way or street-opening permit bond from the city, county, or INDOT that owns the road. The amount is set per obligee, and it often comes with a separate maintenance bond.
Are Indiana public-works bonds different?: Yes. On public projects above $200,000 the board requires performance and payment bonds equal to the contract price, and state projects require a bid bond. These are financially underwritten, so they start with a conversation.
How fast can I get an Indiana license or permit bond?: License, permit, and bid bonds issue online, usually in one sitting. Performance and payment bonds are underwritten and start with a conversation.
Who is Wexford Bonds?: Wexford Bonds is the surety bond brand of Wexford Insurance, LLC, licensed in 48 states. We write Indiana contractor, right-of-way, and public-works bonds.

Nate Jones, CPCU · Founder, Wexford Bonds

Nate Jones is a CPCU-designated surety bond producer and the founder of Wexford Insurance, LLC and Wexford Bonds. He places bonds through a panel of 10 sureties across 48 U.S. states. Call 317-942-0549 or email info@wexfordbonds.com.

Last updated June 7, 2026 · Reviewed by Nate Jones, CPCU · Contact a producer

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