Kansas Street Opening and Right-of-Way Bond
What it is & who requires it
Anyone cutting, excavating in or occupying a Kansas city right-of-way. This is the most widely required construction bond in Kansas and also the one whose published figures are least reliable, and it is worth knowing why. A recognizable model ordinance has spread across the state — it appears almost word for word in the Kansas City suburbs, in Shawnee as far back as 2006, and in Salina a hundred and seventy-five miles west — and its defining feature is that the amount is the greater of a stated minimum and the value of the restoration. That means the round number in the code is a floor, and on any job where putting the street back costs more, the floor is not the price. Several cities go further and keep the amount out of the ordinance altogether, in a fee schedule or a policy statement the governing body updates. Two exceptions publish flat sums, Manhattan and Arkansas City. Almost every version of the ordinance exempts a residential property owner working in the right-of-way next to their own home who does not use a contractor, which is the drafters drawing the same line a bond underwriter would.
Obligee: Kansas cities issuing right-of-way and street excavation permits. Citation: Municipal codes. Floored or delegated: Unified Government § 32-29; Overland Park § 13.12.460; Prairie Village § 13-517; Roeland Park §§ 13-816, 13-205; Fairway § 9-110; Shawnee § 12.06.322; Salina § 35-298; Lawrence § 16-406; Topeka ch. 12.30. Flat: Manhattan § 30-61; Arkansas City ch. 50.
Bond amount
Set by the obligee — the exact amount is confirmed automatically when you start your bond in our portal, or call 317-942-0549.
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: Commonly the term of the permit plus a maintenance tail — two years in most of the state, three in Salina.
Renewal: Per permit, or on an annual or blanket bond where the city offers one to frequent permittees.
Filing
Filed with the permit, usually in a form approved by the city attorney, with a copy held by the clerk. Expect a maintenance tail: the obligation typically runs for two years past the permit and in at least one city for three, so a bond bought for a single cut stays live well after the crew leaves, and letting it lapse inside that window is itself a code violation in some cities. Where a city offers an annual or blanket bond, a contractor pulling repeated permits will usually do better on that route than bonding job by job — but check whether the city forbids rolling a previous year’s annual bond forward, as at least one does. Several cities accept a cash deposit or a letter of credit in place of a bond, so confirm which instrument is wanted before buying one.
Source
This bond requirement is corroborated by multiple public sources; Kansas cities issuing right-of-way and street excavation permits sets the exact amount, which we confirm when you start your bond.
Related Kansas bonds
Frequently asked questions
- Who requires the Kansas Street Opening and Right-of-Way Bond?
- It’s required by Kansas cities issuing right-of-way and street excavation permits (Municipal codes. Floored or delegated: Unified Government § 32-29; Overland Park § 13.12.460; Prairie Village § 13-517; Roeland Park §§ 13-816, 13-205; Fairway § 9-110; Shawnee § 12.06.322; Salina § 35-298; Lawrence § 16-406; Topeka ch. 12.30. Flat: Manhattan § 30-61; Arkansas City ch. 50). Anyone cutting, excavating in or occupying a Kansas city right-of-way. This is the most widely required construction bond in Kansas and also the one whose published figures are least reliable, and it is worth knowing why. A recognizable model ordinance has spread across the state — it appears almost word for word in the Kansas City suburbs, in Shawnee as far back as 2006, and in Salina a hundred and seventy-five miles west — and its defining feature is that the amount is the greater of a stated minimum and the value of the restoration. That means the round number in the code is a floor, and on any job where putting the street back costs more, the floor is not the price. Several cities go further and keep the amount out of the ordinance altogether, in a fee schedule or a policy statement the governing body updates. Two exceptions publish flat sums, Manhattan and Arkansas City. Almost every version of the ordinance exempts a residential property owner working in the right-of-way next to their own home who does not use a contractor, which is the drafters drawing the same line a bond underwriter would.
- How much is the Kansas Street Opening and Right-of-Way Bond?
- Set by the obligee — the exact amount is confirmed automatically when you start your bond in our portal, or call 317-942-0549.
- How do I get the Kansas Street Opening and Right-of-Way 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?
- Commonly the term of the permit plus a maintenance tail — two years in most of the state, three in Salina. Renewal: Per permit, or on an annual or blanket bond where the city offers one to frequent permittees.
- 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?
- This bond requirement is corroborated by multiple public sources. The obligee sets the exact amount, which we confirm automatically when you start your bond in the portal or with a producer.
