Boston Street Excavation Bond
What it is & who requires it
Any contractor or utility that receives a City of Boston Public Works permit to MAKE AN OPENING IN (excavate) a public way must post a $20,000 surety bond running to the City of Boston before the permit issues. The bond guarantees that the permittee discharges every duty imposed by statute, ordinance, or regulation on persons opening public ways — including restoration — and pays all city expenses and damages.
Obligee: City of Boston (Public Works Department). Citation: City of Boston Public Works Department — street excavation permit bond requirement (Boston Public Works Rules & Specifications governing permits to make an opening in a public way).
Bond amount
The required bond amount is $20,000.
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: Held for the duration of the public-way excavation permit; guarantees compliance with the statutes, ordinances and Public Works directions governing openings in the public way and payment of the city’s expenses and damages, including proper restoration.
Renewal: Maintained while the excavation permit is active; a current bond is a precondition to permit issuance.
Filing
Filed with the City of Boston Public Works Department before an excavation (street-opening) permit issues, and held for the life of that permit. It guarantees the permittee meets every duty for making an opening in a public way — including restoration — and pays the city’s expenses and damages. Required under the Boston Public Works Rules and Specifications governing permits to open a public way.
Source
Verified against the obligee source (last checked 2026-06-23).
Related Massachusetts bonds
Frequently asked questions
- Who requires the Boston Street Excavation Bond?
- It’s required by City of Boston (Public Works Department) (City of Boston Public Works Department — street excavation permit bond requirement (Boston Public Works Rules & Specifications governing permits to make an opening in a public way)). Any contractor or utility that receives a City of Boston Public Works permit to MAKE AN OPENING IN (excavate) a public way must post a $20,000 surety bond running to the City of Boston before the permit issues. The bond guarantees that the permittee discharges every duty imposed by statute, ordinance, or regulation on persons opening public ways — including restoration — and pays all city expenses and damages.
- How much is the Boston Street Excavation Bond?
- The bond amount is $20,000.
- How do I get the Boston Street Excavation 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?
- Held for the duration of the public-way excavation permit; guarantees compliance with the statutes, ordinances and Public Works directions governing openings in the public way and payment of the city’s expenses and damages, including proper restoration. Renewal: Maintained while the excavation permit is active; a current bond is a precondition to permit issuance.
- 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 2026-06-23); the source link is on this page.
