Boston Street Occupancy Bond
What it is & who requires it
Any contractor, utility, or company that receives a City of Boston Public Works permit to OCCUPY a public way (staging, obstruction, or other non-excavation use of the street) must post a $5,000 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 occupying public ways and pays all city expenses and damages.
Obligee: City of Boston (Public Works Department). Citation: City of Boston Public Works Department — street occupancy permit bond requirement (Boston Public Works Rules & Specifications governing permits to occupy a public way).
Bond amount
The required bond amount is $5,000.
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 occupancy permit; guarantees compliance with the statutes, ordinances and Public Works directions governing occupancy of the public way and payment of the city’s expenses and damages.
Renewal: Maintained while the occupancy permit is active; a current bond is a precondition to permit issuance.
Filing
Filed with the City of Boston Public Works Department as a precondition to a public-way occupancy permit, and held for the duration of that permit. It guarantees the permittee follows the statutes, ordinances, and Public Works directions governing occupancy of the public way and pays the city’s expenses and damages. Required under the Boston Public Works Rules and Specifications governing permits to occupy 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 Occupancy Bond?
- It’s required by City of Boston (Public Works Department) (City of Boston Public Works Department — street occupancy permit bond requirement (Boston Public Works Rules & Specifications governing permits to occupy a public way)). Any contractor, utility, or company that receives a City of Boston Public Works permit to OCCUPY a public way (staging, obstruction, or other non-excavation use of the street) must post a $5,000 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 occupying public ways and pays all city expenses and damages.
- How much is the Boston Street Occupancy Bond?
- The bond amount is $5,000.
- How do I get the Boston Street Occupancy 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 occupancy permit; guarantees compliance with the statutes, ordinances and Public Works directions governing occupancy of the public way and payment of the city’s expenses and damages. Renewal: Maintained while the occupancy 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.
