Minnesota Electrical Contractor Bond

What it is & who requires it

Every business licensed as a Class A or Class B electrical contractor in Minnesota. The bond is a condition of the license rather than of the work, so it attaches to the company and not to the job, and the license itself does not qualify anyone to perform electrical work — the contractor must separately designate a responsible master electrician who answers for all the work and whose own license classes cap what the contractor is authorized to do. Two points are worth pricing. First, the bond does not stand in place of insurance here: the very next subdivision requires general liability insurance including premises, operations and completed operations, and the certificate must be on file with the commissioner. Second, watch the license calendar, which is unusual — electrical contractor licenses expire on the first of March in each even-numbered year, so the whole trade renews on the same day and sureties see the volume arrive at once. Employees of a licensed contractor working under a master electrician’s supervision do not need their own contractor license, but they do have to be registered with the department.

Obligee: Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (Construction Codes and Licensing Division). Citation: Minn. Stat. § 326B.33, subd. 15 (bond required — as a condition of licensing, each contractor shall give and maintain bond to the state in the penal sum of $25,000); Minn. Stat. § 326B.33, subd. 16 (insurance required, in addition to the bond); Minn. Stat. § 326B.33, subd. 14 (contractor’s license required); Minn. Stat. § 326B.33, subd. 17 (responsible master electrician); Minn. Stat. § 326B.33, subd. 19 (electrical contractor licenses expire March 1 of each even-numbered year); Minn. Stat. § 326B.31, subd. 14 (definition of contractor); Minn. Stat. § 326B.0921 (bond requirements); DLI Electrical Contractor Surety Bond form (penal sum printed as TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($25,000.00)).

Bond amount

The required bond amount is $25,000.

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 Quote

Term & renewal

Term: Continuous from the date of issue, cancellable by the surety only on 30 days’ written notice to the commissioner by certified mail, and required to be in force at all times the license is active.

Renewal: The license expires on the first of March in each even-numbered year and the bond must be valid throughout; the penal sum is cumulative and aggregates on a two-year cycle, so the surety’s exposure resets with the license period rather than running as one lifetime limit.

Filing

Filed with the commissioner on the department’s Electrical Contractor Surety Bond form, which prints the penal sum in the AMOUNT box and in words and figures in the body, and which closes with a certification that its wording complies with the bond statute and with the general bond requirements section. Corporate surety licensed in Minnesota is mandatory and no cash, certificate of deposit or letter of credit alternative appears anywhere in the chapter, which is why the figure renders. The bond runs to the state and to any person injured or suffering financial loss by the contractor’s failure to comply with the laws, ordinances and rules related to the license or any permit applied for and all contracts entered into. It is expressly in lieu of all other license bonds to any political subdivision. If the surety pays a claim that reduces the penal sum it must tell the commissioner in writing within 15 days, and the contractor must restore the sum, so a paid claim is a re-underwriting event rather than a closed file.

Source

Verified against the obligee source (last checked 2026-09-07).

Related Minnesota bonds

• Anoka Arborist and Tree Care Bond
• Bemidji Tree Service Firm Bond
• Bloomington Driveway Approach Bond
• Brooklyn Park Excavation Permit Bond
• Circle Pines Contractor License Bond
• Duluth Local Improvement Permit Bond

Frequently asked questions

Who requires the Minnesota Electrical Contractor Bond?

It’s required by Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (Construction Codes and Licensing Division) (Minn. Stat. § 326B.33, subd. 15 (bond required — as a condition of licensing, each contractor shall give and maintain bond to the state in the penal sum of $25,000); Minn. Stat. § 326B.33, subd. 16 (insurance required, in addition to the bond); Minn. Stat. § 326B.33, subd. 14 (contractor’s license required); Minn. Stat. § 326B.33, subd. 17 (responsible master electrician); Minn. Stat. § 326B.33, subd. 19 (electrical contractor licenses expire March 1 of each even-numbered year); Minn. Stat. § 326B.31, subd. 14 (definition of contractor); Minn. Stat. § 326B.0921 (bond requirements); DLI Electrical Contractor Surety Bond form (penal sum printed as TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($25,000.00))). Every business licensed as a Class A or Class B electrical contractor in Minnesota. The bond is a condition of the license rather than of the work, so it attaches to the company and not to the job, and the license itself does not qualify anyone to perform electrical work — the contractor must separately designate a responsible master electrician who answers for all the work and whose own license classes cap what the contractor is authorized to do. Two points are worth pricing. First, the bond does not stand in place of insurance here: the very next subdivision requires general liability insurance including premises, operations and completed operations, and the certificate must be on file with the commissioner. Second, watch the license calendar, which is unusual — electrical contractor licenses expire on the first of March in each even-numbered year, so the whole trade renews on the same day and sureties see the volume arrive at once. Employees of a licensed contractor working under a master electrician’s supervision do not need their own contractor license, but they do have to be registered with the department.

How much is the Minnesota Electrical Contractor Bond?

The bond amount is $25,000.

How do I get the Minnesota Electrical Contractor 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?

Continuous from the date of issue, cancellable by the surety only on 30 days’ written notice to the commissioner by certified mail, and required to be in force at all times the license is active. Renewal: The license expires on the first of March in each even-numbered year and the bond must be valid throughout; the penal sum is cumulative and aggregates on a two-year cycle, so the surety’s exposure resets with the license period rather than running as one lifetime limit.

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 2026-09-07); the source link is on this page.