Saint Paul Sidewalk Contractor Bond

What it is & who requires it

Contractors building or repairing public sidewalks, curbs, driveways, trap doors, coal holes, tunnels or areaways in, on or under any St. Paul street, alley or public property. Like the bituminous license beside it, this line is on neither carrier list and is a live examined trade. The scope is worth reading in full because it is wider than the chapter name suggests: coal holes, tunnels and areaways bring vault and sub-sidewalk structure work into the same license as flatwork. The competency test is real — the public works director examines the applicant on practical knowledge of the work and recommends in writing, and the license issues only on that written approval — and where a partnership or corporation applies, at least one partner and at least one principal managing agent or officer must each apply, be examined and qualify as though for an individual license, with the license valid only so long as one of them stays qualified. A contractor doing both bituminous and concrete work in the right of way in this city will usually hold this license and the bituminous license, and post both bonds.

Obligee: City of Saint Paul (Department of Safety and Inspections; Department of Public Works). Citation: Saint Paul Legislative Code § 356.03(c) (Licensing requirements — Bond: before any license is granted the applicant shall post a bond in the sum of five thousand dollars, conditioned that the work the sidewalk contractor is permitted to perform shall be in accordance with the ordinances governing this class of work and with the specifications, rules, regulations and conditions prescribed by the public works director, and further conditioned to protect and save harmless the city and the interested property owner from any liability, damage or expense; in form acceptable to the city); § 356.03(a)–(b) (Application and examination; the license issues only on the written approval of the director of public works); § 356.01 (License required; definition — building or repairing public sidewalks, curbs, driveways, trap doors, coal holes, tunnels or areaways in, on or under any street or alley or public property; partnership and corporate qualification); § 356.09 (Renewal — the license fee and posting the required bond); Title XXIX, ch. 356 (Sidewalk Contractors); Code 1956 §§ 220.02, 220.12.

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 Quote

Term & renewal

Term: Posted before the license is granted and held against the class of work the license permits, running to protect both the city and the interested property owner.

Renewal: Annual, and the renewal is expressly the license fee plus posting the required bond again. A license allowed to lapse through the whole succeeding calendar year cannot be renewed at all — the holder must apply as for a new license, examination included.

Filing

Posted before the license is granted, in a form acceptable to the city. The figure renders because the ordinance states a flat sum and offers no cash or deposit route. The condition matches the bituminous bond: conformity with the ordinances governing the class of work and with the public works director’s specifications, rules, regulations and conditions, plus indemnity to the city and to the interested property owner against liability, damage or expense from the grant of the license, from any violation of ordinance, statute or law, or from the licensee’s negligence. Two renewal traps are worth flagging to an account. The renewal section is explicit that renewing means paying the fee and posting the required bond, so the bond is re-presented rather than assumed continuous. And the grace period is one calendar year: a licensee who lets the license expire and does not renew during the succeeding calendar year must start over with a new application and examination.

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 Saint Paul Sidewalk Contractor Bond?

It’s required by City of Saint Paul (Department of Safety and Inspections; Department of Public Works) (Saint Paul Legislative Code § 356.03(c) (Licensing requirements — Bond: before any license is granted the applicant shall post a bond in the sum of five thousand dollars, conditioned that the work the sidewalk contractor is permitted to perform shall be in accordance with the ordinances governing this class of work and with the specifications, rules, regulations and conditions prescribed by the public works director, and further conditioned to protect and save harmless the city and the interested property owner from any liability, damage or expense; in form acceptable to the city); § 356.03(a)–(b) (Application and examination; the license issues only on the written approval of the director of public works); § 356.01 (License required; definition — building or repairing public sidewalks, curbs, driveways, trap doors, coal holes, tunnels or areaways in, on or under any street or alley or public property; partnership and corporate qualification); § 356.09 (Renewal — the license fee and posting the required bond); Title XXIX, ch. 356 (Sidewalk Contractors); Code 1956 §§ 220.02, 220.12). Contractors building or repairing public sidewalks, curbs, driveways, trap doors, coal holes, tunnels or areaways in, on or under any St. Paul street, alley or public property. Like the bituminous license beside it, this line is on neither carrier list and is a live examined trade. The scope is worth reading in full because it is wider than the chapter name suggests: coal holes, tunnels and areaways bring vault and sub-sidewalk structure work into the same license as flatwork. The competency test is real — the public works director examines the applicant on practical knowledge of the work and recommends in writing, and the license issues only on that written approval — and where a partnership or corporation applies, at least one partner and at least one principal managing agent or officer must each apply, be examined and qualify as though for an individual license, with the license valid only so long as one of them stays qualified. A contractor doing both bituminous and concrete work in the right of way in this city will usually hold this license and the bituminous license, and post both bonds.

How much is the Saint Paul Sidewalk Contractor Bond?

The bond amount is $5,000.

How do I get the Saint Paul Sidewalk 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?

Posted before the license is granted and held against the class of work the license permits, running to protect both the city and the interested property owner. Renewal: Annual, and the renewal is expressly the license fee plus posting the required bond again. A license allowed to lapse through the whole succeeding calendar year cannot be renewed at all — the holder must apply as for a new license, examination included.

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.