Does Missouri issue a state contractor license?

No. Missouri has no statewide contractor license, so there is no state contractor bond. License and permit bonds are set by each city and county; the state layer is public works and a handful of agency bonds.

Which Missouri cities and counties require a contractor bond?

Many do — Kansas City, the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County (separate obligees), St. Charles city and county, Springfield, Columbia (Boone County), Joplin, Jefferson City, and St. Joseph each set their own. Find yours in the directory below.

What bond do I need to cut a street in Missouri?

A right-of-way or excavation permit bond from the city or county that owns the road. Kansas City lets you post a surety bond or cash for restoration; other cities set a performance and maintenance bond per project.

Are Missouri public-works bonds different?

Yes. On public-works contracts over $50,000, RSMo 107.170 requires a payment bond fixed by the public entity, and providing it blocks subcontractor mechanic’s liens on the project. These are underwritten, so they start with a conversation.

How fast can I get a Missouri license or permit bond?

License and permit bonds issue online, usually in one sitting. Performance and payment bonds are underwritten and start with a quote request.

Who is Wexford Bonds?

Wexford Bonds is the surety bond brand of Wexford Insurance, LLC, licensed in 48 states. We write Missouri contractor, right-of-way, and public-works bonds.

Missouri Surety Bonds

Contractor License & Permit Bonds in Missouri

Find the exact license, permit, right-of-way, or public-works bond your Missouri obligee requires — by city, county, and the state. License and permit bonds issue online.

Get Your Bond Online Call 317-942-0549

How contractor bonding works in Missouri

Missouri does not license contractors at the state level

Missouri has no statewide contractor license, so there is no single state bond — contractor license and permit bonds are set by each city and county. The state layer is public works: on a Missouri public-works contract estimated to exceed $50,000, RSMo 107.170 requires a payment bond in an amount fixed by the public entity, and furnishing that bond precludes subcontractors and suppliers from filing chapter-429 mechanic’s liens against the project (§107.170(8)) — the practical reason the bond is worth posting.

St. Louis County licenses trades county-wide — the City of St. Louis does not

St. Louis County runs a genuine county-wide trade-licensing regime through its Department of Transportation and Public Works: mechanical (Chapter 1108 SLCRO), electrical (Chapter 1102), and plumbing contractors are licensed and bonded for the whole county, so one county bond typically serves a contractor working across its municipalities. The City of St. Louis is an independent city, not part of the county, and runs its own Building Division excavation and wrecking-and-demolition bonds — they never merge with the county’s. St. Charles likewise splits a $10,000 city subcontractor bond from a separate $10,000 county contractor bond.

Right-of-way restoration is bond-or-cash

Kansas City’s excavation permit takes a tiered restoration deposit that may be furnished as a surety bond or cash — $500 for a short unpaved cut, $2,500 for a paved one, or a $50,000 blanket in lieu of per-excavation deposits. Independence, Lee’s Summit, Gladstone, and other metro cities run their own right-of-way performance and maintenance bonds, each set per obligee.

Missouri bonds we write

Contractor License & Permit Bonds

Statewide

Missouri Well / Pump Installation Contractor Financial Responsibility Bond — Missouri Department of Natural Resources · $25,000
MoDOT Right-of-Way / Utility Permit Performance Bond — Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission (Director of Revenue — Credit State Road Fund) · Varies

County

Greene County Highway Right-of-Way Permit Bond — Greene County Highway Department, Greene County, Missouri · Portal
Jefferson County Contractor License Bond — Jefferson County, Missouri (Code Enforcement Division) · Portal
Jefferson County Right-of-Way / Utility Performance Bond — Jefferson County, Missouri · $5,000
St. Charles County Contractor License Bond — St. Charles County, Missouri (Division of Building and Code Enforcement) · Portal
St. Louis County Electrical Contractor Bond — St. Louis County, Missouri (Department of Transportation and Public Works) · $10,000
St. Louis County Master Plumber Bond — St. Louis County, Missouri (Department of Transportation and Public Works) · $25,000
St. Louis County Mechanical Contractor Bond — St. Louis County, Missouri (Department of Transportation and Public Works) · $10,000

City

Ballwin Excavation Performance and Payment Bond — City of Ballwin, St. Louis County, Missouri · Varies
Belton Right-of-Way Permit Bond — City of Belton, Cass County, Missouri · $5,000
Blue Springs Right-of-Way Work Permit Bond — City of Blue Springs, Jackson County, Missouri · Portal
Clayton Right-of-Way Performance and Maintenance Bond — City of Clayton, St. Louis County, Missouri · Portal
Columbia Building Move / Demolition Bond — City of Columbia, Boone County, Missouri · $5,000
Columbia Plumbing Contractor Bond — City of Columbia, Boone County, Missouri · $10,000
Columbia Right-of-Way User Performance and Maintenance Bond — City of Columbia, Boone County, Missouri · Varies
Farmington Contractor Code-Compliance Bond — City of Farmington, St. Francois County, Missouri · Portal
Florissant Excavation / Right-of-Way Permit Bond — City of Florissant, St. Louis County, Missouri · $2,000
Gladstone Right-of-Way Performance and Maintenance Bond — City of Gladstone, Clay County, Missouri · Varies
Grandview Right-of-Way Permit Bond — City of Grandview, Jackson County, Missouri · Portal
Independence Right-of-Way Maintenance Bond — City of Independence, Jackson County, Missouri · Varies
Independence Right-of-Way Performance Bond — City of Independence, Jackson County, Missouri · Varies
Jefferson City Plumbing Contractor Bond — City of Jefferson, Cole County, Missouri · $5,000
Joplin Contractor License and Permit Bond — City of Joplin, Jasper County, Missouri · $10,000
Kansas City Excavation Permit Restoration Bond — City of Kansas City, Missouri · Varies
Lee’s Summit Right-of-Way Maintenance Bond — City of Lee’s Summit, Jackson County, Missouri · Varies
Lee’s Summit Right-of-Way Performance Bond — City of Lee’s Summit, Jackson County, Missouri · Varies
O’Fallon Right-of-Way Performance and Maintenance Bond — City of O’Fallon, St. Charles County, Missouri · Portal
Poplar Bluff Electrical Contractor Bond — City of Poplar Bluff, Butler County, Missouri · Portal
Sikeston Contractor Indemnity Bond — City of Sikeston, Missouri · $5,000
Sikeston Electrical Contractor Bond — City of Sikeston, Missouri · $2,000
Sikeston Plumber Bond — City of Sikeston, Missouri · $2,000
Springfield Excavation Permit Bond — City of Springfield, Greene County, Missouri · $10,000
Springfield House Mover Bond — City of Springfield, Greene County, Missouri · $10,000
St. Charles Subcontractor Compliance Bond — City of St. Charles, Missouri · $10,000
St. Joseph Master Electrician and Plumber Bond — City of St. Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri · $2,000
St. Louis Communications Contractor License Bond — City of St. Louis, Missouri (Building Division) · $25,000
St. Louis Concrete Contractor License Bond — City of St. Louis, Missouri (Building Division) · $10,000
St. Louis Electrical Contractor License Bond — City of St. Louis, Missouri (Building Division) · $25,000
St. Louis Excavation Permit Bond — City of St. Louis, Missouri · $10,000
St. Louis Plumber and Drain Layer License Bond — City of St. Louis, Missouri (Building Division) · $25,000
St. Peters Right-of-Way Blanket Performance Bond — City of St. Peters, St. Charles County, Missouri · Portal
Wentzville Right-of-Way Permit Bond — City of Wentzville, St. Charles County, Missouri · Varies

Bid Bonds

Statewide

MoDOT Highway Construction Bid Bond — Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission · Varies

Performance & Payment Bonds

Statewide

Missouri Public Works Payment Bond (Little Miller Act) — Missouri public entities (the public entity letting the contract) · Varies
MoDOT Highway Construction Performance Bond — Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission · Varies

County

Platte County Subdivision Improvements Performance Bond — Platte County, Missouri · Varies

City

Gladstone Public Improvement Performance Bond — City of Gladstone, Clay County, Missouri · Varies
Liberty Public Improvements Performance and Maintenance Bond — City of Liberty, Clay County, Missouri · Varies
St. Louis Wrecking / Demolition Performance and Payment Bond — City of St. Louis, Missouri (Comptroller; Building Division) · Varies

Underwritten bonds in Missouri

Bid, performance, and payment bonds are individually underwritten — request a quote rather than the instant portal:

Missouri surety bond FAQ

Does Missouri issue a state contractor license?: No. Missouri has no statewide contractor license, so there is no state contractor bond. License and permit bonds are set by each city and county; the state layer is public works and a handful of agency bonds.
Which Missouri cities and counties require a contractor bond?: Many do — Kansas City, the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County (separate obligees), St. Charles city and county, Springfield, Columbia (Boone County), Joplin, Jefferson City, and St. Joseph each set their own. Find yours in the directory below.
What bond do I need to cut a street in Missouri?: A right-of-way or excavation permit bond from the city or county that owns the road. Kansas City lets you post a surety bond or cash for restoration; other cities set a performance and maintenance bond per project.
Are Missouri public-works bonds different?: Yes. On public-works contracts over $50,000, RSMo 107.170 requires a payment bond fixed by the public entity, and providing it blocks subcontractor mechanic’s liens on the project. These are underwritten, so they start with a conversation.
How fast can I get a Missouri license or permit bond?: License and permit bonds issue online, usually in one sitting. Performance and payment bonds are underwritten and start with a quote request.
Who is Wexford Bonds?: Wexford Bonds is the surety bond brand of Wexford Insurance, LLC, licensed in 48 states. We write Missouri contractor, right-of-way, and public-works bonds.

Nate Jones, CPCU · Founder, Wexford Bonds

Nate Jones is a CPCU-designated surety bond producer and the founder of Wexford Insurance, LLC and Wexford Bonds. He places bonds through a panel of 10 sureties across 48 U.S. states. Call 317-942-0549 or email info@wexfordbonds.com.

Last updated June 7, 2026 · Reviewed by Nate Jones, CPCU · Contact a producer

Get bonded in Missouri

Find your bond above, or get a license, permit, or bid bond online right now.

Get Your Bond Online