Columbia Falls Excavation Bond
What it is & who requires it
Anyone digging, breaking, excavating, tunnelling or undermining a street, alley, sidewalk or other public ground in Columbia Falls, and anyone connecting to city water or sewer services. No excavation permit issues until the bond is on file with the city clerk. It indemnifies the city for any loss, liability or damage arising from the making, existence or manner of guarding or constructing the excavation, and it is further conditioned to fill, restore and leave the opening in good and safe condition to the satisfaction of the director of public works. The city requires the work itself to be performed by a licensed contractor under permit.
Obligee: City of Columbia Falls (City Clerk; Director of Public Works). Citation: Columbia Falls Municipal Code § 12.32.030 (Permit — Issuance); § 12.32.010 (Permit — Required); § 12.32.020 (Permit — Application).
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: Twelve months of maintenance — the bond is conditioned to keep the street, alley, sidewalk or other public ground where you excavated in as good a condition for twelve months after the work is done as it was beforehand, usual wear and tear excepted.
Renewal: Filed per excavation permit; the maintenance obligation runs twelve months from completion of the work.
Filing
Filed with the Columbia Falls city clerk before the excavation permit issues — the code is explicit that no permit shall be issued unless and until the bond is on file. The ordinance states the sum outright and offers no cash deposit, letter of credit or other instrument in its place, and the code-wide definitions do not supply one, which is why the figure is published here. Two conditions to note: it indemnifies the city for loss arising from the excavation itself, and it separately guarantees that the surface is restored and then maintained in as good a condition for twelve months after completion. The city’s permit conditions add that the applicant warrants the work for one year and that a state contractor license number and a city business registration number are supplied on the application. Authority: Columbia Falls Municipal Code § 12.32.030.
Source
Verified against the obligee source (last checked 2026-08-27).
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Frequently asked questions
- Who requires the Columbia Falls Excavation Bond?
- It’s required by City of Columbia Falls (City Clerk; Director of Public Works) (Columbia Falls Municipal Code § 12.32.030 (Permit — Issuance); § 12.32.010 (Permit — Required); § 12.32.020 (Permit — Application)). Anyone digging, breaking, excavating, tunnelling or undermining a street, alley, sidewalk or other public ground in Columbia Falls, and anyone connecting to city water or sewer services. No excavation permit issues until the bond is on file with the city clerk. It indemnifies the city for any loss, liability or damage arising from the making, existence or manner of guarding or constructing the excavation, and it is further conditioned to fill, restore and leave the opening in good and safe condition to the satisfaction of the director of public works. The city requires the work itself to be performed by a licensed contractor under permit.
- How much is the Columbia Falls Excavation Bond?
- The bond amount is $5,000.
- How do I get the Columbia Falls 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?
- Twelve months of maintenance — the bond is conditioned to keep the street, alley, sidewalk or other public ground where you excavated in as good a condition for twelve months after the work is done as it was beforehand, usual wear and tear excepted. Renewal: Filed per excavation permit; the maintenance obligation runs twelve months from completion of the work.
- 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 2026-08-27); the source link is on this page.
