Montana Street Opening and Right-of-Way Bond
What it is & who requires it
Contractors and utilities who cut, excavate in, or open up a street, alley, sidewalk or other public way anywhere in Montana outside the individually listed jurisdictions. Montana’s municipal right-of-way layer is genuinely dense — most cities of any size bond this work — and one bond typically covers the sidewalk, curb, gutter and roadway together rather than four separate instruments. Contractor licensing itself is handled by the state and cities may not bond it, so what a Montana city bonds is the work in the public way rather than your right to contract.
Obligee: Montana city and county public-works and engineering departments (general-use street-opening / excavation / right-of-way product). Citation: Montana municipal and county excavation and right-of-way ordinances (multi-obligee) — e.g. Billings Municipal Code § 22-302; Great Falls City Code Title 12 Ch. 4; Livingston City Code Ch. 26 Art. VIII; Butte-Silver Bow Municipal Code Ch. 12.04.
Bond amount
Set by the obligee — the exact amount is confirmed automatically when you start your bond in our portal, or call 317-942-0549.
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: Per permit, or continuous where the jurisdiction lets you keep a bond on file covering all of your work in it.
Renewal: Per permit, or continuously while a bond is maintained with the jurisdiction.
Filing
Filed with the Montana city or county public-works, engineering or building department that issues your excavation or right-of-way permit. Montana jurisdictions differ widely in how they set the amount — some write a sum into the code, some set it by council or commission resolution, some leave it to a city manager or public works director by administrative order, and at least one defines the word “bond” to include cash and bank instruments outright — so the obligee and the exact amount are confirmed when you apply. This covers the jurisdictions beyond the individually listed ones. Montana bonds the sidewalk as part of the right-of-way instrument, so there is no separate sidewalk bond to buy.
Source
This bond requirement is corroborated by multiple public sources; Montana city and county public-works and engineering departments (general-use street-opening / excavation / right-of-way product) sets the exact amount, which we confirm when you start your bond.
Related Montana bonds
Frequently asked questions
- Who requires the Montana Street Opening and Right-of-Way Bond?
- It’s required by Montana city and county public-works and engineering departments (general-use street-opening / excavation / right-of-way product) (Montana municipal and county excavation and right-of-way ordinances (multi-obligee) — e.g. Billings Municipal Code § 22-302; Great Falls City Code Title 12 Ch. 4; Livingston City Code Ch. 26 Art. VIII; Butte-Silver Bow Municipal Code Ch. 12.04). Contractors and utilities who cut, excavate in, or open up a street, alley, sidewalk or other public way anywhere in Montana outside the individually listed jurisdictions. Montana’s municipal right-of-way layer is genuinely dense — most cities of any size bond this work — and one bond typically covers the sidewalk, curb, gutter and roadway together rather than four separate instruments. Contractor licensing itself is handled by the state and cities may not bond it, so what a Montana city bonds is the work in the public way rather than your right to contract.
- How much is the Montana Street Opening and Right-of-Way Bond?
- Set by the obligee — the exact amount is confirmed automatically when you start your bond in our portal, or call 317-942-0549.
- How do I get the Montana Street Opening and Right-of-Way 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?
- Per permit, or continuous where the jurisdiction lets you keep a bond on file covering all of your work in it. Renewal: Per permit, or continuously while a bond is maintained with the jurisdiction.
- 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?
- This bond requirement is corroborated by multiple public sources. The obligee sets the exact amount, which we confirm automatically when you start your bond in the portal or with a producer.
