Bismarck Excavation Contractor Bond
What it is & who requires it
Contractors excavating in the Bismarck right-of-way — which the city defines as everything between the front property lines on either side of the street, including the street, the sidewalk and the boulevard. An excavation permit is required for any digging or trenching in the right-of-way and for connections to city services on public or private property, and the intended work must be performed by a city-approved licensed and bonded contractor. Bismarck also issues grading permits for moving earth in the right-of-way and land disturbance permits for erosion control, which are separate approvals. A state contractor license is a prerequisite, so this sits on top of the state credential rather than replacing it.
Obligee: City of Bismarck (Engineering Department). Citation: City of Bismarck, Excavation in City of Bismarck Right-of-Way — Requirements and Processes (Excavator’s Packet), Bonding Requirements; Bismarck Code of Ordinances (permits for work in rights-of-way).
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 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: Held while you are on the city’s bonded excavator list, and the city’s warranty on right-of-way work runs past completion.
Renewal: Renewed with your city bonding; the city publishes a dated list of licensed and bonded excavators and removes contractors whose bonding lapses.
Filing
Filed with the Bismarck Engineering Department. The city calls it a License/Permit Bond and is prescriptive about its wording: the bond must state that it is issued in accordance with City of Bismarck ordinances, and the city will take the original or an emailed copy. Bismarck keeps two separate bonded lists and two separate packets — excavators and concrete contractors — so the two bonds are different instruments at different figures, and a contractor who both trenches and pours concrete in the right-of-way files both. Traffic control fees are set separately from the bond, and permits are taken out at the Engineering Department or through the city’s online permit system.
Source
Verified against the obligee source (last checked 2026-08-31).
Related North Dakota bonds
Frequently asked questions
- Who requires the Bismarck Excavation Contractor Bond?
- It’s required by City of Bismarck (Engineering Department) (City of Bismarck, Excavation in City of Bismarck Right-of-Way — Requirements and Processes (Excavator’s Packet), Bonding Requirements; Bismarck Code of Ordinances (permits for work in rights-of-way)). Contractors excavating in the Bismarck right-of-way — which the city defines as everything between the front property lines on either side of the street, including the street, the sidewalk and the boulevard. An excavation permit is required for any digging or trenching in the right-of-way and for connections to city services on public or private property, and the intended work must be performed by a city-approved licensed and bonded contractor. Bismarck also issues grading permits for moving earth in the right-of-way and land disturbance permits for erosion control, which are separate approvals. A state contractor license is a prerequisite, so this sits on top of the state credential rather than replacing it.
- How much is the Bismarck Excavation Contractor Bond?
- The bond amount is $25,000.
- How do I get the Bismarck Excavation 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?
- Held while you are on the city’s bonded excavator list, and the city’s warranty on right-of-way work runs past completion. Renewal: Renewed with your city bonding; the city publishes a dated list of licensed and bonded excavators and removes contractors whose bonding lapses.
- 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 2026-08-31); the source link is on this page.
