Wexford Bonds

Texas Surety Bonds

Contractor License & Permit Bonds in Texas

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

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How contractor bonding works in Texas

Texas does not license contractors at the state level

Texas has no statewide general-contractor license, so there is no state contractor bond. TDLR licenses electrical and air-conditioning contractors and TSBPE licenses plumbers, but all are insurance-backed credentials, not bonded. Contractor bonds in Texas are therefore local — a city, or in a few counties a county, requirement.

Public works are bonded by statute, on a dual threshold

On a Texas public-works contract, Government Code Chapter 2253 requires a payment bond once the contract exceeds $25,000 — or exceeds $50,000 when the governmental entity is a municipality or airport joint board — and a performance bond, in the amount of the contract, once it exceeds $100,000. The practical claim deadline runs off the retainage clock: a second-tier claimant’s notice is due by the 15th day of the second month after the month it first furnished labor or materials.

Most Texas counties don’t bond — but some do

Texas counties have limited regulatory power, so most cannot license or bond contractors. The exceptions matter: Harris County requires a right-of-way construction bond, Fort Bend County bonds driveway and roadway work, and Tarrant, Travis, Williamson, and the border counties bond subdivision construction. Everywhere else, the bond you post is a city permit bond.

City permit bonds — and we name the county, not just the city

Texas has more same-named cities than any state in this directory, so every obligee here is named with its county: Arlington (Tarrant County), Pasadena (Harris County), Richmond (Fort Bend County), Cleveland (Liberty County), Columbus (Colorado County), Canton (Van Zandt County), and Liberty (Liberty County) are all the Texas entities — distinct from their namesakes in other states. The bonds themselves are sidewalk, right-of-way, sign, house-mover, and trade permit bonds set by each city.

Texas bonds we write

Contractor License & Permit Bonds

County

City

Bid Bonds

County

Performance & Payment Bonds

Statewide

County

City

Underwritten bonds in Texas

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

Texas surety bond FAQ

Does Texas issue a state contractor license?
No. Texas has no statewide general-contractor license, and the state trade credentials (TDLR electrical and air-conditioning; TSBPE plumbing) are insurance-backed, not bonded. Contractor bonds are set by each city and a handful of counties.
Which Texas cities require a contractor bond?
Many do — Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Fort Worth, El Paso, Austin, and dozens more set their own sidewalk, right-of-way, sign, house-mover, or trade permit bonds. Each is named with its county in the directory below.
Are Texas public-works bonds different?
Yes. Government Code Chapter 2253 requires a payment bond over $25,000 (or $50,000 for a municipality or airport joint board) and a performance bond, in the amount of the contract, over $100,000. Claimants work to a retainage-notice deadline. These are underwritten.
Do Texas counties require contractor bonds?
Most do not. Harris, Fort Bend, Tarrant, Travis, Williamson, and the border counties bond right-of-way or subdivision construction; most other counties license no contractors. The bond you post is usually a city permit bond.
How fast can I get a Texas permit bond?
License, sign, and right-of-way permit bonds issue online, usually in one sitting. Public-works 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 Texas right-of-way, sign, house-mover, trade, 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 · Reviewed by Nate Jones, CPCU · Contact a producer

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