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Wellington Partners Insurance Services

Surety Bonds
California.

Surety bonds California for contractors, businesses, and individuals who need to demonstrate financial responsibility to a licensing authority, project owner, or court. From CSLB contractor license bonds to multi-million dollar performance and payment bonds, Wellington Partners Insurance Services issues bonds fast with access to multiple surety markets.

Signing a surety bond agreement Business handshake after closing an agreement Reviewing bond paperwork and costs

Why Surety Bonds Matter for California Contractors

In California, a surety bond is not optional for licensed contractors — it is a legal requirement. The CSLB requires a $25,000 contractor license bond from every licensed contractor. Operating without a current bond means operating without a valid license, which triggers CSLB enforcement, project stop orders, and personal liability exposure on every job.

Beyond the license bond, project owners — public agencies, general contractors, and private developers — increasingly require performance bonds and payment bonds to ensure projects are completed and subcontractors are paid. California law mandates bonding on public works contracts over specific dollar thresholds. The right surety relationship, established before the bid, is what makes these contracts accessible.

Surety Bonds California

Types of Surety Bonds We Issue

Wellington Partners Insurance Services works with multiple surety markets to issue the bonds California contractors and businesses need — from $25,000 license bonds to multi-million dollar construction bonds.

Contractor License Bonds

The $25,000 CSLB contractor license bond required for all California licensed contractors — issued same day in most cases, with electronic filing to the CSLB.

Performance Bonds

Guarantees to project owners that a contract will be completed according to its terms — required on most public works projects and increasingly on large private construction contracts.

Payment Bonds

Guarantees that subcontractors, laborers, and material suppliers will be paid — required alongside performance bonds on public projects and providing protection throughout the subcontractor chain.

Bid Bonds

Demonstrates to project owners that a contractor is financially qualified to undertake a project and will enter the contract if awarded — required on most public bids over threshold amounts.

License & Permit Bonds

City, county, and state licensing bonds required across dozens of California regulated industries — auto dealers, mortgage brokers, collection agencies, notaries, and more.

Maintenance & Warranty Bonds

Post-completion bonds that guarantee a contractor will correct defects discovered after project completion — increasingly required on public and institutional construction projects.

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Who Needs Surety Bonds in California?

  • CSLB licensed contractors — every California Class A, B, and C license requires a current $25,000 contractor license bond; the bond must be active for the license to remain valid
  • General contractors bidding public works — California Public Contract Code requires performance and payment bonds on public works contracts over $25,000
  • Subcontractors — general contractors increasingly pass down bonding requirements; payment bonds protect suppliers and lower-tier subcontractors
  • Auto dealers and brokers — DMV-required dealer bonds from $10,000 to $50,000 depending on license type
  • Mortgage brokers and lenders — DBO licensing bonds required for California mortgage operations
  • Notaries — California notary bonds required for all commissioned notary publics

Common Surety Bond Scenarios

  • A general contractor wins a $4.2M public works bid and needs 100% performance and payment bonds within 10 days of award — Wellington Partners Insurance Services coordinates with surety underwriters to issue on time
  • A specialty contractor's CSLB bond lapses when their bonding company exits the market — we issue a replacement within 24 hours to prevent license suspension
  • A developer requires all subcontractors to provide performance bonds before executing subcontracts — we issue bonds for specialty trades under the required timeline
  • A new contractor obtains their CSLB license and needs their $25,000 license bond — same-day issuance and electronic CSLB filing

Why Choose Wellington Partners Insurance Services

Surety bond availability and pricing depends on your credit history, financial statements, work-in-progress, and surety company relationships. Wellington Partners Insurance Services works with multiple surety companies to find the right fit, whether you are a new contractor needing a license bond or an established GC pursuing large public works projects.

  • Multiple A-rated surety markets for competitive bond pricing
  • Same-day CSLB contractor license bond issuance and electronic filing
  • Performance and payment bond programs for public and private construction
  • Bid bond issuance to meet tight public works bid deadlines
  • Ongoing bonding capacity development for growing contractors

Get a surety bond California quote — start your quote or call (818) 492-4355.

Get a Surety Bond Quote

License bonds, performance bonds, and payment bonds issued fast from Wellington Partners Insurance Services. Call (818) 492-4355 or request a quote today.

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Wellington Partners Insurance Services — Independent California Commercial Insurance Brokerage since 2009
(818) 492-4355 Get a Quote