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License bond

Massachusetts Contractor License Bond

Massachusetts registers home improvement contractors under M.G.L. c. 142A. Instead of a license bond, each registrant pays into the state Home Improvement Contractor Guaranty Fund when applying for registration.

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Bond at a glance
Massachusetts Contractor License BondLicense bond
Not used in this state
LawM.G.L. c. 142A; 201 CMR 14.19
Consumer protectionHome Improvement Contractor Guaranty Fund
Guaranty Fund fee$100 (fewer than 4 employees), $200 (4 to 10), $300 (11 to 30), $500 (more than 30)
Required byNo statewide bond requirement; registration is handled by the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation
How it works

Three steps to your bond.

  1. 01Apply onceTell us about your business and what the bond is for. One application covers most contractor bonds.
  2. 02The surety reviews itPropeller Bonds, our surety partner, reviews your application and sets the terms. We show you the terms before you commit.
  3. 03Sign and fileSign the bond and file it with whoever requires it: the project owner, agency or court. We help with the filing.
About this bond

What a contractor license bond is

Some states, and many cities and counties, make contractors post a bond to get or renew a license. It protects customers, workers and the public if the contractor breaks the licensing laws, for example by abandoning a job or not paying workers. The contractor repays the surety for any claim it pays.

In Massachusetts

Massachusetts registers home improvement contractors under M.G.L. c. 142A. Instead of a license bond, each registrant pays into the state Home Improvement Contractor Guaranty Fund when applying for registration.

  • Under 201 CMR 14.19, the Guaranty Fund fee is paid with the application for registration and is refunded if registration is denied.
  • Cities and towns can set their own bond rules for local permits.

You need this bond if you're

  • A contractor applying for a new license
  • A contractor renewing or reactivating a license
  • A business changing its entity type or qualifier
  • A contractor starting work in a city or county that requires its own bond

What the surety looks at

Basic business and owner details. Most license bonds need a credit check but no financial statements.

FAQs

Common questions.

Does Massachusetts require a contractor license bond?

See the facts above for what the state requires. Even where the state doesn't, a city or county can. Check with the licensing office where you'll work.

Is a license bond the same as insurance?

No. The bond protects your customers and the public, not you. If the surety pays a claim, you repay it. Liability insurance is what protects your business.

What happens if the bond lapses?

The licensing agency is notified and can suspend your license until a new bond is on file. Renew before the expiry date.

What does it cost?

You pay a premium, not the bond amount. The surety sets the premium after it reviews your application, usually as a percentage of the bond amount. We show you the terms before you commit.

How do I get one through BLDAssure?

Apply once with us. We collect the details the surety needs, Propeller Bonds (our surety partner) reviews the application and issues the bond, and we help you file it with whoever requires it.

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By state

Contractor license bonds in other states.

Alabama contractor license bondAlaska contractor license bondArizona contractor license bondArkansas contractor license bondCalifornia contractor license bondColorado contractor license bondConnecticut contractor license bondDelaware contractor license bondDistrict of Columbia contractor license bondFlorida contractor license bondGeorgia contractor license bondHawaii contractor license bondIdaho contractor license bondIllinois contractor license bondIndiana contractor license bondIowa contractor license bondKansas contractor license bondKentucky contractor license bondLouisiana contractor license bondMaine contractor license bondMaryland contractor license bondMichigan contractor license bondMinnesota contractor license bondMississippi contractor license bondMissouri contractor license bondMontana contractor license bondNebraska contractor license bondNevada contractor license bondNew Hampshire contractor license bondNew Jersey contractor license bondNew Mexico contractor license bondNew York contractor license bondNorth Carolina contractor license bondNorth Dakota contractor license bondOhio contractor license bondOklahoma contractor license bondOregon contractor license bondPennsylvania contractor license bondRhode Island contractor license bondSouth Carolina contractor license bondSouth Dakota contractor license bondTennessee contractor license bondTexas contractor license bondUtah contractor license bondVermont contractor license bondVirginia contractor license bondWashington contractor license bondWest Virginia contractor license bondWisconsin contractor license bondWyoming contractor license bond

Sources

  1. 201 CMR 14.19: Guaranty Fund payments (Justia)
  2. 201 CMR 14.00: Home improvement contractor arbitration and guaranty fund
  3. Mass.gov: Home improvement contractor registration and renewal

General information, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm the current requirement with the agency or owner that asks for the bond. Facts checked Oct 23, 2026.

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