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Permit bond

New York Permit Bond

New York has no single statewide law requiring permit bonds for all building or work permits; each jurisdiction sets its own rules. NYC Department of Transportation requires surety permit bonds under 34 RCNY § 2-02 for any work in city streets, with amounts scaled by annual permit volume. Separately, NYSDOT requires performance security (surety bonds or letters of credit) for every highway work permit on a state right-of-way under 17 NYCRR Part 127.

Bond at a glance
New York Permit BondPermit bond
Set by cities and counties
LawNYC streets: 34 RCNY § 2-02; State highway ROW: 17 NYCRR Part 127, §§ 127.6–127.8
AmountNYC street openings: $10,000 (1 location/year) up to $250,000 (100+ locations/year); non-street-opening permits: $5,000 per single location. NYSDOT: $1,000 (residential driveways), 50% of estimated cost (commercial driveways, traffic signals), $10,000 (vegetation control), $100,000 (annual maintenance permits)
Required byNYC DOT for New York City streets (34 RCNY § 2-02); NYSDOT for state highway rights-of-way (17 NYCRR Part 127); other municipalities set their own requirements
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 permit bond is

Some cities and counties require a bond before they issue a building or work permit. It guarantees you'll follow local codes and the permit conditions, and pays the agency if you don't, for example if public property is damaged.

In New York

New York has no single statewide law requiring permit bonds for all building or work permits; each jurisdiction sets its own rules. NYC Department of Transportation requires surety permit bonds under 34 RCNY § 2-02 for any work in city streets, with amounts scaled by annual permit volume. Separately, NYSDOT requires performance security (surety bonds or letters of credit) for every highway work permit on a state right-of-way under 17 NYCRR Part 127.

  • Municipalities, utilities, and public benefit corporations may substitute an undertaking agreement in lieu of a surety bond for NYSDOT highway permits.
  • For residential driveways on state highways a homeowner may pay a $25 insurance fee instead of posting a bond.

You need this bond if you're

  • A contractor pulling permits where the city or county requires a bond
  • Demolition and house-moving contractors
  • Sign, sewer and grading contractors
  • Owner-builders in some jurisdictions

What the surety looks at

Basic business details and credit.

FAQs

Common questions.

Does New York require permit bonds?

Permit bonds are set by each city or county, not usually by state law. The permit office tells you the amount and the bond form.

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.

Related bonds

Other New York bonds.

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Permit bond

New York Right-of-Way Bond

Work in a public street, sidewalk or highway usually needs an encroachment or right-of-way permit, and many agencies require a bond with it.

License bond

New York Contractor License Bond

Some states, and many cities and counties, make contractors post a bond to get or renew a license.

Development bond

New York Subdivision Bond

Cities and counties often require a developer to bond the public improvements in a new subdivision or site plan, like streets, sidewalks, storm drains, sewer and water lines, before they approve the final map or permits.

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