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 North Carolina
North Carolina has no statewide statute requiring a surety bond as a condition of issuing a building or work permit. G.S. 160D-1110 authorizes local governments to issue building permits and set conditions but imposes no bond requirement. Local governments may impose a permit bond by ordinance; Mecklenburg County requires all persons performing construction work in the county to post a surety or cash bond under the Mecklenburg County Construction and Permit Fee Ordinance, with a minimum of $1,000 for towns and $2,000 for the City of Charlotte or county-wide work.
- North Carolina does not require a statewide contractor license bond; no state statute mandates a surety bond to obtain a building permit.
- Owner-occupants of a single-family dwelling undertaking repairs under $30,000 are exempt from the Mecklenburg County bond requirement.
- Other NC municipalities may impose their own permit bond requirements by local ordinance; amounts and conditions vary by jurisdiction.
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.