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License bond

West Virginia Contractor License Bond

West Virginia's contractor license, issued through the Contractor Licensing Board at the Division of Labor, does not call for a license bond. Separately, W. Va. Code § 21-5-14 requires employers doing construction work to post a wage bond with the Division of Labor unless they qualify for an exemption, and the license application includes a wage bond affidavit.

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Bond at a glance
West Virginia Contractor License BondLicense bond
Not used in this state
License bondNone for the state contractor license
Related bondWage payment surety bond, W. Va. Code § 21-5-14
Wage bond obligeeWest Virginia Division of Labor
Who posts a wage bondEmployers engaged in construction work, unless exempt
Required byWest Virginia Division of Labor (wage bond only)
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 West Virginia

West Virginia's contractor license, issued through the Contractor Licensing Board at the Division of Labor, does not call for a license bond. Separately, W. Va. Code § 21-5-14 requires employers doing construction work to post a wage bond with the Division of Labor unless they qualify for an exemption, and the license application includes a wage bond affidavit.

  • The Division of Labor's legislative rule sets the wage bond amount based on payroll; the agency can issue a cease and desist order when a required bond is not posted.

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 West Virginia 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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Permit bond

West Virginia Permit Bond

Some cities and counties require a bond before they issue a building or work permit.

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Permit bond

West Virginia 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.

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Contract bond

West Virginia Bid Bond

A bid bond is a guarantee you submit with your bid.

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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 bondMassachusetts 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 bondWisconsin contractor license bondWyoming contractor license bond

Sources

  1. West Virginia Division of Labor: Wage Bonding
  2. West Virginia Division of Labor: Wage Payment Surety Bond form (W. Va. Code § 21-5-14(c))
  3. Harbor Compliance: West Virginia Contractor License

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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