The Complete Bonding Guide for North Carolina Contractors
To become a general, electrical, landscape, or irrigation contractor in the state, you will need to obtain a North Carolina contractor license bond.
In addition, contractors in several cities and counties throughout the state, such as Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point, Rocky Mount, Rowan County, and Cabarrus County must also get bonded.
- General contractors in the state must apply for a license at the Licensing Board for General Contractors (NCLBGC)
- Electrical contractors need to apply through the Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors (NCBEEC)
- Landscape contractors apply for their licenses at the Landscape Contractors’ Licensing Board (NCLCLB)
- Irrigation contractors must apply at the Irrigation Contractors’ Licensing Board (NCICLB) in order to get licensed
This bond guarantees that contractors will comply with the provisions of the North Carolina Administrative Code and the North Carolina General Statutes Chapters that apply to them.
Questions about Contractor License Bonds in North Carolina
What Are the North Carolina Contractor License Bond Requirements?
Bond amounts for North Carolina contractors vary from license to license. To get licensed as a contractor, you will need to obtain a bond in one of the following amounts:
- General contractors:
- $175,000 bond for a limited license
- $500,000 bond for an intermediate license
- $1,000,000 bond for an unlimited license
- Electrical contractors:
- $50,000 for an intermediate electrical contractor
- $130,000 for an unlimited electrical contractor
- Landscape and irrigation contractors:
- $10,000 bond
Are you ready to apply for your bond? Complete and submit our online application form and we will shortly contact you with a free quote!
Looking to get a bond for a construction project? Our contract bond page has all the information that you need on contract bonds.
How Much Does the North Carolina Contractor License Bond?
The cost of your surety bond is equal to a percentage of its full amount. It is determined by several factors with personal credit score being the most important one. Applicants with high credit scores get lower rates and vice versa.
Apart from credit score, sureties will usually also look at the rest of your financial information - your financial statements, fixed and liquid assets, and even your industry experience.
To get a sense of how much your North Carolina contractors license bond might cost, see the table below!
| License type | Bond Amount | Surety Bond Cost by Credit Score | |||
| Above 700 | 650-699 | 600-649 | Below 599 | ||
| General contractors | |||||
| Limited general contractor license | $175,000 | $1,750-$3,500 | $2,625-$5,250 | $3,500-$7,000 | $5,250-$8,750 |
| Intermediate general contractor license | $500,000 | $5,000-$10,000 | $7,500-$15,000 | $10,000-$20,000 | $15,000-$25,000 |
| Unlimited general contractor license | $1,000,000 | $10,000-$20,000 | $15,000-$30,000 | $20,000-$40,000 | $30,000-$50,000 |
| Electrical contractors | |||||
| Intermediate electrical contractor license | $50,000 | $500-$1,000 | $750-$1,500 | $1,000-$2,000 | $1,500-$2,500 |
| Unlimited electrical contractor license | $130,000 | $1,300-$2,600 | $1,950-$3,900 | $2,600-$5,200 | $3,900-$6,500 |
| Landscape and irrigation contractors | |||||
| Landscape and irrigation contractor license | $10,000 | $100-$200 | $150-$300 | $200-$400 | $300-$500 |
Want to know more about surety bond cost? See our How Much Does a Surety Bond Cost? Guide for a detailed explanation of the factors that determine bond cost!
If you need to know more about getting a North Carolina contractor license bond, call us at (877)-514-5146 anytime!
How to Become a Licensed and Bonded Contractor in North Carolina
To become a contractor in North Carolina, you need to meet the licensing authority’s requirements. These will differ somewhat depending on what kind of contractor license you are applying for.
Overall, you can expect to be required to meet the following requirements:
- Register a business entity with the NC Secretary of State
- Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS (if necessary)
- Pass a license or classification exam (if applicable)
- Get liability insurance and workers’ compensation insurance (if applicable)
- Pass a criminal background check
- Obtain a North Carolina contractor license bond in the right amount
- Submit your contractor license application form
- Pay a licensing fee
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Kimberlee AblesQuick response times and turn around for issuing bonds. Great customer service and very knowledgeable. We have used Lance Surety multiple times and have never been disappointed. Highly recommend them and Collette!
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