Last Updated:April 1, 2026|Reflects current Pennsylvania surety bond requirements

✓ 2026 Requirements Verified

Notary bond increased to $25,000 effective 3/28/2026

Pennsylvania Surety Bonds

Pennsylvania Surety Bonds— Notary Bonds Now $25,000

Name: Pennsylvania Surety Bonds
Brand: BuySuretyBonds.com
Availability: InStock

Pennsylvania's notary bond jumped from $10,000 to $25,000 on March 28, 2026 -- the largest single increase in the Commonwealth's history. Beyond notary bonds, PA requires auto dealer bonds ($20,000 via PennDOT), one of the nation's highest money transmitter bonds at $1,000,000, and fiduciary bonds through its unique Orphans' Court system. We issue bonds accepted by every PA agency, court, and municipality.

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Official Pennsylvania Requirements

"A notary public shall, within 45 days of the date of appointment, execute a $25,000 surety bond... and record it with the recorder of deeds of the county in which the notary public maintains an office."

Pennsylvania Department of State • 57 Pa.C.S. Ch. 3 (as amended, eff. 3/28/2026)

$25K

Notary Bond (New)

$1M

Money Transmitter

1 Day

Typical Approval

Counties Served

Pennsylvania Notary Bond Increased

Bond Requirement Increase

Previous Requirement

$10,000

New Requirement

$25,000

Effective March 28, 202657 Pa.C.S. Chapter 3

PA Notary Bond Increased to $25,000

Effective March 28, 2026 -- 57 Pa.C.S. Chapter 3

What Changed

Bond amount increased from $10,000 to $25,000
4-year commission term unchanged
Must still be recorded with county Recorder of Deeds within 45 days
Existing notaries must obtain the new bond amount at next renewal

What It Costs You

$50-$100for 4-year term

No credit check required
Instant approval and delivery
Covers full 4-year commission

Get Your $25,000 Notary Bond

Pennsylvania Bond Amounts and Statutes

Every major bond the Commonwealth requires, with the statutory authority and current amount. For general information, see our guide on what a surety bond is, browse all types on our surety bonds hub, or use the notary bond calculator to estimate your cost.

Bond Type	Amount	Statute	Details
Notary Public	$25,000	57 Pa.C.S. Ch. 3	Effective 3/28/2026, increased from $10,000. 4-year term. Record with county Recorder of Deeds.
Auto Dealer	$20,000	Title 75 §1335	PennDOT Form MV-375. Required for new and used vehicle dealers.
Mortgage Broker	$50K-$100K	7 Pa.C.S. §6131	Tiered by loan volume. Filed with PA Department of Banking and Securities.
Telemarketer	$50,000	73 P.S. §§2241-2249	Telemarketer Registration Act. Filed with the Attorney General.
Public Adjuster	$20,000	Act 21 of 2012	Required for all licensed public adjusters in the Commonwealth.
Private Detective	$10,000	22 Pa. Code Ch. 501	Required for detective agency licensing.
Money Transmitter	$1,000,000	7 Pa.C.S. Ch. 61	One of the highest state-level bonds in the nation. PA Department of Banking.
Auctioneer	$5,000	63 Pa.C.S. §734.4	State Board of Auctioneer Examiners.
Collection Agency	$5,000	73 P.S. §2270.4	Fair Credit Extension Uniformity Act. Filed with PA Dept. of Banking.
Credit Services Org.	$5K-$25K	1992 Act 150	Credit Services Act. Amount varies by volume.
Debt Management	$50K/$10K	63 Pa.C.S. §4713	Debt Management Services Act. $50K primary, $10K supplemental.
Health Club	$50K-$200K	73 P.S. §2164	Buyer Protection Act. Amount varies by prepaid contract length.
Tax Collector	Set by county	72 P.S. §5511.21	Local Tax Collection Law. County commissioners set amount.
Freight Broker	$75,000	49 CFR 387.307	Federal requirement, but filed with FMCSA for PA-based brokers.
Public Works	100% of contract	Act 385 of 1967	Required on all public contracts exceeding $10,000.
Court / Probate	Set by court	20 Pa.C.S. §3171	Orphans' Court sets amount based on estate value.

Amounts current as of April 2026. Municipal bonds (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, etc.) have separate requirements listed below.

Home Improvement Contractors: HICPA Explained

One of the most common questions we hear: "Do I need a surety bond to do home improvement work in Pennsylvania?" The short answer is no, not at the state level.

The Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act (HICPA, 73 P.S. Section 517.1 et seq.) requires contractors to register with the Attorney General's office. Registration requires $50,000 in general liability insurance and a $100 biennial fee. It does not require a surety bond.

However, individual municipalities can and do require bonds. If you work in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, or other PA cities, check with your local Licenses and Inspections office for any additional bonding requirements before starting work.

HICPA Registration vs. Bond

State Registration

Required. File with AG's office. $100 every 2 years.

Liability Insurance

Required. Minimum $50,000 general liability.

State-Level Bond

Not required under HICPA.

Municipal Bond

May be required. Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and other cities set their own bonding rules.

Orphans' Court Bonds

Pennsylvania's unique probate court system

Unlike most states that have a separate probate court, Pennsylvania handles estates, trusts, guardianships, and adoptions through a division of the Court of Common Pleas called the Orphans' Court. Under 20 Pa.C.S. Section 3171, the court may require executors, administrators, and guardians to post a fiduciary bond to protect the assets they manage.

Executor / Administrator

Bond set at estimated personal property value. Required unless the will expressly waives it or all beneficiaries consent.

Guardian of Estate

Appointed for minors or incapacitated adults. Bond amount covers the ward's assets plus anticipated income during the guardianship.

Trustee Bond

Court-appointed or successor trustees may be required to post a bond equal to the trust corpus. Amount determined by the Orphans' Court judge.

Learn About Probate Bonds All Court Bonds

Philadelphia-Specific Bonds

Philadelphia maintains its own Licenses and Inspections (L&I) department with bond requirements separate from the rest of the state.

$50,000

Demolition Class A

Required for demolition of commercial buildings and large structures in Philadelphia.

$10,000

Demolition Class B

Required for demolition of residential and smaller structures in the city.

$1,000

Curb Setter Bond

Required for contractors performing curb-setting work within Philadelphia city limits.

$1,000,000 Money Transmitter Bond

One of the highest state-level surety bonds in the nation

Pennsylvania's $1,000,000 money transmitter bond under 7 Pa.C.S. Chapter 61 dwarfs most other state requirements. It covers businesses that transmit money, sell payment instruments, or provide stored-value services within the Commonwealth. The bond is filed with the PA Department of Banking and Securities.

Typical Premium Range

Strong financials

$10,000-$20,000/yr

1-2% of bond amount

Average risk

$30,000-$50,000/yr

3-5% of bond amount

Higher risk / startup

$80,000-$100,000/yr

8-10% of bond amount

How to Get Your Pennsylvania Surety Bond

Tell Us Your Bond Type

Select the bond you need -- notary, auto dealer, mortgage broker, or any of the 16+ bond types listed above. Provide your business details for an instant quote.

Get Approved Same Day

Notary bonds are approved instantly with no credit check. License and contractor bonds are underwritten the same business day by Treasury-certified sureties authorized in Pennsylvania.

Record or File

Notary bonds must be recorded with the county Recorder of Deeds. Auto dealer bonds go to PennDOT. Other bonds are filed with the relevant state agency or court. We handle the paperwork.

Pennsylvania Bond Categories

Construction Bonds

Municipal Contractor Bonds
Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and local requirements
Performance & Payment Bonds
100% on public works over $10K (Act 385)
Bid Bonds
Performance Bonds
Payment Bonds

Court & Fiduciary

Orphans' Court / Probate Bonds
Executors, administrators, guardians (20 Pa.C.S. \u00a73171)
Appeal Bonds
Fiduciary / Guardian Bonds
All Court Bonds

Business & Professional

Notary Bonds ($25,000)
Increased 3/28/2026, record with Recorder of Deeds
Auto Dealer Bonds ($20,000)
PennDOT Form MV-375
Freight Broker Bonds ($75,000)
Commercial Bonds
All License Bonds

Serving the Entire Commonwealth

Philadelphia

Pittsburgh

Allentown

Erie

Reading

Scranton

Bethlehem

Lancaster

Harrisburg

York

Wilkes-Barre

Chester

Pennsylvania Surety Bond Questions

Notary bond increase, HICPA, Orphans' Court, and PA-specific rules

Why did the Pennsylvania notary bond increase to $25,000?

Effective March 28, 2026, the PA notary bond increased from $10,000 to $25,000 under the revised provisions of 57 Pa.C.S. Chapter 3. The increase reflects two decades of inflation since the prior amount was set and the expanded duties notaries now perform, including remote online notarization. The bond must still be recorded with the Recorder of Deeds in the county where the notary maintains an office -- a step unique to Pennsylvania. Notaries commissioned before the effective date must obtain the higher bond amount at their next renewal.

Does Pennsylvania require a home improvement contractor bond?

No. Under the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act (HICPA, 73 P.S. § 517.1 et seq.), Pennsylvania requires home improvement contractors to register with the Attorney General's office, carry $50,000 in general liability insurance, and pay a $100 biennial registration fee. However, HICPA does not mandate a surety bond at the state level. Some municipalities -- particularly Philadelphia and Pittsburgh -- impose their own contractor bonding requirements on top of the state registration, so check your local L&I office for bond amounts specific to your city.

What is the Orphans' Court and why does it require bonds?

Pennsylvania's Orphans' Court is a division of the Court of Common Pleas that handles estates, trusts, guardianships of minors and incapacitated persons, and adoptions. It is the rough equivalent of a probate court in other states. When the Orphans' Court appoints an executor, administrator, or guardian, it typically requires a fiduciary bond (under 20 Pa.C.S. § 3171) to protect the estate or ward from mismanagement. The bond amount is usually set at the estimated value of the personal property in the estate. We issue bonds accepted by Orphans' Courts in all 67 PA counties.

Why is the PA money transmitter bond $1,000,000?

Pennsylvania's Department of Banking and Securities requires money transmitters to post a $1,000,000 surety bond under 7 Pa.C.S. Chapter 61. This is among the highest money transmitter bonds in the nation and reflects the significant consumer risk involved in holding and transmitting funds. The bond protects consumers if the transmitter fails to deliver funds, becomes insolvent, or violates the Money Transmitter Act. Businesses with strong financials and operating history may qualify for rates as low as 1-2% of the bond amount.

How much does a Pennsylvania auto dealer bond cost?

The required PA auto dealer bond is $20,000, filed with PennDOT using Form MV-375 (Title 75 §1335). Dealers with credit scores above 700 typically pay $200-$600 per year (1-3% of the bond amount). Dealers with credit challenges may pay $1,000-$2,000 annually (5-10%). The bond protects consumers from dealer misconduct including failure to deliver titles, odometer fraud, and misrepresentation of vehicle condition.

What bonds does Philadelphia require that other PA cities do not?

Philadelphia has its own Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I) that requires several bonds not found elsewhere in Pennsylvania. Demolition contractors must post either a $50,000 Class A bond or a $10,000 Class B bond depending on the type of structure. Curb setters need a $1,000 bond. General contractors working in Philadelphia need a separate city-issued license and bond that is independent of any state registration. Always check with Philadelphia L&I for the most current bond amounts for your trade.

Can I get a Pennsylvania surety bond with bad credit?

Yes. PA notary bonds require no credit check and are approved instantly. For auto dealer bonds, contractor bonds, and most license bonds, we work with sureties that accept applicants with credit scores in the 500-600 range. Rates will be higher -- typically 5-10% of the bond amount instead of 1-3% -- but approval is still possible. For the $1,000,000 money transmitter bond, strong financials and industry experience carry more weight than personal credit alone.

Surety Bonds in Neighboring States

Ohio Surety Bonds New York Surety Bonds Virginia Surety Bonds

Official Pennsylvania Resources

Government sources for PA bond requirements

PA Department of State -- Notary Bonding Requirement

Official $25,000 bond requirement (eff. 3/28/2026) and 45-day recording deadline

PennDOT -- Auto Dealer Licensing

$20,000 dealer bond requirement under Title 75 \u00a71335

PA Attorney General -- Home Improvement Contractor Registration

HICPA registration requirements (no state bond required)

PA Dept. of Banking and Securities

Money transmitter ($1M), mortgage broker, and financial services bond requirements

U.S. Treasury Surety Bond List

Federal listing of Treasury-certified surety companies authorized to write bonds for U.S. government contracts

Reviewed by Nick Thoroughman, Founder

8+ years in surety bond technology. All content is researched from official state and federal sources (.gov) and reviewed for accuracy before publication. BuySuretyBonds.com works with Treasury-certified, A- minimum rated surety carriers serving all 50 states.