Texas Surety Bonds— City-by-City Rules, One Source
Correction: Many websites list the Texas auto dealer bond at $25,000. The correct amount is $50,000 per TxDMV under Transportation Code § 503.033. Verify at txdmv.gov.
Texas bonds nothing like any other state. There is no statewide contractor license, no single regulatory body for construction, and no uniform bonding framework. Instead, Houston runs one system, Dallas another, San Antonio a third -- each with different bond amounts for different trades. Layer on TDLR trade regulation, TxDMV dealer bonds, Secretary of State filings, and a court system spanning 254 counties, and you need a surety partner that tracks every jurisdiction.
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Official Texas Requirements
"An applicant for a general distinguishing number must... file with the department a surety bond in the amount of $50,000."Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) • Transp. Code \u00a7 503.033
Texas Contractor Bonds: City-by-City Requirements
Texas has no statewide contractor license or bond. TDLR regulates electricians, HVAC, and plumbers but requires insurance, not surety bonds for most trades. Construction bonding happens at the municipal level, and every major city runs its own system. If you need a refresher on bonding basics, see our what is a surety bond guide.
| City | Bond Amounts | Trades / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Houston | $2,000 -- $25,000 | Varies by trade via Houston Permitting Center. General building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical each separate. |
| Dallas | $120 reg fee + $5K -- $10K | $120 registration fee. $10,000 paving bond; $5,000 water/wastewater bond. Trade-specific. |
| San Antonio | $5,000 -- $45,000 | $5,000 demolition; $5,000 sidewalk; $45,000 billboard/sign contractor bond. |
| Austin | $10,000 | Right-of-way (ROW) bond required for work in the public right-of-way. |
| Fort Worth | $10,000 -- $25,000 | Parkway and street work bonds. Amounts depend on project scope and trade. |
Important: City requirements change independently of state law. Smaller cities (Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Round Rock) may also impose bonding requirements. Always verify with the local building or permitting department before starting work. Request a quote for your specific city.
Texas City Contractor Bond Requirements
No statewide contractor bond — each city sets its own rules independently
| City | Bond Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Houston | $2,000 – $25,000 | Varies by trade via Houston Permitting Center. General, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical each separate. |
| Dallas | $5,000 – $10,000 + $120 fee | $10,000 paving bond; $5,000 water/wastewater bond. $120 registration fee. |
| San Antonio | $5,000 – $45,000 | $5,000 demolition/sidewalk; $45,000 billboard/sign contractor bond. |
| Austin | $10,000 | Right-of-way (ROW) bond required for work in the public right-of-way. |
| Fort Worth | $10,000 – $25,000 | Parkway and street work bonds. Amount depends on project scope and trade. |
Amounts verified with city permitting departments. Requirements change independently — always confirm before starting work.
Source: Houston Permitting Center; City of Dallas; City of San Antonio; Austin Development Services; Fort Worth Development Services
Most-Required Texas Bonds by Category
Organized by regulating agency -- not alphabetically
TxDMV Bonds
Dept. of Motor Vehicles- Auto Dealer Bond -- $50,000 (Transp. Code § 503.033). New, used, and wholesale. 2-year term.
- Vehicle Title Bond -- 1.5x vehicle value (Transp. Code § 501.053). 3-year term.
Secretary of State Bonds
SOS-Filed Bonds- Notary Bond -- $10,000 (Gov. Code § 406.010). 4-year term. 2026 education req (SB 693).
- Health Spa -- $20K-$50K (Occ. Code § 702.151)
- Credit Services Org -- $10K (Finance Code Ch. 393)
- Debt Collector -- $10K (Finance Code § 392.101)
- Telephone Solicitation -- $10K (B&C Code § 302.107). SMS expanded Sept 2025.
- Athlete Agent -- $50K/$100K (Occ. Code Ch. 2051)
- Business Opportunity Seller -- $25K
Financial & Insurance Bonds
TX-SML, TDI, Dept of Banking- Mortgage Servicer -- $25K (<$25M) / $50K (>$25M) (7 TAC § 79.4)
- Title Insurance Agent -- $10K-$100K (Ins. Code § 2651.101)
- Public Adjuster -- $10K (TDI FIN509)
- Money Services -- $100K-$2M transmission; $2.5K-$1M currency exchange
TDLR & Specialty Bonds
Dept. of Licensing & Regulation- Driver Education School -- $10K + $5K per branch
- Hearing Instrument Fitter -- $10K (Occ. Code § 402.404)
- PEO (Professional Employer Org) -- $50K-$100K (Labor Code § 91.014)
Note: TDLR requires insurance (not bonds) for most regulated trades including electricians and HVAC contractors.
Industry Bonds
TDHCA, TDA, Federal- Manufactured Housing -- $50K broker/retailer, $25K installer, $100K out-of-state mfg (TDHCA)
- Grain Warehouse -- $35K-$500K (Ag Code Ch. 14, TDA). Unique to TX agricultural economy.
- Freight Broker -- $75K federal (FMCSA BMC-84)
Court & Public Works
Gov. Code Ch. 2253- Performance Bond -- required on public works >$100K
- Payment Bond -- required on public works >$25K
- Probate Bonds -- set by court across 254 counties
- Appeal Bonds, Guardian Bonds
Why Texas Contractor Bonding Is Different
Most states regulate contractors through a single licensing board. Texas splits the responsibility between TDLR (trade regulation) and individual cities (construction permits and bonds). Here is how the system works.
TDLR: State Trade Regulation
Cities: Local Construction Bonds
How to Get Your Texas Surety Bond
Specify Your Bond and Location
Tell us the bond type, your trade, and where you operate. Texas requirements vary by agency (TxDMV, SOS, TDLR) and by city -- we identify exactly which bond you need and at what amount.
Get Approved the Same Day
Notary bonds are instant with no credit check. Dealer bonds, city contractor bonds, and SOS-filed bonds are typically quoted and approved the same business day through our A-rated Texas-authorized sureties.
Receive and File
Download your bond formatted for the correct Texas agency or municipality. We can file directly with the Secretary of State, TxDMV, TDHCA, or your local permitting office.
Texas Notary Bonds: $10,000 Bond + 2026 Education Rule
Every Texas notary public must file a $10,000 surety bond with the Secretary of State under Government Code Section 406.010. The bond term matches the 4-year commission. Starting January 2026, SB 693 adds a mandatory education requirement for new notary applicants.
Bond Details
- Bond amount: $10,000
- Premium: $40-$65 for full 4-year term
- No credit check required
- Instant approval and delivery
- Payable to the Governor of Texas
SB 693 -- Effective Jan 2026
- New notary applicants must complete an approved education course
- Existing notaries may need to meet requirement at renewal
- Bond amount remains $10,000 -- unchanged
- Check SOS website for approved course list
All Texas Bond Categories
Construction & Public Works
- City Contractor Bonds (Houston, Dallas, SA, Austin, FW)
$2K-$45K depending on city and trade
- Performance & Payment Bonds
TX public works per Gov. Code Ch. 2253
- Bid Bonds
- Performance Bonds
- Payment Bonds
Court & Fiduciary
Serving Every Texas Metro and County
Bonds accepted by every Texas municipality, court, and state agency
Texas Surety Bond Questions
Dealer bonds, city contractor rules, SOS filings, and more
Why is the Texas auto dealer bond $50,000 and not $25,000?
Does Texas require a statewide general contractor license or bond?
What contractor bond do I need in Houston?
How much does a Texas notary bond cost?
What is the new Texas notary education requirement (SB 693)?
Does Texas require performance and payment bonds on public works?
What bonds does the Texas Secretary of State require?
Can I get a Texas surety bond with bad credit?
Official Texas Resources
Government sources for Texas bond requirements
Official auto dealer bond amount, application, and filing requirements
$10,000 notary bond requirements and commission application process
Trade licensing, insurance requirements, and regulated professions
Texas statute requiring performance bonds (>$100K) and payment bonds (>$25K) on public works
$25K-$100K bonds for manufactured housing brokers, retailers, installers, and manufacturers
Federal listing of Treasury-certified surety companies authorized to write bonds for U.S. government contracts
Other Texas Bonds
Additional surety bonds available in Texas
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