Last Updated:March 16, 2026|Reflects current California surety bond requirements

✓ 2026 Requirements Verified

California Surety Bonds

California Surety BondsThe Largest Bond Market in the U.S.

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

California requires more types of surety bonds than any other state. The CSLB alone oversees 280,000+ active contractor licenses, each backed by a $25,000 bond. Add in notary bonds, DMV dealer bonds, DFPI financial services bonds, and hundreds of local permit bonds, and California accounts for roughly one in eight surety bonds written nationwide. We issue bonds accepted by every California state agency and court.

Same-Day Approval

CSLB-Accepted Format

All Credit Accepted

Get Your California Bond

Instant quotes for CSLB, notary, and all bond types

Trusted Bond Specialists

⚡ Quick Response Guaranteed

Secure|No Obligation|Takes 2 Minutes

Get Your Notary Quote in Minutes

Join thousands who trust us to find the best rates from A- minimum rated carriers

Which describes your situation best?

Instant Bonds Available

24-hour approval

A- minimum rated carriers

Official California Requirements

"A contractor's bond in the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) shall be filed... for the benefit of consumers damaged as a result of defective construction or other license law violations, and for employees who have not been paid wages."

California Contractors State License Board • Bus. & Prof. Code § 7071.6

$25K

CSLB License Bond

$15K

Notary Bond

1 Day

Typical Approval

280K+

Active CSLB Licenses

Most-Requested California Bonds

Filed in formats accepted by every California state agency

California Notary Bonds

Starting at $40

Required $15,000 bond under Government Code § 8212. Filed with the Secretary of State for a 4-year commission. California has one of the highest notary bond amounts in the nation.

$15,000 bond amount
4-year commission term
No credit check
Instant approval

Get Your Bond

CSLB Contractor License Bonds

Starting at $100

All California contractors must carry a $25,000 contractor license bond filed with the Contractors State License Board. Bond must be on an Attorney General-approved form.

$25,000 bond required
AG-approved form
Filed with CSLB
Continuous bond

Get Your Bond

California Court Bonds

Quote required

Probate bonds, appeal bonds, attachment bonds, and fiduciary bonds for California Superior Courts. Amounts determined by the presiding judge or statute.

All Superior Courts
Probate & estate
Appeal bonds
Attachment bonds

Get Your Bond

California License & Permit Bonds

Varies by type

DMV dealer bonds ($50,000), mortgage broker bonds, collection agency bonds, and hundreds of other license bonds required by California state agencies.

DMV dealer bonds
DFPI mortgage bonds
Tax preparer bonds
Cannabis bonds

Get Your Bond

Understanding California's CSLB Bond System

Every active California contractor license must have a $25,000 bond on file with the CSLB. Here is what contractors need to know.

Bond Filing Rules

Bond Form

Must be on a form approved by the California Attorney General's Office

Name Matching

Business name and license number on the bond must exactly match CSLB records

Filing Deadline

Bond must reach CSLB headquarters within 90 days of the effective date

Surety Authorization

Surety must be licensed through the California Department of Insurance

When You Need a Bond

Initial license application -- bond must be in place before CSLB issues the license
License renewal -- bond must be current to renew an active license
Reactivation -- reactivating an inactive license requires a new bond filing
Name or entity change -- a new bond must reflect the updated business information
Disciplinary action -- CSLB may require an additional $15,000 disciplinary bond

Bond of Qualifying Individual: If the qualifying individual (the person who took the CSLB exam) is not an owner of the business, they must also file a separate $25,000 Bond of Qualifying Individual. This is in addition to the standard contractor license bond.

How to Get Your California Surety Bond

Apply in Minutes

Tell us your bond type, provide your business details, and we match you with the right surety carrier. CSLB bonds, notary bonds, and most license bonds can be quoted instantly.

Get Approved

We work with multiple A-rated sureties licensed by the California Department of Insurance. Most bonds are approved the same business day.

Download & File

Receive your bond on the correct state-approved form. We can file directly with the CSLB, Secretary of State, DMV, or DFPI on your behalf.

All California Bond Categories

Construction Bonds

CSLB Contractor License Bonds ($25,000)
Required for all active CA contractors
Construction Bonds Overview
Performance & Payment Bonds
CA public works per Civil Code § 9550
Bid Bonds
Performance Bonds
Payment Bonds

Court & Fiduciary

Business & Professional

Serving Businesses Across California

Los Angeles

San Diego

San Jose

San Francisco

Fresno

Sacramento

Long Beach

Oakland

Bakersfield

Anaheim

Riverside

Irvine

California Surety Bond Questions

Specific to California's CSLB, SOS, and state agencies

Why does California require a $25,000 contractor license bond?

The CSLB contractor license bond protects consumers who suffer actual damages from defective construction, building code violations, or other license law violations. It also protects employees who have not been paid wages owed to them. The $25,000 amount was set by California Business and Professions Code Section 7071.6 and applies to all active CSLB licensees regardless of classification or trade.

What is the difference between a CSLB license bond and a contractor disciplinary bond?

A license bond ($25,000) is required for all active contractor licenses. A disciplinary bond is an additional bond -- typically $15,000 -- that the CSLB may require if a contractor has had their license revoked, suspended, or placed on probation. The disciplinary bond stays in effect for the length of the probation, usually 3-5 years, and is separate from the standard license bond.

How much does a California notary bond cost?

A California notary bond costs $40-$65 for the full 4-year commission term. The bond amount is $15,000 as required by Government Code § 8212. No credit check is needed. You must also purchase errors and omissions insurance (separate from the bond) if you plan to perform electronic notarizations.

Does California require performance and payment bonds on public works?

Yes. Under California Civil Code § 9550 and Public Contract Code § 10221, contractors on public works projects must furnish both a performance bond and a payment bond, each equal to 100% of the contract price. These are separate from the CSLB license bond and protect the public agency and subcontractors/suppliers respectively.

What California agencies require surety bonds?

Major California agencies requiring bonds include: the CSLB (contractor license bonds), Secretary of State (notary bonds), DMV (auto dealer bonds -- $50,000), Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (mortgage broker, finance lender, and money transmitter bonds), Franchise Tax Board (tax preparer bonds), and Bureau of Cannabis Control (cannabis bonds). Each agency has its own bond form, amount, and filing process.

Can I get a California surety bond with a credit score below 600?

Yes. Notary bonds and small license bonds typically require no credit check at all. For the $25,000 CSLB contractor bond, applicants with scores in the 500-600 range can still get approved, though rates will be higher -- expect to pay 5-10% of the bond amount rather than the 1-3% that applicants with strong credit pay. We work with multiple sureties that specialize in higher-risk applicants.

Official California Resources

Government sources for California bond requirements

CSLB -- Bond Requirements

Official contractor license bond amounts, forms, and filing deadlines

CSLB Fast Facts: Contractor License Bonds (PDF)

Official CSLB guide to bond requirements, filing, and common questions

Gov. Code § 8212 -- Notary Public Bond

California statute requiring $15,000 notary bond

Written by BuySuretyBonds.com

Surety bond specialists operating nationwide with direct integrations to Treasury-certified surety carriers. Our platform enables instant approval for license and notary bonds, with 24-48 hour underwriting for commercial bonds. All content is researched from official state and federal sources (.gov) and reviewed by bond industry experts.