Colorado Surety Bonds— No Statewide Contractor Bond -- Municipal Rules Apply
Colorado has no statewide contractor licensing board and no statewide contractor bond requirement. Instead, each municipality sets its own rules -- Denver requires a $50,000 right-of-way bond while Colorado Springs requires just $5,000. Colorado also stands out as one of the few states that does not require a notary bond. From $50,000 auto dealer bonds to freight broker bonds, we handle every bond Colorado state agencies and municipalities require. Browse all state surety bond requirements to see how Colorado compares.
Key difference from most states: Colorado has no CSLB-equivalent agency. Contractor licensing and bonding is handled city-by-city. If you work across multiple Colorado cities, you may need separate bonds for each jurisdiction.
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Official Colorado Requirements
"Before any contract in excess of one hundred fifty thousand dollars... the contractor shall execute and deliver to the state a good and sufficient performance bond in the amount of fifty percent of the contract price and a good and sufficient payment bond in the amount of fifty percent of the contract price."Colorado Revised Statutes • CRS 24-105-202
Colorado Municipal Contractor Bond Requirements
Since Colorado has no statewide contractor bond, each city sets its own rules. New to bonding? Our guide on what a surety bond is explains the fundamentals. Here are bond amounts for major Colorado municipalities.
Colorado Municipal Contractor Bond Requirements
Bond amounts vary by city — Colorado has no statewide contractor bond
| Municipality | Bond Type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver | Right-of-Way Bond | $50,000 | Required for ROW work permits |
| Aurora | Contractor License Bond | $20,000 | General contractor license |
| Colorado Springs | Contractor Bond | $5,000 | City contractor registration |
| Fort Collins | Contractor Bond | $5,000 | General/mechanical contractors |
| Lakewood | Contractor Bond | $10,000 | Licensed contractor requirement |
| Boulder | Contractor License Bond | $5,000 | City licensing ordinance |
This table covers the largest municipalities. Smaller cities, towns, and counties may have their own requirements. Contact us with your specific location for exact bond amounts.
What Makes Colorado Bonding Different
No Notary Bond Required
Under CRS 24-21-531, Colorado does not require notaries public to carry a surety bond. Most states mandate notary bonds -- California requires $15,000, Florida requires $7,500 -- but Colorado relies on its commission process and liability statutes instead.
Cannabis Bond Abolished (2016)
As the first state to legalize recreational cannabis (Amendment 64, 2012), Colorado initially required a $5,000 surety bond for cannabis businesses. HB 16-1041 eliminated this in 2016, finding it created barriers without meaningful consumer protection.
Bond Assistance Program
The Statewide Bond Assistance Program, administered by the Statewide Equity Office, guarantees $50,000-$150,000 toward performance and payment bonds on state contracts. The program helps small, minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned, and disadvantaged businesses qualify for bonding they might not obtain independently.
Complete Colorado Bond Reference
Every state-level surety bond required in Colorado with current amounts, forms, and issuing agencies.
| Bond Type | Amount | Form | Agency | Est. Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auto Dealer Bond | $50,000 | DR 2830 | DOR Auto Industry Division | $500-$2,500/yr |
| Auto Salesperson Bond | $15,000 | DR 2831 | DOR Auto Industry Division | $100-$450/yr |
| MLO Bond (Individual) | $25,000 | NMLS | DORA / Div. of Real Estate | $250-$750/yr |
| MLO Bond (Company <20) | $100,000 | NMLS | DORA / Div. of Real Estate | $1,000-$5,000/yr |
| MLO Bond (Company 20+) | $200,000 | NMLS | DORA / Div. of Real Estate | $2,000-$10,000/yr |
| Collection Agency Bond | $12,000-$20,000 | N/A | Dept. of Law | $200-$600/yr |
| Public Adjuster Bond | $20,000 | N/A | Div. of Insurance | $200-$600/yr |
| Paid Solicitor Bond | $15,000 | N/A | Secretary of State | $150-$450/yr |
| Money Transmitter Bond | $250,000-$2,000,000 | N/A | Div. of Banking | Quote required |
| Title Bond (Vehicle) | 2x appraised value | DR 2922 | DMV | Quote required |
| Freight Broker Bond | $75,000 | BMC-84 | FMCSA (federal) | $750-$3,750/yr |
| Sales Tax Bond | Set by DOR | N/A | Dept. of Revenue | Quote required |
Premium estimates are based on applicants with good credit (680+). Higher-risk applicants may pay 5-10% of the bond amount. Use our surety bond cost calculator to estimate your premium, or get an exact quote for your specific situation.
Colorado Public Works Bonds
Colorado's public works bonding thresholds differ from the federal Miller Act and many other states. Understanding these differences can reduce your bonding costs.
Bid Bonds -- 5% Minimum
Under CRS 24-105-201, bid bonds on competitively bid state projects must be at least 5% of the bid amount. This guarantees the contractor will enter the contract if awarded.
Performance Bond -- 50% of Contract
Required on contracts over $150,000 per CRS 24-105-202. Colorado sets the performance bond at 50% of the contract price -- lower than the 100% required by the federal Miller Act and most other states.
Payment Bond -- 50% of Contract
Also 50% of the contract price for contracts over $150,000. The payment bond protects subcontractors and suppliers who furnish labor or materials on the project.
Colorado vs. Federal Comparison
Colorado's 50% threshold means contractors bonding a $1M project need $500K in performance and $500K in payment bonds -- versus $1M each under the Miller Act. This can significantly reduce premiums.
How to Get Your Colorado Bond
Three steps -- whether you need a Denver contractor bond or a statewide dealer bond
Identify Your Requirement
Tell us your bond type and the municipality or state agency that requires it. We maintain current requirements for every Colorado jurisdiction, so you do not need to research bond amounts yourself.
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We quote from multiple Treasury-certified sureties licensed by the Colorado Division of Insurance. Most bonds are quoted in minutes and approved the same business day.
Receive and File
Download your bond immediately or have the original mailed. We format bonds for the specific city, county, or state agency that will review your filing.
Colorado Bond Categories
Construction & Public Works
- Colorado Municipal Contractor Bonds
City-by-city requirements -- no statewide bond
- Bid Bonds (5% per CRS 24-105-201)
- Performance & Payment Bonds
50% each over $150K per CRS 24-105-202
- Performance Bonds
- Payment Bonds
Motor Vehicle & Transport
- Auto Dealer Bonds ($50,000 -- DR 2830)
- Salesperson Bonds ($15,000 -- DR 2831)
- Title Bonds (2x appraised value -- DR 2922)
- Freight Broker Bonds ($75,000 -- BMC-84)
Court, Financial & Professional
- Court & Probate Bonds
Set by court per CRS 15-10-401
- Fiduciary Bonds
- Appeal Bonds
- Business License Bonds
Collection agency, public adjuster, paid solicitor
- Commercial Bonds
Serving Every Colorado Municipality
We know the exact bond requirements in each jurisdiction
Colorado Surety Bond Questions
Covering municipal rules, state requirements, and Colorado-specific bond programs
Why doesn't Colorado require a statewide contractor license bond?
Does Colorado require a notary bond?
What happened to Colorado's cannabis surety bond?
What is the Colorado Bond Assistance Program?
When does Colorado require public works performance and payment bonds?
How does the Colorado collection agency bond amount work?
How much does a Colorado money transmitter bond cost?
Can I get a Colorado surety bond with bad credit?
Official Colorado Resources
Government sources for Colorado bond requirements and statutes
State program guaranteeing $50K-$150K on performance and payment bonds for disadvantaged businesses
Official title bond form for vehicles without a clear title -- bond amount is 2x appraised value
Colorado statutes covering bid bonds (24-105-201) and performance/payment bonds (24-105-202)
Bond requirements for MLOs: $25K individual, $100K company (<20 MLOs), $200K company (20+ MLOs)
Federal listing of Treasury-certified surety companies authorized to write bonds for U.S. government contracts
Other Colorado Bonds
Additional surety bonds available in Colorado
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Municipal contractor bonds, auto dealer bonds, public works bonds, and every license bond Colorado requires -- quoted in minutes