Skip to main content
Last reviewed: Next review due: Reflects current Florida surety bond requirements
2026 Requirements Verified
Hurricane-season capacity reserved with Treasury-certified sureties

Florida Surety Bonds75+ Bond Types, Verified Against F.S. Statute Text

Florida\u2019s bonding landscape is shaped by three forces that exist nowhere else in the same combination: the Atlantic hurricane belt, a credit-triggered construction licensing system under the CILB, and the largest cruise-and-medical-cannabis regulatory footprint in the country. This hub lists every bond Florida actually requires by statute \u2014 along with the bonds that are mistakenly marketed but have no statutory basis in F.S.

Every fixed-dollar amount below has been cross-checked against flsenate.gov statute text or the issuing Florida agency page (DBPR, FLHSMV, OFR, DFS, DACS, DEP). For background on how any of these bonds work, see our surety bond basics guide. To price an obligation, use the contractor license bond calculator or the general cost guide.

75+
Bond Types
$1K–$2M
Range
<24 hrs
Most Approvals
FICO 660
Sub-660 Trigger
Storm-season capacity
DBPR / FLHSMV / DFS accepted forms
Below-660 credit welcome

Get Your Florida Bond

Sub-660, FRO, public adjuster, notary, dealer and court bonds

Get Your Florida Bond Quote

Same-day approval available • Competitive rates

Pay only after your bond is issued • No obligation • 2 minutes

Step 1 of 2

FloridaPre-filled
No obligationSame-day approvalTreasury-certified carriers

Five citations corrected in this audit

Our 2026 quarterly review corrected five Florida-specific errors that appear across competitor sites and in earlier BSB content: (1) the Sub-660 contractor bond cites F.S. §489.115(7), not §489.119; (2) the separate $100,000 FRO bond cites F.S. §489.1195; (3) the health studio bond is $25,000 per location under §501.016(1), not a flat $50,000; (4) the Seller of Travel bond range is $10,000\u2013$50,000 under §559.929, not $25K\u2013$50K; (5) F.S. §255.05 uses two thresholds \u2014 ≤$100K state and ≤$200K local discretionary \u2014 not a single $200K cutoff.

Phantom bonds marketed but not required

Several bonds advertised by Florida surety websites have no statutory basis: individual trade bonds for electricians, plumbers, roofers, HVAC, landscape, architect, engineer, CPA, dentist, physician, motor vehicle repair shop, real estate broker, pharmacy, and CDL operators are among them. The Bonds Not Required section below lists each with the operative statute that does (or doesn\u2019t) apply. See our editorial standards for our verification process.

Official Florida Requirements

"Any person who applies for initial licensure, or change of status... and whose credit score is below 660, must provide a surety bond or irrevocable letter of credit."
Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board (DBPR)F.S. §489.115(7); FAC Rule 61G4-15.006
$7,500
Notary (F.S. §117.01)
$25,000
Motor Vehicle Dealer (§320.27)
$50,000
Public Adjuster (§626.865)
$100,000
FRO Bond (§489.1195)
$2,000,000
Slot Machine (§551.103)
Why Florida Bonding Is Cyclical

The Hurricane Playbook: Which Bonds Surge When

Surety demand in Florida is not a flat year. Named-storm activity reshapes which bond lines tighten, which volume doubles, and which regulators tighten scrutiny. Here is what actually moves during the June 1\u2013November 30 Atlantic season and in the 120 days after landfall.

Public Adjuster Bond

$50,000 — F.S. §626.865(2)

Florida licenses more public adjusters than Texas, California, and New York combined. Volume rises 2\u20133\u00D7 in the 60\u201390 days after a Category 2+ landfall. The same $50,000 bond covers apprentices under F.S. §626.8651.

BSB capacity note: We pre-reserve placement slots with three Treasury-listed sureties before June 1 each year to hold 24-hour approval times through October.

Roofing & GC Licensing

Sub-660 — F.S. §489.115(7)

Post-landfall tarp-to-replacement work pulls out-of-state roofing and general contractors into the CILB application queue. Division II roofing bonds (up to $10,000) and Division I GC bonds (up to $20,000) see a documented post-storm application spike. Expect tighter underwriter credit review for first-time FL roofers during the 12 months after a major storm.

FRO scrutiny increases: CILB audit frequency on FRO-structured roofing entities rises after large events, making the $100K FRO bond under §489.1195 more frequently triggered.

Public Works & FDOT

F.S. §255.05 / §337.18

Debris removal, bridge and roadway repair, and emergency infrastructure contracts drive a surge in performance and payment bonds. FDOT contracts follow §337.18; local government work follows §255.05. Bid bond volume (typically 5% of bid) rises in parallel. See our Florida performance bond page for threshold detail.

FDOT exemption: §337.18 allows the department to waive the bond on noncritical projects ≤$250,000 \u2014 a meaningful carve-out for small post-storm emergency work.

Typical Post-Landfall Bond Demand Curve

Days 0\u201314

Public adjuster applications +50\u2013100%. Emergency FDOT debris-removal bid bonds rise.

Days 15\u201360

Out-of-state roofing contractor CILB apps surge. Division II Sub-660 bonds peak.

Days 60\u2013180

Division I GC bonds rise for rebuild work. Local §255.05 payment bonds cover reconstruction.

Days 180\u2013365

FRO bond ($100K) scrutiny intensifies. Public adjuster claim-handling audits drive apprentice bonds.

Sub-660 Bond vs. FRO Bond: Two Different Statutes

The single most common Florida contractor bond error \u2014 in marketing copy and in some BSB legacy pages \u2014 is conflating the Sub-660 credit-triggered bond with the Financially Responsible Officer bond. They are separate statutes, separate amounts, separate triggers, and an entity can be on the hook for both simultaneously.

Sub-660 Bond

StatuteF.S. §489.115(7)
RuleFAC 61G4-15.006
TriggerFICO below 660
Division I cap$20,000
Division II cap$10,000
Reducible by50% via 14-hr financial course

Required when the applicant\u2019s credit score fails the CILB threshold. Not a permanent fixture \u2014 once the FRO\u2019s score rises above 660, the bond can be released at renewal. All specialty trade bonds (roofing, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, pool/spa, sheet metal, underground utility, solar) are this same bond at the Division II cap. Surety marketers rebranding separate trade bonds are selling the same instrument.

FRO Bond

StatuteF.S. §489.1195
RuleFAC 61G4-15.0021
TriggerEntity FRO designation
Amount$100,000 (fixed)
Division applicabilityBoth I and II
Reducible?No

Required when a business entity designates a Financially Responsible Officer to meet the qualifying-party requirement for a CILB license. Fixed at $100,000 \u2014 the Board does not scale it. The FRO remains personally responsible for the entity\u2019s financial obligations; the bond backs that responsibility. The earlier version of this page cited §489.119 for FRO \u2014 that is incorrect; §489.1195 is the operative statute.

Both bonds can apply at once. A Division I general contractor structured with an FRO who also has a FICO below 660 must post a $20,000 Sub-660 bond AND a $100,000 FRO bond. That is $120,000 of combined surety exposure. Request an integrated quote so we write both to the same indemnity agreement.

Florida Bonds by Industry

Every major bond category Florida law requires, grouped by regulator. Statute citations come from flsenate.gov; bond amounts are current as of 2026.

Construction & CILB

Sub-660 Contractor Bond

Division I (GC, Building, Residential) up to $20,000; Division II (specialty trades) up to $10,000. Triggered only when the FRO\u2019s FICO is below 660. Reducible 50% via the CILB-approved 14-hour financial responsibility course.

F.S. §489.115(7) | FAC 61G4-15.006 | CILB/DBPR
Quote Sub-660 Bond

FRO Bond (separate statute)

Fixed $100,000 bond required when a qualifying business designates a Financially Responsible Officer under §489.1195. Distinct from the Sub-660 bond. Not scaled by Division or by credit.

F.S. §489.1195 | FAC 61G4-15.0021 | CILB/DBPR
Quote $100K FRO

Public Works (Little Miller Act)

Performance and payment bonds equal to contract price. State contracts ≤$100,000 are statutorily exempt; local contracts ≤$200,000 may be exempted at agency discretion \u2014 two distinct thresholds, not one.

F.S. §255.05 | Awarding public body
Florida Performance Bonds

Other Construction-Related Bonds:

FDOT Performance/Payment
= contract price
F.S. §337.18 (≤$250K exempt)
Private Payment Bond
≥ contract price
F.S. §713.23
Mechanic\u2019s Lien Transfer
Lien + 3 yr int. + fees
F.S. §713.24
Bid Bond
5\u201310% of bid
Project-specific

Motor Vehicle (FLHSMV)

Motor Vehicle Dealer

$25,000 uniform \u2014 franchise, independent, wholesale, auction, salvage. Form HSMV 86020.

F.S. §320.27(10)(a)

Certificate of Title (Bonded Title)

2\u00D7 current retail value (KBB). 3-year term. Required when a vehicle has no title or defective title.

F.S. §319.23(7)

Mobile Home Dealer

$25,000 (≤4 supplemental licenses); $50,000 (5+).

F.S. §320.77(11)(a)

Recreational Vehicle Dealer

$10,000 (≤4 supplemental licenses); $20,000 (5+).

F.S. §320.771(16)(a)

Mobile Home Manufacturer

$50,000 fixed.

F.S. §320.8225(5)(a)

RV Manufacturer / Distributor

$10,000 fixed.

F.S. §320.8225(5)(b)

Mobile Home Installer Performance

$5,000 per installer.

F.S. §320.8249(3)

Freight Broker (Federal)

$75,000 BMC-84 \u2014 FMCSA requirement, not Florida-specific.

49 USC §13906

Financial Services (OFR)

Mortgage Broker

$10,000 flat bond per OFR license.

F.S. §494.0035

Mortgage Lender

$10,000\u2013$25,000 depending on license tier.

F.S. §494.00611

Money Services Business / Transmitter

$50,000 minimum up to $2,000,000 cap, volume-scaled.

F.S. §560.209

Consumer Finance Company

$25,000 minimum (alternative to liquid asset requirement).

F.S. §516.05(10)

Commercial Collection Agency

$50,000 fixed. Consumer-only debt collectors are NOT bonded under Part IV of Ch. 559.

F.S. §559.545 / §559.546

Title Loan Lender

$100,000 per license location. Aggregate cap $1,000,000 across locations.

F.S. §537.005(3)

Insurance (DFS / OIR)

Public Adjuster

$50,000 under DFS. The hurricane-cycle bond.

F.S. §626.865(2)

Public Adjuster Apprentice

$50,000, identical to licensed adjuster bond.

F.S. §626.8651

Surplus Lines Agent

$50,000 minimum. DFS-issued.

F.S. §626.928

Title Insurance Agency

$35,000 bond. May be paired with separate fidelity coverage.

F.S. §626.8419(1)(c)

Home Warranty Association

$75,000 (alternative to other financial requirements).

F.S. §634.305(2)(b)

Discount Medical Plan Org.

$35,000 fixed.

F.S. §636.236

Professional & Business License

Notary Public (Traditional)

$7,500. 4-year commission term. No credit check.

F.S. §117.01(7)(a)

Online Notary (RON)

$25,000 additional bond for audio-video notarizations.

F.S. §117.225

Auctioneer

$10,000. DBPR-administered.

Ch. 468, Part VI

Talent Agency

$5,000 fixed.

F.S. §468.408

Health Studio / Gym

$25,000 per location (DACS), aggregating up to $50,000 for multi-site operators. Corrected from legacy $50K listing.

F.S. §501.016(1)

Seller of Travel

$10,000\u2013$50,000 tiered by sales volume. Corrected from legacy $25K\u2013$50K range.

F.S. §559.929

Telemarketer

$50,000. DACS-administered.

F.S. §501.612(4)

Pawnbroker

$10,000 if net worth under $50,000.

F.S. §539.001

Alcohol, Tobacco & Tax

All alcohol manufacturer and distributor bonds file on DBPR Form ABT-6032 under F.S. §561.37. Retail liquor vendors (bars, restaurants, package stores) do not need a surety bond \u2014 §561.37/§561.371 apply only to manufacturers and wholesale distributors.

Malt Beverage Manufacturer

$20,000 (reducible to $10,000).

F.S. §561.37 | ABT-6032

Wine Manufacturer

$5,000 fixed.

F.S. §561.37 | ABT-6032

Distilled Spirits Manufacturer

$25,000 (reducible to $10,000).

F.S. §561.37 | ABT-6032

Beer/Wine Distributor

$25,000 (reducible to $10,000).

F.S. §561.37

Spirituous Liquor Distributor

$100,000 fixed \u2014 no reduction.

F.S. §561.371

Cigarette Stamping Agent

110% of 30-day tax liability; $2,000 minimum.

F.S. §§210.05(3)(b), 210.08

Motor Fuel Tax

3\u00D7 average monthly tax. $300,000 cap.

F.S. §206.05

Sales & Use Tax

DOR-determined on Form DR-17B.

F.S. §212.14(4)\u2013(5)

Communications Services Tax

DOR-determined, variable.

F.S. §202.36(2)

Miami-Dade alcohol licensing note: Miami-Dade County runs the largest retail alcohol licensing volume in the Southeast, but county-level retail liquor licenses still do not add a statutory surety bond on top of §561.37 \u2014 the county collects permit fees, not bonds. Wholesalers supplying Miami-Dade restaurants and clubs remain bonded under §561.371.

Court & Judicial

Litigation Bonds

Appeal / SupersedeasJudgment + 2 yr interest
Appeal cap (standard)$50M (CPI-adjusted)
Appeal cap (class actions)$100M (§768.733)
Attachment Bond≥ 2\u00D7 sum demanded
Replevin (plaintiff)2\u00D7 value or 2\u00D7 balance
Replevin (defendant counter)1.25\u00D7 amount due
Injunction / TROCourt-determined
GarnishmentCourt-determined
Distress for Rent2\u00D7 debt

F.S. §§45.045, 76.12, 78.068(3)\u2013(4), 768.733, 48.23(3), 77.28, 83.12; Fla. R. App. P. 9.310(b); Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.610(b)

Estate & Fiduciary

Personal RepresentativeCourt-determined
GuardianWard\u2019s assets
Probate WaiverBy will / court order
Receiver / TrusteeCourt-determined

F.S. §§733.402, 733.403, 744.351

Environmental (FL DEP)

Phosphate Mining Reclamation

Variable, based on approved reclamation plan cost estimate.

F.S. Ch. 378 Pt. II; FAC 62C-16

Non-Phosphate Mining Reclamation

Site-specific.

F.S. Ch. 378 Pt. III; FAC 62C-39

Solid Waste Facility

Closure / long-term care / corrective action cost estimates.

F.S. §403.7125

Hazardous Waste Facility

Liability: $1M/$2M sudden; $3M/$6M non-sudden. Closure variable.

F.S. §403.724; FAC 62-730.180

Underground / Aboveground Storage Tank

$1M per occurrence; $1M aggregate (1\u2013100 tanks) / $2M (101+).

F.S. §§376.303, 376.309

Pollutants Tax

Variable, $300,000 cap.

F.S. Ch. 206 Pt. VII

Public Official (Chapter 137)

Under F.S. Chapter 137, county officer bond amounts are set by each county\u2019s Board of County Commissioners based on the money and property likely to pass through the officer\u2019s custody. The Board reviews sufficiency semiannually (§137.05). State officer bond premiums are paid from General Revenue (§113.05).

General County Officers

Set by Board of County Commissioners.

F.S. §137.01

Tax Collector

County-set; reflects collections volume.

F.S. §137.02

Property Appraiser

County-set.

F.S. §137.03

County Commissioner

County-set.

F.S. §137.04

Real Estate, Gaming, Agriculture, Healthcare

Timeshare Developer Escrow

Equals aggregate escrow requirements (alternative to escrow).

F.S. §721.08(5)(a)

Slot Machine Licensee

$2,000,000 per year \u2014 largest fixed-amount bond in Florida.

F.S. §551.103(1)(f)

Pari-Mutuel Wagering

$50,000 fixed.

F.S. §550.125(3)(a)

Citrus Fruit Dealer

$1,000\u2013$100,000 based on box volume. FDACS / Dept. of Citrus.

F.S. §601.61

Agricultural Products Dealer

$5,000\u2013$100,000 (2\u00D7 peak monthly transaction value).

F.S. §604.20

Household Goods Mover / Broker

$25,000 fixed.

F.S. §507.04(1)(b)

Nonimmigrant Alien Healthcare

$500,000 minimum. Home health, DME, clinics with nonimmigrant-alien controlling interests.

F.S. §408.8065(2)

Medicaid Provider

$50,000\u2013$250,000 aggregate statewide.

F.S. §409.907

Prescription Drug Wholesale Distributor

$10,000 limited vet; $25,000 ≤$10M receipts; $100,000 >$10M.

F.S. §499.01(2)(d)\u2013(e)

Yacht / Ship Broker

$25,000 fixed. Florida is the country\u2019s largest yacht brokerage market.

F.S. §326.004(7)

Yacht / Ship Salesperson

$10,000 fixed.

F.S. §326.004(9)

Preneed Funeral / Cemetery

Equals aggregate preneed contract liabilities (trust fund alt.).

F.S. §497.461

Workers\u2019 Comp Self-Insurer

$100,000 minimum.

F.S. §440.38(1)(b)

Game Promotion

Equals total prize value (when prizes exceed $5,000).

F.S. §849.094(4)

Amusement Ride / Attraction

$1,000,000 alternative to insurance policy.

F.S. §546.003

Medical Cannabis MMTC Performance Bond \u2014 confirm with OMMU before quoting

F.S. §381.986 governs Medical Marijuana Treatment Center licensing. Some legacy materials reference a $5,000,000 performance bond at this citation. That dollar figure is not in the BSB verified statutory catalog, and the current practice of the Florida Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU) may differ \u2014 MMTC financial assurance obligations have changed multiple times since the 2017 Amendment 2 implementation, and the OMMU may accept alternative financial instruments in place of a traditional surety bond. If you are applying or renewing an MMTC license, verify the current requirement directly with OMMU and bring the licensing packet to our underwriting desk before assuming an amount or structure.

Source discipline: we do not publish fixed-amount claims for this bond type on this page because the statute references the requirement without specifying an amount at the level of other §-cited bonds. See our editorial standards for our verification policy on YMYL financial pages.

Sub-660 Bond Deep Dive: The Credit-Score System

Florida\u2019s CILB is unusual: instead of a universal license bond, it runs a credit-threshold system. If your FICO is 660 or higher, you pay no surety premium to be licensed. Below that line, F.S. §489.115(7) activates a bond scaled to your license Division. For background see the contractor license bond requirements guide; to estimate premium, open the contractor license bond calculator.

Sub-660 Bond Decision Flow

CILB pulls FRO\u2019s FICO

At initial licensure, change of status, or renewal

FICO Threshold Check (F.S. §489.115(7))

660 or above

No Sub-660 bond required. License proceeds without a surety obligation at initial issuance (FRO bond may still apply to entities \u2014 separate statute).

Below 660
Division I (GC, Building, Residential)$20,000
Division II (specialty trades)$10,000
After 14-hr course50% reduction

Cancellation mechanics: If the surety cancels the Sub-660 or FRO bond, DBPR must be notified 30 days in advance by certified mail. The contractor license may be suspended if no replacement bond is filed within the notice period. The surety remains liable for obligations incurred during the bond period, including the 30-day notice window. Plan bond replacements at least 45 days before expiration to avoid gaps.

Florida Public Works Bonds: The Two-Threshold Reality

F.S. §255.05 is Florida\u2019s Little Miller Act. The $200,000 cutoff that dominates competitor write-ups is only half the statute \u2014 and on state contracts it\u2019s the wrong number entirely. Here is the correct split.

State-Awarded Contracts

Exemption Threshold
≤ $100,000
Statutorily exempt from §255.05 payment bond

A Florida state government contract at or below $100,000 is exempt from the statutory public payment bond requirement. Above $100,000 the bond is required and must equal the full contract price.

Local-Awarded Contracts

Discretionary Threshold
≤ $200,000
Local agency may waive (§255.05(1)(c))

City, county, and special-district contracts at or below $200,000 may be exempted at the awarding agency\u2019s discretion. Many Florida local governments still require the bond below the threshold \u2014 always read the bid documents, not a generalization.

Private construction is governed separately by F.S. §713.23 (contractor payment bond, at least the original contract price) and §713.24 (mechanic\u2019s lien transfer bond \u2014 lien amount plus three years interest plus the greater of $5,000 or 25% of the lien for attorney fees). For FDOT highway work, F.S. §337.18 applies and may waive the bond on noncritical projects at or below $250,000. See our Florida performance bond page and performance & payment bond hub for filing detail.

Florida Notary Bonds: Traditional vs. RON

Florida requires two separate bonds for in-person and remote online notarizations. A notary performing both must post both.

Traditional Notary

Bond Amount$7,500
StatuteF.S. §117.01(7)(a)
Term4-year commission
Credit CheckNone required
Premium$30–$50 / 4 yrs
Florida Notary Bond

Remote Online Notarization (RON)

Bond Amount$25,000
StatuteF.S. §117.225
Term4-year commission
Credit CheckNone required
Premium$50–$100 / 4 yrs

Required in addition to the traditional $7,500 bond when performing RON services.

Florida RON Notary Bond

Bonds That DON\u2019T Require Sureties in Florida

A significant slice of competitor content markets surety bonds that have no statutory basis in Florida law. Here are the most common phantom bonds, the statute chapter that actually governs the license (if any), and why surety is not the regulatory instrument.

Florida Bond Reference Table

50+ verified bond categories with current amounts, statutes, and filing agencies. For pricing see our surety bond cost guide; to browse every bond type on the site, open the surety bonds hub.

Bond TypeAmountStatute
Sub-660 Bond — Division I$20,000F.S. §489.115(7)
Sub-660 Bond — Division II$10,000F.S. §489.115(7)
FRO Bond$100,000F.S. §489.1195
Public Works (Little Miller Act)= contract priceF.S. §255.05
FDOT Performance / Payment= contract priceF.S. §337.18
Private Payment Bond≥ contract priceF.S. §713.23
Mechanic’s Lien TransferLien + 3 yr int. + feesF.S. §713.24
Bid Bond (public works)5–10% of bid§255.0516 / agency
Motor Vehicle Dealer$25,000F.S. §320.27(10)(a)
Certificate of Title (Bonded)2× retail valueF.S. §319.23(7)
Mobile Home Dealer (≤4 locations)$25,000F.S. §320.77(11)(a)
Mobile Home Dealer (5+ locations)$50,000F.S. §320.77(11)(a)
RV Dealer (≤4 locations)$10,000F.S. §320.771(16)(a)
RV Dealer (5+ locations)$20,000F.S. §320.771(16)(a)
Mobile Home Manufacturer$50,000F.S. §320.8225(5)(a)
RV Manufacturer / Distributor$10,000F.S. §320.8225(5)(b)
Mobile Home Installer Performance$5,000F.S. §320.8249(3)
Freight Broker (Federal BMC-84)$75,00049 USC §13906
Mortgage Broker$10,000F.S. §494.0035
Mortgage Lender$10,000–$25,000F.S. §494.00611
Money Services Business$50,000–$2,000,000F.S. §560.209
Consumer Finance Company$25,000F.S. §516.05(10)
Commercial Collection Agency$50,000F.S. §559.545 / §559.546
Title Loan Lender (per location)$100,000F.S. §537.005(3)
Public Adjuster$50,000F.S. §626.865(2)
Public Adjuster Apprentice$50,000F.S. §626.8651
Surplus Lines Agent$50,000F.S. §626.928
Title Insurance Agency$35,000F.S. §626.8419(1)(c)
Home Warranty Association$75,000F.S. §634.305(2)(b)
Discount Medical Plan Org.$35,000F.S. §636.236
Notary Public (Traditional)$7,500F.S. §117.01(7)(a)
Notary Public (RON)$25,000F.S. §117.225
Auctioneer$10,000Ch. 468 Pt. VI
Talent Agency$5,000F.S. §468.408
Health Studio / Gym (per location)$25,000F.S. §501.016(1)
Seller of Travel$10,000–$50,000F.S. §559.929
Telemarketer$50,000F.S. §501.612(4)
Pawnbroker$10,000F.S. §539.001
Malt Beverage Manufacturer$20,000 (red. $10K)F.S. §561.37
Wine Manufacturer$5,000F.S. §561.37
Distilled Spirits Manufacturer$25,000 (red. $10K)F.S. §561.37
Beer / Wine Distributor$25,000 (red. $10K)F.S. §561.37
Spirituous Liquor Distributor$100,000F.S. §561.371
State Bonded Warehouse$1,000–$5,000F.S. §562.25
Cigarette Stamping Agent110% of 30-day tax (≥$2K)F.S. §§210.05, 210.08
Tobacco Products Distributor$1,000 minF.S. §210.40
Sales & Use TaxDOR-determinedF.S. §212.14
Motor Fuel Tax3× avg monthly, ≤$300KF.S. §206.05
Diesel Fuel Tax3× avg monthly, ≤$300KF.S. §206.90
Communications Services TaxDOR-determinedF.S. §202.36(2)
Phosphate Mining ReclamationPlan-basedF.S. Ch. 378 Pt. II
Non-Phosphate Mining ReclamationSite-specificF.S. Ch. 378 Pt. III
Solid Waste FacilityClosure / LTC costsF.S. §403.7125
Hazardous Waste Facility$1M/$2M–$3M/$6M liabilityF.S. §403.724
UST / AST Financial Responsibility$1M occ / $1M–$2M aggF.S. §§376.303, 376.309
Appeal / SupersedeasJudgment + 2 yr int., cap $50MF.S. §45.045
Appeal (Certified Class Action)Cap $100MF.S. §768.733
Attachment≥ 2× sum demandedF.S. §76.12
Replevin (plaintiff)2× value / 2× balanceF.S. §78.068(3)–(4)
GuardianWard’s assetsF.S. §744.351
Personal Representative (Probate)Court-determinedF.S. §§733.402–733.403
Distress for Rent2× debtF.S. §83.12
General County OfficersBoCC-setF.S. §137.01
Tax CollectorBoCC-setF.S. §137.02
Property AppraiserBoCC-setF.S. §137.03
County CommissionerBoCC-setF.S. §137.04
Slot Machine Licensee$2,000,000/yrF.S. §551.103(1)(f)
Pari-Mutuel Wagering$50,000F.S. §550.125(3)(a)
Timeshare Developer EscrowAggregate escrow req’mtsF.S. §721.08(5)(a)
Citrus Fruit Dealer$1,000–$100,000F.S. §601.61
Agricultural Products Dealer$5,000–$100,000F.S. §604.20
Household Goods Mover / Broker$25,000F.S. §507.04(1)(b)
Nonimmigrant Alien Healthcare$500,000 minF.S. §408.8065(2)
Medicaid Provider$50,000–$250,000F.S. §409.907
Prescription Drug Distributor$10K / $25K / $100K tiersF.S. §499.01(2)(d)–(e)
Yacht / Ship Broker$25,000F.S. §326.004(7)
Yacht / Ship Salesperson$10,000F.S. §326.004(9)
Preneed Funeral / CemeteryAggregate contract liab.F.S. §497.461
Workers’ Comp Self-Insurer$100,000 minF.S. §440.38(1)(b)
Game Promotion (prizes ≥$5K)Total prize valueF.S. §849.094(4)
Amusement Ride / Attraction$1,000,000 (ins. alt.)F.S. §546.003

Methodology: Every fixed-dollar amount has been verified against flsenate.gov statute text or an official .gov issuing-agency page (DBPR, FLHSMV, OFR, DFS, DACS, DEP, AHCA). Items listed as “variable,” “court-determined,” or “BoCC-set” are correctly so under the governing statute \u2014 not omissions.

Florida Metro Bond Markets

Where volume concentrates \u2014 and what drives it

Miami-Dade / Fort Lauderdale

Largest construction corridor and the center of the U.S. cruise-and-yacht brokerage market. Seller of Travel and Yacht/Ship Broker filings concentrate here, as do coastal condominium §255.05 payment bonds. Miami-Dade\u2019s retail alcohol licensing volume drives wholesaler §561.371 activity.

Public Adjuster densityHighest in FL
Bid Bond usage5% of contract

Tampa Bay / St. Petersburg

Fast-growing infrastructure market: Port Tampa cruise expansion, I-275 / I-4 corridor FDOT bonds (§337.18), and heavy mobile-home dealer activity along the Gulf Coast (§320.77). Hurricane-Ian rebuild work still filtering through local §255.05 contracts.

FDOT VolumeI-275/I-4 heavy
Mobile Home Dealers$25K\u2013$50K

Orlando / Orange County

Theme park and hospitality construction keeps Division I Sub-660 bonds and FDOT §337.18 bonds in steady demand. Large timeshare developer escrow bonds (§721.08) concentrate here due to the Orlando timeshare market.

Timeshare Escrow BondsHighest density
Hospitality GC BondsDiv I heavy

Jacksonville / Duval

Military/logistics corridor \u2014 Port Jacksonville drives freight broker (BMC-84) filings for Florida-based 3PLs, and FDOT §337.18 work on I-95 and the First Coast Expressway runs year-round.

Freight Broker BMC-84$75K (federal)
FDOT I-95 WorkActive

Southwest Florida (Naples / Fort Myers)

Post-Ian rebuild epicenter: Sub-660 roofing bonds, Division I GC bonds, and agricultural dealer bonds (§604.20) for the citrus belt and winter vegetable shipping. High Public Adjuster density for hurricane claims work.

Post-Storm RoofingPeak demand
Ag Dealer BondsCitrus belt

Tallahassee / Panhandle

State government contracts dominate \u2014 F.S. §255.05 with the ≤$100K state exemption applies heavily here. Public official bonds under Chapter 137 concentrate in Leon County for state agency personnel.

§255.05 State Work≤$100K exempt
Ch. 137 BondsAgency-set

Serving every Florida county and metro:

Jacksonville
Miami
Tampa
Orlando
St. Petersburg
Hialeah
Fort Lauderdale
Tallahassee
Cape Coral
Port St. Lucie
Pembroke Pines
Hollywood
Naples
Gainesville
Clearwater
Palm Bay
West Palm Beach
Lakeland

How to Get Your Florida Bond

1

Choose Your Bond & Share Your Details

Pick from 75+ Florida bond types. Notary bonds require no financial documentation. Sub-660, FRO, public adjuster, and MMTC-style bonds require financial statements or a credit review. Dealer bonds require FLHSMV license details.

Notary bonds approved instantly — no credit check, no waiting
2

We Match You With a Florida-Authorized Surety

Placement goes only to sureties authorized by the Florida Department of Financial Services (Treasury Circular 570 carriers for public-works bonds). During hurricane season we pull from pre-reserved post-landfall capacity so approval times stay under 24 hours.

Dedicated post-storm capacity for public adjuster and roofing bonds
3

Receive Your Bond on the Correct Florida Form

Your bond is issued on the exact form required by DBPR, FLHSMV, Dept. of State, DFS, DACS, DEP, or the court with jurisdiction. Download immediately, or we file directly with the obligee agency on your behalf.

Direct filing with DBPR, FLHSMV, Dept. of State, and DFS

Need a specific Florida bond today?

Skip the comparison shopping \u2014 tell us the bond type and we\u2019ll match Florida-authorized capacity within hours.

Florida Surety Bond Questions

Sub-660, FRO, public adjuster, §255.05 public works, health studio, seller of travel, and hurricane-cycle rules

When does Florida require a Sub-660 contractor bond?
The Sub-660 bond under F.S. §489.115(7) is triggered when a CILB applicant’s FICO credit score falls below 660 at initial licensure, change of status, or renewal. Division I classifications (General, Building, Residential) post up to $20,000. Division II specialty trades (roofing, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, pool/spa, sheet metal, underground utility, solar, HVAC) post up to $10,000. The bond amount is reducible by half if the applicant completes the CILB-approved 14-hour financial responsibility course under FAC Rule 61G4-15.006. This is a separate bond from the $100,000 FRO bond under F.S. §489.1195 — do not conflate them.
What is the difference between the Sub-660 bond and the FRO bond?
Two distinct bonds, two different statutes. The Sub-660 bond (F.S. §489.115(7), FAC 61G4-15.006) is credit-triggered, capped at $10K or $20K, and substitutes for a credit score above 660. The Financially Responsible Officer bond (F.S. §489.1195, FAC 61G4-15.0021) is a fixed $100,000 bond required when a qualifying business entity designates an FRO to stand in for the individual license holder. Some legacy BSB content and the earlier hub cited §489.119 for the FRO — that citation is incorrect and has been corrected. An entity can face both exposures: a Division I contractor below 660 posts a $20K Sub-660 bond AND, if structured with an FRO, a separate $100K FRO bond.
What is the Florida public adjuster bond amount and why does it spike after hurricanes?
Public adjusters post a $50,000 bond under F.S. §626.865(2), filed with the Florida Department of Financial Services. Public adjuster apprentices post the same $50,000 under F.S. §626.8651. Florida licenses more public adjusters than every other state combined, and application volume triples in the 60-90 days after a named storm makes landfall. We maintain dedicated underwriting capacity with multiple Treasury-certified sureties specifically for post-storm surges so approval times stay at 1–2 business days even during peak season. Typical premium is $500–$2,500 annually depending on credit and claims history.
Does Florida really require a $200,000 threshold for public works bonds?
No — the $200,000 figure is frequently misquoted. F.S. §255.05 sets two different thresholds depending on who is awarding the contract. State government contracts of $100,000 or less are exempt from the statutory payment bond requirement. Local government contracts (city, county, special district) of $200,000 or less may be exempt at the awarding agency’s discretion — the local agency can still require a payment bond on projects below that figure. On both tracks, when a bond is required, it is equal to the contract price and must be recorded in the county where the project is located. FDOT highway work is governed separately by F.S. §337.18.
How much is the Florida Seller of Travel bond?
The Seller of Travel bond under F.S. §559.929 is tiered from $10,000 to $50,000 based on annual gross sales and complaint history — not a flat $25K–$50K range as some legacy content implies. It is administered by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). Florida operates the country’s largest cruise market (Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Port Canaveral, Tampa, Jacksonville all run year-round cruise operations), which drives an outsized Seller of Travel registration base. The bond indemnifies travelers against non-delivery of prepaid travel services.
What is the Florida health studio bond amount?
$25,000 per business location under F.S. §501.016(1), filed with FDACS. A studio operating multiple locations aggregates up to a statutory ceiling (commonly administered as $50,000 aggregate for chains). Health studio bonds protect prepaying members against closure before contract services are delivered — a recurring issue for Florida gyms that sell multi-year memberships and then shutter without refunds. The earlier version of this page listed a single $50,000 figure; the correct primary amount is $25,000 per location.
What bonds do Florida motor vehicle dealers need?
All motor vehicle dealer classifications — franchise, independent, wholesale, auction, salvage — post a uniform $25,000 bond under F.S. §320.27(10)(a), filed with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) on Form HSMV 86020. Mobile home dealers post $25,000 (up to 4 supplemental licenses) or $50,000 (five or more) under F.S. §320.77(11)(a). Recreational vehicle dealers post $10,000 or $20,000 under F.S. §320.771(16)(a). Bonded title bonds under F.S. §319.23(7) are 2× current retail value per KBB and run for a 3-year term.
Does Florida require a traditional and a RON notary bond?
Yes — two separate bonds. Traditional notary: $7,500 under F.S. §117.01(7)(a), covers in-person notarizations, 4-year commission term. Remote Online Notarization (RON): additional $25,000 under F.S. §117.225, required only for notaries performing audio-video notarizations under the 2019 RON framework. A notary performing both must post both bonds. Neither requires a credit check. Florida RON adoption rose sharply during and after 2020, making the $25K bond one of the fastest-growing professional bond lines in the state.
How does hurricane season change Florida’s surety bond market?
Florida is the only U.S. state where a weather pattern materially reshapes bond demand every six months. From June 1 to November 30, public adjuster bond volume rises 2–3×, roofing and general contractor license applications surge as out-of-state firms register for repair work, FDOT and local public-works bid activity spikes for debris removal and emergency infrastructure contracts, and even the $5M medical-cannabis facility market tightens capacity as dispensaries harden buildings. Our underwriting desk plans capacity around the NOAA seasonal outlook and reserves placement slots with multiple sureties before peak landfall months.
Can I post a Florida bond with credit below 660?
Yes — and below-660 credit is precisely the condition that triggers the Sub-660 construction bond under F.S. §489.115(7), so sureties writing that specific bond expect lower-credit applicants. Notary bonds (both traditional $7,500 and RON $25,000) require no credit check at all. Public adjuster, auto dealer, and larger license bonds can run 3–15% of the bond amount for applicants below 620 depending on claims history and business financials. Court bonds (appeal, injunction, replevin) are collateral-secured when credit is weak.

Official Florida Resources

Primary .gov sources for Florida bond statutes and filings

DBPR — Construction Industry FAQs

Sub-660 credit threshold, FRO designation, 14-hour financial responsibility course, CILB licensing process

F.S. Chapter 489 — Contracting

Sub-660 (§489.115(7)), FRO bond (§489.1195), specialty trade classifications, qualifying party rules

F.S. Chapter 117 — Notaries Public

Traditional notary $7,500 (§117.01(7)(a)) and RON $25,000 (§117.225) bond requirements

F.S. §255.05 — Little Miller Act

Public works performance/payment bonds, ≤$100K state exemption, ≤$200K local discretionary threshold

F.S. §626.865 — Public Adjuster Qualifications

Licensure, $50,000 bond, apprentice bond under §626.8651

F.S. §320.27 — Motor Vehicle Dealers

$25,000 uniform dealer bond; franchise/independent/wholesale/auction/salvage classifications

U.S. Treasury Circular 570

Federal listing of Treasury-certified sureties authorized for federal bonds and FDOT-connected federal-aid work

Methodology: All bond amounts, statute citations, and agency assignments on this page were cross-checked against current text on flsenate.gov or the issuing agency\u2019s official site in our 2026 Q2 review. Five citation corrections from prior hub content are documented in the corrections callout at the top of this page. Items shown as “variable,” “court-determined,” or “agency-set” are correctly so under the governing statute. See our editorial standards for the full verification process.

Nick Thoroughman, Editorial Director
Reviewed by Nick Thoroughman, Editorial Director
Eric Drummond, Surety Specialist
Surety review by Eric Drummond, Surety Specialist
Nevada DOI license pending issuance

All content is researched from official state and federal sources (.gov) and verified before publication. BuySuretyBonds.com works with Treasury-certified, A- minimum rated surety carriers serving all 50 states.

Estimate Your Florida Surety Bond Premium

Free calculator — ballpark cost in under 60 seconds, no email required.

Open Free Calculator

Nearby States

Surety bonds in neighboring states

Get Your Florida Surety Bond Today

75+ verified Florida bond types \u2014 Sub-660, FRO, public adjuster, notary, dealer, court, and every other bond Florida requires \u2014 with pre-reserved hurricane-season capacity