Last updated: August 31st, 2026
Attention, California contractors! California’s contractor bond requirements changed several years ago, and the current amount is important to understand when applying for, renewing, or maintaining an active contractor license.
Since January 1, 2023, the required California Contractor’s Bond amount has been $25,000.
The Bond of Qualifying Individual, when required, is also $25,000.
At Contractors License Guru, we help California contractors navigate licensing, bonding, insurance, and other CSLB compliance requirements.
An active California contractor license generally must have a valid $25,000 Contractor’s Bond on file with the Contractors State License Board (CSLB).
The amount increased from $15,000 to $25,000 effective January 1, 2023, as a result of Senate Bill 607.
This is no longer an upcoming change.
If you are applying for a new active contractor license, reactivating an inactive license, or renewing an active license, the required Contractor’s Bond amount is currently $25,000.
You can review the official CSLB Bond Requirements for current information.
The Contractor’s Bond is filed for the benefit of:
The bond helps satisfy California’s contractor licensing requirements, but it should not be confused with:
The $25,000 figure is the bond amount, not necessarily the amount the contractor pays out of pocket.
Contractors generally purchase the bond from a licensed surety company and pay a premium based on the surety company’s underwriting.
Some contractor licenses also require a separate Bond of Qualifying Individual, commonly referred to as a BQI.
The current Bond of Qualifying Individual amount is also $25,000.
This bond is separate from the standard Contractor’s Bond.
According to CSLB, a Bond of Qualifying Individual is required when a license is qualified by a:
An RMO who owns at least 10% of the voting stock may qualify to submit a Bond of Qualifying Individual Exemption Certification instead of maintaining the separate BQI.
If a license has multiple qualifying individuals who are subject to the bonding requirement, each qualifier must satisfy the applicable qualifier-bond requirements.
So, depending on the license structure, a contractor may need:
These are separate bonds with separate purposes.
If you’re unsure which bond your license needs, Contractors License Guru offers California contractor bonding assistance.
The $25,000 bond requirement has now been in effect for several years, so contractors should treat it as a standard current licensing requirement rather than a future regulatory change.
If you’re applying for or maintaining an active license, make sure the Contractor’s Bond on file with CSLB meets the current $25,000 requirement.
Your bond information should also match CSLB’s records exactly, including:
Errors can delay license issuance or create licensing problems.
Don’t assume the standard Contractor’s Bond is the only bond that may apply.
If your license uses an RME or an RMO who does not qualify for the ownership exemption, a separate $25,000 Bond of Qualifying Individual may also be required.
The Contractor’s Bond must remain in effect while required for the active license.
If CSLB receives notice that a required bond has been canceled and no replacement is properly filed, the contractor license can be suspended.
Maintaining continuous bonding is therefore an important part of ongoing CSLB compliance.
You typically do not pay CSLB $25,000 to satisfy the bond requirement.
Instead, you purchase the bond from a surety company and pay a premium.
The premium can vary based on factors such as:
If you also need a Bond of Qualifying Individual, that can create an additional premium.
Contractors License Guru helps contractors navigate California licensing and bonding requirements.
We can assist with:
Our Bonding page includes options for both Contractor’s Bonds and Bonds of Qualifying Individual.
For additional licensing help, review our Services Offered or CSLB Exam Preparation Course Summaries.
The current required Contractor’s Bond amount is $25,000.
This amount has been in effect since January 1, 2023.
No.
The increase already happened.
The Contractor’s Bond increased to $25,000 on January 1, 2023, so articles should no longer describe this as an upcoming change or tell contractors to prepare for a future deadline.
The Bond of Qualifying Individual is currently $25,000 when required.
No.
The BQI requirement depends on the qualifying individual’s status.
For example, it generally applies to an RME and to an RMO who owns less than 10% of the corporation’s voting stock.
An RMO with at least 10% ownership may qualify for the applicable bond exemption certification.
No.
$25,000 is the required bond amount.
The contractor generally pays a premium to the surety company issuing the bond.
No.
The Contractor’s Bond is a licensing bond that provides specified protections under California contractor license law.
It is not the same as a project-specific performance bond and should not be described as guaranteeing completion of a construction project.
If a required bond is canceled and no acceptable replacement is filed, the contractor license can be suspended.
That’s why it’s important to maintain continuous bond coverage while your active license requires it.
For more information, review:
California’s contractor bond requirement should no longer be described as an upcoming change.
The current rules are straightforward:
If you need help determining which bonds apply to your license, visit our California Contractor Bonding page or contact Contractors License Guru for assistance.
