Surety Bond Encyclopedia

Right of Way Contractor ($5,000) Bond - City of Boulder, CO in Colorado

Brief Summary

In Boulder the right of way bond does more than back your license for a year. It also guarantees repairs to anything you damage and your maintenance of the work for two years after the city accepts it. Line up the $5,000 bond with your license application and you can pull right of way permits without a delay at the counter.

Boulder Revised Code 4-6-2 bars any developer, contractor or subcontractor from working on public property, rights of way, city owned utility systems, other utility systems or utility easements without a Contractor in the Public Right of Way License. Section 4-6-3 requires a bond with that license, listed here at $5,000, payable to the City of Boulder. The license fee is $201 per year and the license runs twelve months from issuance.

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How to Apply for a Right of Way Contractor ($5,000) Bond:

  • Complete the City of Boulder Contractor License Application for the right of way license.
  • Provide a certificate of insurance naming the City of Boulder as additional insured and certificate holder.
  • Obtain the $5,000 bond payable to the City of Boulder and file it with the application.
  • Pay the $201 annual license fee under BRC 4-20-6.
  • Renew the license, bond and insurance every twelve months from the date of issuance.
  • Pull a right of way permit for each job before work begins.

Detailed Information About the Colorado Right of Way Contractor ($5,000) Bond:

Who needs the license

The rule in Boulder Revised Code 4-6-2 is broad. It covers any developer, contractor or subcontractor doing work that affects public property, rights of way, grounds, any city owned utility system, any other utility system, or work in the street right of way or a utility easement. It applies whether or not the city is the customer. Subcontractors are named directly, so a sub cannot rely on the prime contractor's license. Boulder also does not accept reciprocal licenses from other jurisdictions.

What the bond guarantees

Section 4-6-3(c) spells out three conditions. The bond secures performance of the licensed work to city standards and specifications, safely, and on schedule. It covers necessary repairs to existing improvements damaged during the work. And it covers maintenance of the work for two years after the city accepts it. That two year tail is the part most contractors miss, since a claim can arrive long after the job is closed out.

The bond amount for this license is listed at $5,000 and the obligee is the City of Boulder. Confirm the current bond form and filing steps with the city's contractor licensing office before the bond is issued.

Fees, term and insurance

Under Section 4-20-6 the license fee is $201 per year, and Section 4-6-8 sets the license term at twelve months from the date of issuance. The city's licensing page requires general liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, workers' compensation as Colorado law requires, and the City of Boulder named as additional insured and certificate holder. Work involving blasting or underground operations needs liability coverage for blasting, building collapse and damage to adjacent property under Section 4-6-4.

Each job also needs a right of way permit under Section 8-5-4, and the application must show an effective license, including bonding. Section 4-20-6(h) doubles every permit fee if construction in the right of way starts before the permit is issued.

What it costs

You pay a premium, not the $5,000 face amount. The surety sets it after a credit review of the owners.

Eligibility and Requirements for a Colorado Right of Way Contractor ($5,000) Bond:

  • Bond conditioned on performance, repair of damaged improvements and two years of maintenance after acceptance, under BRC 4-6-3.
  • City of Boulder named as obligee.
  • General liability of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate.
  • Workers' compensation as required by Colorado law.
  • Compliance with the City of Boulder Design and Construction Standards for work in the right of way.

Colorado Right of Way Contractor ($5,000) Bond FAQs:

Do subcontractors need their own right of way license and bond?

Yes. BRC 4-6-2 applies to any developer, contractor or subcontractor doing work in the public right of way, on public property or in utility easements.

How long does the bond have to cover my work?

Section 4-6-3 requires the bond to cover maintenance of the work for two years after the city accepts it, in addition to performance and repair of any improvements you damage.

Does Boulder accept my license from another city?

No. The city's licensing office states that Boulder does not accept reciprocal licenses from other jurisdictions.

What happens if I start work before getting a permit?

BRC 4-20-6(h) sets every permit fee at twice the normal amount for any permit issued after construction in the public right of way has begun.

How much does the bond cost?

The surety sets the premium after reviewing the owners' credit. On a $5,000 bond the cost is a small fraction of the face amount for most contractors.

Official and Additional Resources for the Colorado Right of Way Contractor ($5,000) Bond:

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