Surety Bond Encyclopedia

Excavating - Drain Layer ($10,000) Bond - Windsor, CT in Connecticut

Brief Summary

Windsor will not issue a drain, pipe or conduit layer license until the Engineering Department has the original signed $10,000 bond in hand. A copy is refused. Order the bond on the Town of Windsor form, have the surety sign it, and deliver the original with your certificate of insurance and references so the license and your first permit are not held up.

The Town of Windsor requires anyone digging in the public right-of-way to hold an excavation license under Sec. 15-51 of the Windsor Code, backed by a cash bond or surety bond of at least $10,000 filed with the Engineering Department. Drain layer is one of four license classes on the Town bond form. Licenses expire every December 31 and renew yearly, and the bond and insurance must stay on file.

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How to Apply for a Excavating - Drain Layer ($10,000) Bond:

Complete the Town of Windsor Request for License and select the Drain, Pipe or Conduit Layer class.
List two key personnel to contact about problems at a work site, with addresses and phone numbers.
Provide two projects completed in the past two years involving drain or pipe work, plus two references familiar with that work.
Obtain the $10,000 bond on the Town of Windsor bond form and deliver the original signed bond to the Engineering Department.
File a certificate of insurance naming the Town of Windsor as additional insured.
Pay the $75 new license fee, then pull a separate permit for each work location.

Detailed Information About the Connecticut Excavating - Drain Layer ($10,000) Bond:

Who needs the drain layer license

Chapter 15, Article III of the Windsor Code covers excavations in the public right-of-way. Sec. 15-51 says no person may excavate or dig below the surface in the right-of-way without a license from the Town Manager or designee. The Engineering Department issues four license classes: Curb and Walk, Drain, Pipe or Conduit Layer, Street Excavation and Driveways, and General Contractor, which covers curbs, walks, drains, driveways and excavation together. The drain layer class fits contractors installing drains, pipe or conduit in Town streets.

Utility work is not a free pass

The Code exempts public service utilities from licensing their own personnel. That exemption does not carry over to the contractors they hire. The Town's permit page states that utility contractors, naming MDC, Comcast and Frontier as examples, are required to obtain a license from the Engineering Department, which means the bond as well.

The bond

Sec. 15-51 calls for a cash bond or a bond from a surety authorized in Connecticut, in a minimum amount of $10,000 or a higher amount set by the Town Manager or designee. It covers indemnification of the Town and repairs, and the Town can call on it if you do not respond to repair requests. The Code and the Town license sheet put the guarantee on your work at three years. The printed Town bond form refers to five years, so ask Engineering which period applies before the bond is signed.

Fees, permits and timing

The Town license sheet lists a $75 fee for a new license and $50 for renewal. A license is not a permit. Each location needs its own permit, with a $50 street excavation permit fee and $25 for an additional excavation on the same property. You also need a Call Before You Dig number before a permit is issued. Right-of-way work is generally limited to 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. unless the Town grants special permission.

Eligibility and Requirements for a Connecticut Excavating - Drain Layer ($10,000) Bond:

Bond of at least $10,000, cash or surety, unless the Town Manager or designee sets a higher amount.
Surety authorized to do business in Connecticut, with the Town of Windsor as obligee.
Original signed bond. A copy is not accepted.
Insurance minimums on the Town license sheet: $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate general liability, $1 million auto, and workers' compensation.
License renewal each year before December 31 with bond and insurance still valid and on file.

Connecticut Excavating - Drain Layer ($10,000) Bond FAQs:

I work for a utility company. Do I still need this license and bond?

If you are the utility's own crew, the Code exempts you from licensing, though you still need a permit. If you are a contractor working for a utility, the Town requires you to hold a license, and the license requires the bond.

Is the $10,000 bond per job or per year?

It backs your annual license, not each permit. The Code sets $10,000 as a minimum, and the Town Manager or designee can require more. Permits are pulled separately for each location.

How long am I on the hook for the work?

Sec. 15-51 and the Town license sheet set a three year guarantee and maintenance period on disturbed areas. The Town bond form text refers to five years, so confirm with Engineering which period it will hold you to.

What does the bond cost?

The premium is a small share of the $10,000 bond amount, set by the surety after reviewing the owner's credit and the business. Apply for an exact quote.

Do I need a different bond for street excavation or general contractor work?

The Town uses one bond form with four license classes. Choose the class that matches the work you will do. General Contractor covers curbs, walks, drains, driveways and excavation together.