General Contractor ($5,000) Bond - Jacksonville, FL in Florida

Brief Summary

A Jacksonville general contractor bond is not a performance bond and it does not guarantee your contracts. State law limits it to $5,000 and conditions it only on Florida Building Code compliance, so it is inexpensive, quick to issue and good statewide once filed.

State certified and registered contractors pulling building permits in Jacksonville file a $5,000 surety bond. Under Florida Statutes section 489.131(3)(e), a local contractor bond may not exceed $5,000, is conditioned only on compliance with the Florida Building Code, is payable to the Florida Homeowners' Construction Recovery Fund, and is filed in each county or municipality where a building permit is requested.

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How to Apply for a General Contractor ($5,000) Bond:

• Hold a valid state certificate or registration from the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board.
• Business name exactly as listed on Sunbiz and on your JaxEPICS profile.
• Owner name and home address for the credit review.
• Complete the bond application and accept the quoted premium.
• Receive the executed $5,000 bond payable to the Florida Homeowners' Construction Recovery Fund.
• File the bond in Jacksonville and complete JaxEPICS contractor registration with workers' compensation proof.

Detailed Information About the Florida General Contractor ($5,000) Bond:

What this bond is, and what it is not

Contractors often expect this bond to back their contracts with customers. It does not. Florida Statutes section 489.131(3)(e) allows a local government to require one bond per contractor in an amount not to exceed $5,000, conditioned only upon compliance with the Florida Building Code adopted under section 553.73. It is not a performance or payment bond for any project.

Who the bond is payable to

The statute makes these bonds payable to the Florida Homeowners' Construction Recovery Fund, not to the customer, and requires them to be filed in each county or municipality where a building permit is requested. The bond must be equally available to all contractors regardless of how long they have been certified or registered and without regard to financial responsibility requirements.

Reciprocity and the warranty exemption

Section 489.131(3)(e) grants bond reciprocity statewide, and the bond counts toward any financial responsibility requirement imposed by statute or rule. A contractor who provides a third party insured warranty policy for the purchaser or owner of a new building or structure is exempt from the bond for that building or structure.

Registering with the City

Jacksonville's Building Inspection Division registers contractors in JaxEPICS. The registration form asks for a copy of a valid state certificate from the Construction Industry Licensing Board, a personal photo ID, proof of workers' compensation coverage naming the City of Jacksonville as certificate holder or a DWC-252 exemption, and a notarized acknowledgment, all emailed to BIDDocuments@coj.net.

Before you file

Confirm the current bond form and filing location with the City of Jacksonville Building Inspection Division before the bond is issued.

Eligibility and Requirements for a Florida General Contractor ($5,000) Bond:

• Bond amount of $5,000, the statutory maximum under section 489.131(3)(e).
• Conditioned only on compliance with the Florida Building Code.
• Payable to the Florida Homeowners' Construction Recovery Fund.
• Filed in each county or municipality where a building permit is requested.
• Exemption for a building or structure covered by a third party insured warranty policy.

Florida General Contractor ($5,000) Bond FAQs:

Official and Additional Resources for the Florida General Contractor ($5,000) Bond: