Residential General Contractor ($15,000) Bond - City of Harlem, GA in Georgia

Brief Summary

Before Harlem will issue a building permit for a home project, your contractor registration with the city has to be current, and that registration includes an original $15,000 surety bond payable to the City of Harlem. The bond costs a premium, not $15,000 in cash, and the executed original drops straight into your registration packet.

The City of Harlem, Georgia requires general contractors to register with the city every year before permits are issued. Residential general contractors post a $15,000 surety bond made payable to the City of Harlem. Commercial general contractors post $20,000 instead. Registration also requires a Georgia state contractor license, a business license, insurance certificates and a $50 annual fee.

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How to Apply for a Residential General Contractor ($15,000) Bond:

• Confirm your Harlem work is residential, which calls for the $15,000 bond.
• Have your Georgia general contractor license and a current business license ready to copy.
• Gather workers' compensation and liability insurance certificates showing expiration dates.
• Apply for the bond and pay the premium.
• Receive the original executed bond made payable to the City of Harlem.
• Email the completed Application for Contractor Registration and attachments to buildingpermits@harlemga.org with the subject Permit/Contractor Application.
• Pay the $50 annual fee and renew the registration every year.

Detailed Information About the Georgia Residential General Contractor ($15,000) Bond:

Residential is the $15,000 tier

Harlem sets two bond amounts for general contractors. Residential work carries a $15,000 bond and commercial work carries $20,000. The $15,000 bond fits builders and remodelers working on homes. If you also plan to permit commercial work in Harlem, the city's commercial figure is $20,000, so confirm your tier with Community Development before you buy the bond.

Annual registration comes first

General contractors, subcontractors and several specialty trades must register with the City of Harlem on an annual basis. A building permit will not be issued until that information is up to date. General contractors complete the Application for Contractor Registration, and the state license must be a Georgia license. Plumbing, electrical and mechanical contractors may use a license from their own state, but general contractors may not.

What goes in the packet

The form asks for a copy of your Georgia license, a copy of your occupational or business license with its expiration date, proof of workers' compensation and liability insurance with expiration dates, a GSWCC Land Disturbance Card if it applies, and the original surety bond made payable to the City of Harlem. Business licenses may be from any issuing authority. The annual fee shown on the form is $50. The early payment discount printed on the form carries an old date, so confirm the current fee with the city. Completed packets go to buildingpermits@harlemga.org with the subject Permit/Contractor Application.

Eligibility and Requirements for a Georgia Residential General Contractor ($15,000) Bond:

• Bond amount of $15,000 for residential general contractors.
• City of Harlem named as obligee, with the original bond submitted.
• A Georgia state general contractor license.
• An occupational or business license from any issuing authority.
• Proof of workers' compensation and liability insurance.
• A GSWCC Land Disturbance Card where applicable.

Georgia Residential General Contractor ($15,000) Bond FAQs:

Official and Additional Resources for the Georgia Residential General Contractor ($15,000) Bond: