Surety Bond Encyclopedia

Specialty Contractor ($5,000) Bond - Columbia County, GA in Georgia

Brief Summary

Specialty trades are the contractors Georgia leaves out of its residential and general contractor licensing, and that is exactly why Columbia County asks for a bond. Without a state license to check, the $5,000 bond is the county's assurance that your work meets local code. It costs an annual premium, not $5,000 in cash, and it is one of the first things to settle before you register in the county's online permit system.

Columbia County, Georgia requires a $5,000 surety bond from specialty contractors who pull permits in unincorporated Columbia County. Georgia law at O.C.G.A. 43-41-17 exempts specialty contractors doing limited, specific trade work from the state residential and general contractor license, so the county bond stands in as the contractor's guarantee that permitted work follows county ordinances and building codes. Contractors register with the county through Citizen Self Service before submitting permits.

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

Confirm your trade is a specialty trade and not one that needs a Georgia Chapter 14 license.
Register with Columbia County through Citizen Self Service.
Provide the legal business name as it will appear on county permits.
Complete the bond application and review the quoted premium.
Sign the $5,000 bond naming Columbia County as obligee and file it with the county.

Detailed Information About the Georgia Specialty Contractor ($5,000) Bond:

Why specialty trades post a county bond

O.C.G.A. 43-41-17(f) states that nothing in the residential and general contractor licensing chapter precludes a specialty contractor from offering or contracting to perform limited, specialty or specific trade work. The Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors decides which trades qualify. Exempt specialty contractors may also do incidental work up to the greater of $10,000 or 25 percent of the total contract value.

The exemption has a limit. A specialty contractor cannot perform work that requires an electrical, plumbing, conditioned air, low voltage or utility license under Chapter 14 of Title 43 unless it holds that license. If your trade needs one of those state licenses, get it first.

Filing with Columbia County

Columbia County requires contractors to register through its Citizen Self Service portal before submitting permit documents electronically, and it offers a stand alone subcontractor permit application. The $5,000 bond names Columbia County as obligee and guarantees that the contractor's permitted work complies with county ordinances and adopted codes. A valid claim is paid by the surety up to the bond amount, and the contractor repays the surety.

Confirm the current bond form and filing steps with Columbia County Development Services before the bond is issued.

Eligibility and Requirements for a Georgia Specialty Contractor ($5,000) Bond:

Columbia County named as obligee.
Bond amount of $5,000.
A surety authorized to write bonds in Georgia.
Business name on the bond matching the county registration.
Owner credit review, which mainly sets the premium rate.

Georgia Specialty Contractor ($5,000) Bond FAQs:

Do specialty contractors need a Georgia contractor license?

Not the residential or general contractor license. O.C.G.A. 43-41-17 exempts specialty contractors doing limited trade work. Electrical, plumbing, conditioned air, low voltage and utility work still requires the matching state license.

How much incidental work can a specialty contractor take on?

Under O.C.G.A. 43-41-17, incidental work is capped at the greater of $10,000 or 25 percent of the total contract value.

Does this bond cover work inside the cities in Columbia County?

The county bond runs to Columbia County. Check with any city where you work about its own permit and bond requirements.