Home Improvement Contractor Bond in Connecticut

What this bond requires in Connecticut

Connecticut requires Home Improvement Contractors to register with DCP under Conn. Gen. Stat. Chapter 400 rather than to post a license surety bond. Instead of a standing bond, every registrant pays into the Home Improvement Guaranty Fund (§ 20-432), which can pay an aggrieved homeowner up to $25,000 toward an unsatisfied judgment. Under § 20-422 the DCP Commissioner may, on a case-by-case basis, require a registrant to file a surety bond of up to $15,000 running to the state. All applicants must also carry general liability insurance of at least $20,000.

Who requires it

The home improvement contractor bond is required by the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) under Conn. Gen. Stat. Chapter 400, §§ 20-418 to 20-432 (Home Improvement Act); Guaranty Fund at § 20-432.

How to file in Connecticut

HIC applicants register through DCP eLicense portal, submit the application with proof of general liability insurance of at least $20,000, pay the annual $220 registration/Guaranty Fund fee, and renew each year by March 31. A surety bond is filed only if the DCP Commissioner orders one as a condition of registration or renewal under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 20-422.

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FAQ

Common questions

Is a home improvement contractor bond required in Connecticut?

No surety bond required for standard HIC registration; the DCP Commissioner may impose a bond of up to $15,000 under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 20-422 in specific cases. All HICs instead participate in the Home Improvement Guaranty Fund (up to $25,000 per homeowner claim).

How much is the bond in Connecticut?

Connecticut does not publish a single flat amount. See the state-specific notes for how it is determined.

Who requires the bond?

The bond is required by the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP).

How is the bond filed?

HIC applicants register through DCP eLicense portal, submit the application with proof of general liability insurance of at least $20,000, pay the annual $220 registration/Guaranty Fund fee, and renew each year by March 31. A surety bond is filed only if the DCP Commissioner orders one as a condition of registration or renewal under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 20-422.

What does the bond cover?

Surety bonds protect the obligee, not the principal. If you fail to meet the obligation the bond guarantees, the surety pays the claim and recovers from you.

Is a surety bond the same as insurance?

No. Insurance protects you. A surety bond protects whoever required the bond. You repay the surety for any claim they pay.