Oregon Contractor License Bond
Exact requirements, real costs, and how to file the bond without paying a broker 30% to do it for you.
Oregon sets different bond amounts by license type or classification
What Oregon Actually Requires
- → Bond amount is determined by endorsement type — 9 different categories
- → Residential bonds range from $15,000 to $25,000
- → Commercial bonds range from $25,000 to $80,000
- → Bond term is 2 years to match the license renewal cycle
- → The CCB can require up to 5× the standard amount in some disciplinary cases
Oregon Bond Amounts by License Type
Oregon sets the bond amount based on your license type. Pick your category below. The amounts are set by ORS 701.081 (residential) & 701.084 (commercial) and administered by the Construction Contractors Board.
| License Type | Bond Amount |
|---|---|
| Residential General Contractor | $25,000 |
| Residential Specialty Contractor | $20,000 |
| Residential Limited Contractor | $15,000 |
| Residential Developer | $25,000 |
| Commercial General Contractor Level 1 For projects exceeding Level 2 dollar thresholds | $80,000 |
| Commercial Specialty Contractor Level 1 | $55,000 |
| Commercial General Contractor Level 2 | $25,000 |
| Commercial Specialty Contractor Level 2 | $25,000 |
| Commercial Developer | $25,000 |
What Your Oregon Bond Actually Costs
You don't pay the full bond amount. You pay a premium — a percentage of the bond based on your credit score. Here's what the annual premium looks like on each Oregon bond:
On a $25,000 bond — Residential General Contractor
| Credit Tier | Annual Premium |
|---|---|
| Excellent (720+) | $250 – $500 |
| Good (680–719) | $500 – $875 |
| Fair (620–679) | $1,000 – $1,500 |
| Poor (580–619) | $1,500 – $2,000 |
| Bad (Below 580) | $2,000 – $2,500 |
On a $20,000 bond — Residential Specialty Contractor
| Credit Tier | Annual Premium |
|---|---|
| Excellent (720+) | $200 – $400 |
| Good (680–719) | $400 – $700 |
| Fair (620–679) | $800 – $1,200 |
| Poor (580–619) | $1,200 – $1,600 |
| Bad (Below 580) | $1,600 – $2,000 |
On a $15,000 bond — Residential Limited Contractor
| Credit Tier | Annual Premium |
|---|---|
| Excellent (720+) | $150 – $300 |
| Good (680–719) | $300 – $525 |
| Fair (620–679) | $600 – $900 |
| Poor (580–619) | $900 – $1,200 |
| Bad (Below 580) | $1,200 – $1,500 |
On a $25,000 bond — Residential Developer
| Credit Tier | Annual Premium |
|---|---|
| Excellent (720+) | $250 – $500 |
| Good (680–719) | $500 – $875 |
| Fair (620–679) | $1,000 – $1,500 |
| Poor (580–619) | $1,500 – $2,000 |
| Bad (Below 580) | $2,000 – $2,500 |
On a $80,000 bond — Commercial General Contractor Level 1
| Credit Tier | Annual Premium |
|---|---|
| Excellent (720+) | $800 – $1,600 |
| Good (680–719) | $1,600 – $2,800 |
| Fair (620–679) | $3,200 – $4,800 |
| Poor (580–619) | $4,800 – $6,400 |
| Bad (Below 580) | $6,400 – $8,000 |
On a $55,000 bond — Commercial Specialty Contractor Level 1
| Credit Tier | Annual Premium |
|---|---|
| Excellent (720+) | $550 – $1,100 |
| Good (680–719) | $1,100 – $1,925 |
| Fair (620–679) | $2,200 – $3,300 |
| Poor (580–619) | $3,300 – $4,400 |
| Bad (Below 580) | $4,400 – $5,500 |
On a $25,000 bond — Commercial General Contractor Level 2
| Credit Tier | Annual Premium |
|---|---|
| Excellent (720+) | $250 – $500 |
| Good (680–719) | $500 – $875 |
| Fair (620–679) | $1,000 – $1,500 |
| Poor (580–619) | $1,500 – $2,000 |
| Bad (Below 580) | $2,000 – $2,500 |
On a $25,000 bond — Commercial Specialty Contractor Level 2
| Credit Tier | Annual Premium |
|---|---|
| Excellent (720+) | $250 – $500 |
| Good (680–719) | $500 – $875 |
| Fair (620–679) | $1,000 – $1,500 |
| Poor (580–619) | $1,500 – $2,000 |
| Bad (Below 580) | $2,000 – $2,500 |
On a $25,000 bond — Commercial Developer
| Credit Tier | Annual Premium |
|---|---|
| Excellent (720+) | $250 – $500 |
| Good (680–719) | $500 – $875 |
| Fair (620–679) | $1,000 – $1,500 |
| Poor (580–619) | $1,500 – $2,000 |
| Bad (Below 580) | $2,000 – $2,500 |
Premium ranges are based on standard surety industry rates. Your exact rate depends on credit, experience, and the specific surety company. These are annual premiums — the bond itself doesn't cost you the face amount unless there's a claim.
How to File Your Oregon Bond
Oregon is unusual — your bond is tied to a specific license endorsement, and changing endorsements (from residential to commercial, or from Level 2 to Level 1) requires filing a new bond at the higher amount. The CCB processes the bond as part of your license application packet.
Oregon-Specific Gotchas
Oregon has more bond categories than almost any other state. The real question isn't whether you need a bond — it's which endorsement you're filing under.
- Level 1 vs Level 2 matters. Commercial contractors can save significantly by registering at Level 2 if their project volume stays under the Level 1 thresholds. A Level 1 Commercial General pays over 3× the bond of a Level 2.
- The 2-year term is unusual. Most states run 1-year bonds. Oregon matches the bond to the 2-year license cycle, so you're paying 2 years of premium upfront.
- Changing endorsements = new bond. If you grow from residential into commercial work, you can't just upgrade your bond — you file a new one at the higher amount.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is an Oregon contractor license bond? +
What's the difference between Level 1 and Level 2 in Oregon? +
Why is the Oregon bond term 2 years instead of 1? +
Do I need a new bond if I change endorsements in Oregon? +
What's the Residential Limited Contractor category? +
Can the CCB require more than the standard bond amount? +
Our Editorial Insight
Oregon has the most complicated bond schedule of any state in our first five. Nine different amounts depending on what endorsement you file under. It's the kind of thing that makes bond brokers very happy, because every Oregon contractor is a chance to "help you figure out which endorsement is right."
Here's the truth: your Oregon endorsement is dictated by what work you do and how big your projects are. A broker isn't going to change which category you belong in. The CCB's rules do that. All a broker can do is file the bond for whichever endorsement you already belong to — the same thing you can do yourself online in about 20 minutes.
The real money decision in Oregon is Level 1 vs Level 2 for commercial contractors. The Level 1 Commercial General bond ($80K) versus Level 2 ($25K) is a $1,000+ per year difference in premium for most contractors. If your actual project volume stays comfortably under the Level 2 caps, stay at Level 2. Don't register at Level 1 "just in case."
And if you're a residential contractor doing small jobs, look hard at the Residential Limited category. A $15,000 bond at 1.5% is $225 per year. That's the cheapest path to a legal Oregon license in the entire state.
The requirements on this page were last verified on 2026-04-07 against the sources below. Bond amounts and regulations can change — always confirm with the CCB before filing.
Other State Requirements
State Contractor Bonds by Structure
Every state sets its own rules. Here's how all the states we've researched group together — find your state or browse by the structure that matches yours.
Tiered States
3 statesBond amount varies by license type or classification
Alternative States
4 statesBond is optional — serves as an alternative to net worth or working capital
No State Bond Required
6 statesNo statewide contractor license bond — municipal bonds may still apply
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