Some Virginia Contractors Can Now Post Surety Bonds to Fulfill Licensing Requirements

As of July 1, 2017, when getting licensed Class A and B contractors in Virginia will have the option to post a $50,000 Virginia contractor license bond instead of satisfying the minimum net worth requirements in the current Virginia law.

The recently passed bill also specifies the conditions under which the bond agreement will operate and how and when claims can be made against the bond. It also defines the ways in which contractors can provide proof of minimum net worth.

Read on for an overview of the new Virginia contractor bonding requirements.

Current Virginia legislation for Class A and B contractors

At the time of writing, Class A and B contractors in Virginia must maintain a minimum net worth in order to meet the licensing requirements for these classes. According to Chapter 11, §54.1-1100 of the Code of Virginia, Class A contractors are defined as those who:

• Work on a contract valued at $120,000 or more or have, over a 12-month period, worked on contracts with a total value of $750,000 or more

Accordingly, Class B contractors are those who:

• Work on a contract valued between $10,000 but less than $120,000 or have, over a 12-month period, worked on contracts with a total value of $150,000 or more but less than $750,000

Class C contractors are those who have contracts that are lower than those of Class B, and are not affected by the new legislation.

According to the Virginia Administrative Code, the amount of the minimum net worth which Class A and B contractors must maintain in order to be licensed is as follow:

• Class A contractors must maintain a minimum net worth of $45,000
• Class B contractors must maintain a minimum net worth of $15,000

This requirement is now amended with the changes introduced by the recently passed bill.

Virginia Senate Bill 1113

According to Senate Bill 1113, Virginia Class A and B contractors may now post a Virginia contractor license bond in the amount of $50,000 instead of having to maintain a minimum net worth.

That option offers important relief to license applicants because it reduces the financial burden placed on them by previous legislation. By posting a surety bond instead of maintaining net worth in such high amounts, contractors can make use of that capital for their business.

If contractors opt to maintain minimum net worth, the new Bill also specifies what kind of proof thereof they may present. Accordingly, both Class A and B contractors must provide proof of minimum net worth to the Virginia Board of Contractors in the form of a financial statement on a form provided by the Board or a balance sheet reviewed by a certified public accountant.

Those contractors who decide to obtain a Virginia contractor bond are also required to renew their bond every time they renew their license. A contractor bond usually has the same expiry date as a license and must begin no later than the license renewal date.

Virginia contractor bond cost

Obtaining a contractor bond costs only a fraction of the full bond amount. How much exactly a contractor will be required to pay for their surety bond is determined on an individual basis but standard rates for contractor bonds can be as little as 1% of the total amount of the Virginia contractor bond.

The cost of a surety bond is determined by sureties on the basis of an applicant’s financial status. Their personal credit score is among the most important indicators that sureties review when determining the rate at which to issue the bond, but financial statements and assets are also commonly taken into account.

To get a free and precise quote on your contractor license bond, complete the surety bond application form below.