Nebraska does not require a statewide contractor license bond for most contractors. Bond requirements are trade- and city-specific: farm labor contractors must post a bond with the Nebraska Department of Labor, and cities like Omaha and Lincoln require bonds as a condition of obtaining a local contractor license.
Nebraska Contractor License Bond Requirements
Nebraska's Contractor Registration Act requires all contractors and subcontractors to register with the Nebraska Department of Labor. Registration requires a $25 annual fee and proof of workers' compensation coverage, but does not require a surety bond.
Farm Labor Contractors
Farm labor contractors operating in Nebraska must hold a license from the Nebraska Department of Labor. As a condition of licensure, each applicant must either post a $5,000 surety bond or establish a $5,000 declaration of trust with the Nebraska Commissioner of Labor as obligee. The bond or trust runs through September 30 of the license year and must be renewed with each annual license renewal.
City and Municipality Contractor Bonds
Omaha and Lincoln both require bonds as a condition of obtaining a local contractor license, and other Nebraska cities may have their own requirements as well - make sure to always check them before applying.
How Much Does a Nebraska Contractor License Bond Cost?
Your bond premium is a percentage of the required bond amount, set primarily by your credit score. Rates start at 1% of the bond amount, with a $100 minimum.
| Bond Type | Bond Amount | Bond Cost |
|---|---|---|
| State-Wide Contractor Bonds | ||
| Nebraska Farm Labor Contractor Bond | $5,000 | Starts at $100 |
| City-Specific Contractor Bonds | ||
| City of Omaha Building Contractor Bond | $10,000 | Starts at $100 |
| City of Omaha Electrical Contractor Bond | $12,500 | Starts at $125 |
| City of Omaha Residential Air Conditioning Contractor Bond | $10,000 | Starts at $100 |
| City of Omaha Commercial Air Conditioning Contractor Bond | $10,000 | Starts at $100 |
| City of Omaha Excavation Contractor Bond | $20,000 | Starts at $200 |
| City of Lincoln Contractor Bond | $5,000 | Starts at $100 |
| City of Scottsbluff Right of Way Contractor Bond | $1,000 | Starts at $100 |
| City of South Sioux City Contractor Bond | $10,000 | Starts at $100 |
Note: The city-specific bonds listed above are not an exhaustive list. Other cities and towns in Nebraska can have their own contractor bonding requirements. Always check with your local building or licensing department to confirm the current bond requirements in your specific municipality before applying.
Use our free bond cost calculator below for a precise estimate based on your credit score:
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Get a free exact quote Get another estimateCredit score carries the most weight, but sureties also review:
- Business financial statements (revenue, cash flow, financial health)
- Available liquid assets and reserves
- Years of experience in the trade
- How long the business has been operating
Strong financials can help offset a lower credit score. Bryant Surety Bonds works with 20+ carriers to find the best available rate for your profile.
Can I Get a Nebraska Contractor License Bond with Bad Credit?
A lower credit score will not disqualify you from getting bonded. Bryant Surety Bonds approves most applicants regardless of credit history, and the application requires only a soft credit pull that does not affect your score.
Applicants with lower credit scores typically pay a higher premium - usually between 5% and 15% of the bond amount - compared to 1% to 3% for applicants with good credit. Learn more about the Bad Credit Surety Bond Program.
How to Get Your Nebraska Contractor License Bond
- Apply online - Complete our short application below.
- Receive your quote - Your quote arrives by email, typically within hours.
- Get bonded - Pay online and receive your bond certificate by email immediately.
The entire process can often be completed in a single day, so you avoid delays that could hold up your license.
Bryant Surety Bonds is licensed to issue surety bonds in Nebraska under license number 100213924.
Nebraska Contract Bonds
A contractor license bond is separate from the contract bonds that may be required for individual projects. Bid bonds, performance bonds, and payment bonds are typically required on public construction projects in Nebraska, on contracts above a certain dollar threshold, or when a project owner requires them as a condition of award. These are project-specific bonds and do not substitute for a contractor license bond.
How to Get a Nebraska Contractor License
Nebraska does not issue a statewide general contractor license -- licensing for most contractor types is handled at the city or county level. All contractors and subcontractors doing business in Nebraska must register annually with the Nebraska Department of Labor Contractor Registration program, which requires a $25 fee and proof of workers' compensation insurance.
For city-level licensing in Omaha or Lincoln, the steps typically include:
- Register with the Nebraska Department of Labor as a contractor
- Obtain any required trade certifications or state licenses applicable to your trade
- Submit a contractor license application to the applicable city licensing office
- Provide proof of general liability insurance meeting the city's minimum coverage requirements
- Obtain and file your contractor license bond with the licensing authority
- Pay applicable license fees
Nebraska Contractor License Bond Renewal
The Nebraska Farm Labor Contractor Bond runs through September 30 of each license year and must be renewed annually alongside the license. City-level contractor bonds in Omaha are continuous bonds maintained in effect for the duration of the license. Lincoln bonds are annual renewable bonds tied to the license period.
Bryant Surety Bonds sends renewal reminders one to two months before your bond's expiration date. The renewal process follows the same steps as the original application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Nebraska require all contractors to post a state-level bond?
No. Nebraska does not require a surety bond for general contractor registration with the Nebraska Department of Labor. All contractors must register with the Department of Labor and maintain workers' compensation coverage, but registration itself does not require a bond. Bond requirements apply to farm labor contractors at the state level and to contractors operating in cities like Omaha and Lincoln at the local level.
Do Omaha contractors need more than one bond?
It depends on the scope of work. An Omaha contractor who holds both a building contractor license and an electrical contractor certificate of registration needs two separate bonds -- a $10,000 building contractor bond and a $12,500 electrical contractor bond. A contractor who also performs street excavation would need a third $20,000 bond. Each bond corresponds to a separate license or registration issued by the Omaha Planning Department.
What is the Nebraska Farm Labor Contractor Bond for?
The bond protects agricultural workers and growers by guaranteeing that the licensed farm labor contractor will pay all wages owed to employees, reimburse growers for any advances made on behalf of workers, and comply with the requirements of the Nebraska Farm Labor Contractors Act (Neb. Rev. Stat. sections 48-1701 through 48-1714). The bond is required by the Nebraska Department of Labor as a condition of receiving a farm labor contractor license.
Do Lincoln contractors need a bond for all types of work?
No. The City of Lincoln's $5,000 bond requirement applies only to contractors performing permitted work in the public right-of-way -- specifically sign contractors, street use contractors, excavation contractors, ROW contractors, and fiber optic professional contractors. Plumbing, HVAC, electrical, and fire contractors working outside the city's public right-of-way are not required to post a bond with the City of Lincoln.
Can I use a bond issued in another state to satisfy Nebraska city requirements?
No. Both Omaha and Lincoln require bonds executed by a surety company authorized to do business in Nebraska. The bond must name the applicable city as obligee and meet the city's specific formatting and filing requirements. A bond naming a different obligee or issued under another state's authority will not satisfy the local requirement.
What happens if my contractor bond lapses?
For city-level contractor licenses in Omaha and Lincoln, a lapsed bond will result in suspension of the contractor license until a current bond is on file. For farm labor contractors, the Nebraska Department of Labor requires a current bond before a license is issued or renewed -- if the bond lapses, the contractor may not legally operate as a farm labor contractor in Nebraska until it is reinstated.
