Wisconsin Contractors License Bond Requirements
A contractor license bond is required of several different types of contractors in Wisconsin. These are:
- Dwelling contractors must get licensed on the state level and obtain a certification or restricted certification from the DSPS. For a certification, they must post a bond in an amount of at least $25,000, whereas for a restricted certification, a bond in an amount of less than $25,000 is required.
- General, electrical, and heating contractors in the City of Superior must post a $25,000 bond.
- Natural gas contractors in the City of Lacrosse must post a $10,000 bond.
- Contractors in the City of Sheboygan must post a $5,000 bond in order to get licensed.
- Concrete contractors and contractors who do sanitary or storm sewer work (drain layers) in the City of Waukesha must post a $5,000 bond in order to get a permit.
- Concrete contractors in the City of Milwaukee are required to post a $5,000 bond to the city, whereas home improvement contractors must submit a $1,000 bond.
- Concrete contractors in the City of West Allis must post a $3,000 bond in order to get a permit.
Contractors throughout Wisconsin are required to obtain one of these bonds when applying for a license or permit. To find out how much your bond might cost, see the next section for a detailed breakdown.
We at Bryant Surety Bonds can help all Wisconsin contractor license applicants to get bonded at low rates. You can go ahead and get a free quote on your bond immediately. Simply complete our online application form, and we will get in touch with you.
Do you need a contract bond instead? See our contract bonds page to find the bond you need!
Get a quick estimate of the cost of your bond by using our surety bond calculator below!
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Get a free exact quote Get another estimateHow Much Does a Wisconsin Contractors License Bond Cost?
The cost of your bond is equal to a percentage of its total amount. To determine the cost, sureties consider a number of financial factors. Among them, your personal credit score is the most important one.
Those applicants who have a high credit score (700+ FICO) are typically offered a rate of 1% of the total amount of their bond. For example, if you are offered a 1% rate on your bond, it would cost $250 to get a $25,000 dwelling contractor bond.
See the table below for a ballpark estimate of the cost of your Wisconsin contractor license bond.
| Wisconsin Contractor License Bond Cost | |||||
| License Type | Surety Bond Amount | Surety Bond Cost by Credit Score | |||
| Above 700 | 650-699 | 600-649 | Below 599 | ||
| Milwaukee home improvement contractor | $1,000 | $100 | $100 | $100 | $100 |
| City of West Allis concrete contractor | $3,000 | $100 | $100 | $100-$120 | $100-$150 |
| City of Waukesha concrete contractors and drain layers, City of Sheboygan contractors, Milwaukee concrete contractors | $5,000 | $100 | $100-$125 | $125-$250 | $250-$500 |
| City of LaCrosse natural gas contractors | $10,000 | $100-$200 | $150-$300 | $200-$400 | $300-$500 |
| Wisconsin dwelling contractors and City of Superior contractors | $25,000 | $187,5-$375 | $250-$626 | $625-$1,250 | $1,250-$2,500 |
Sureties will usually also consider the following additional financial factors when determining your bond premium:
- Personal and business financial statements
- Fixed and liquid assets
- Work experience and record
If you want to lower your bond cost, you must primarily focus on increasing your credit score. In addition to that, you can also work on improving these additional factors.
Do you need more information about how your bond premium is set by the surety? See our surety bond cost guide for a detailed explanation!
Dwelling Contractors
Wisconsin dwelling contractors are the only contractors who are required to get a license bond on a state level. The financial responsibility requirement for dwelling contractors is specified in Wisconsin Statutes § 101.654(2).
This section specifies that the bond is for the purpose of providing security to any person who sustains a loss as a result of a dwelling contractor’s failure to comply with the provisions of the one- and 2-family dwelling code or any other applicable ordinance.
Both the full and restricted dwelling contractor certifications, as well as surety bonds, are issued for the duration of one year. To renew your certification and bond, you must submit renewal papers prior to the expiration date.
Wisconsin Dwelling Contractor Licensing Requirements
Dwelling contractors are licensed with the DSPS. To become licensed, you will need to meet the following requirements:
- Register a business - you can use the One-Stop Business Registration Portal
- Hire an individual who holds a Dwelling Contractor Qualifier Certification and has met all the necessary education requirements
- Obtain Worker’s Compensation Insurance (if applicable)
- Meet Unemployment Compensation requirements (if applicable)
- Provide a $25,000 bond or a bond of less than $25,000, depending on the type of certification (full or restricted) that you wish to obtain
- Complete and submit the Wisconsin dwelling contractor license application form
- Pay a $15 application fee and $25 credential fee
For more information about becoming a dwelling contractor in Wisconsin, contact a DSPS representative.
