Rhode Island Public Construction Bonds

Rhode Island requires surety security when public works contracts over $50,000; separate DOT or Administration contracts have additional rules; state road/bridge bond: 50% to 100% of contract price; public works bond required by §37-13-14. RIDOT and Administration road or bridge contracts over $150,000 carry bond terms set by §37-12-1; a qualifying certified MBE/WBE may request a waiver up to $250,000 for covered projects.

What Is Surety Bonds?

A surety bond guarantees that your business meets a specific obligation to a customer, contracting party or government agency. If a contract, license or permit requires one, get its exact form and amount; a bond is not insurance for your own losses. Read the national Surety bonds guide.

Rhode Island Surety Bonds Requirements

Requirement	Details
Public construction security	Public works contracts over $50,000; separate dot or administration contracts have additional rules; state road/bridge bond: 50% to 100% of contract price; public works bond required by §37-13-14. ¹

What Should You Watch for With Surety Bonds in Rhode Island?

Check the Rhode Island Contract Trigger
Rhode Island law triggers public-work security when public works contracts over $50,000; separate DOT or Administration contracts have additional rules. State road/bridge bond: 50% to 100% of contract price; public works bond required by §37-13-14 Ask the contracting agency to confirm whether your project falls under this rule and to state the bond penal sum in the bid documents. ¹
Rhode Island Has Another Bond Rule for This Work
RIDOT and Administration road or bridge contracts over $150,000 carry bond terms set by §37-12-1; a qualifying certified MBE/WBE may request a waiver up to $250,000 for covered projects. Before binding the surety, match the required obligee, bond form, and covered obligation to this separate rule. ²
Match the Solicitation’s Bond Form
The R.I. Gen. Laws §37-13-14 governs this statutory obligation, while the project solicitation identifies the obligee, filing deadline, and any bid-security details. Get the final form approved before the bid date and confirm that the named surety is authorized for Rhode Island work. ^1,²

Which Surety Bonds Providers Have Rhode Island License Records?

No provider in our research has both a state license record and a listing for this coverage line. This does not establish that providers are unlicensed. Check the regulator’s license lookup and confirm availability with a provider when requesting a quote.

Who Regulates Insurance in Rhode Island?

Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation, Insurance Division

The DBR Insurance Division provides an online public verification service for producers, adjusters, surplus-lines brokers, and other licensees, and accepts insurance complaints online. Contact the Division for help determining whether it has authority over a particular policy or dispute. ^3,^4,⁵

Website: Regulator website
License lookup: Search licensed producers
Complaints: File a complaint

Surplus-Lines Tax and Stamping Office in Rhode Island

Reported tax rate. 4% of net taxable premium; 2018 filing guide excludes listed broker, carrier and inspection fees ^6,⁷

Rhode Island’s 2024 return applies 4% to net taxable premium (gross premium less returned premium); its 2018 filing guide excludes broker, carrier, and inspection fees from the base. Confirm fee treatment with the Division of Taxation if your bill separates those charges, because no newer official fee-base guidance was located.

What Should You Ask Before Buying Surety Bonds in Rhode Island?

Which Rhode Island statute or procurement rule triggers this bond for our project, and what is the exact penal sum?
Will the obligee accept another form of security, and who must approve that substitution in Rhode Island?
What notice, filing, and claim deadlines should our subcontractors and suppliers track under this bond?

Surety Bonds in Rhode Island: Frequently Asked Questions

When does a Rhode Island public construction project require a surety bond?

Public works contracts over $50,000; separate dot or administration contracts have additional rules. State road/bridge bond: 50% to 100% of contract price; public works bond required by §37-13-14 ¹

Does Rhode Island have another bond requirement beyond the public construction bond?

Yes. RIDOT and Administration road or bridge contracts over $150,000 carry bond terms set by §37-12-1; a qualifying certified MBE/WBE may request a waiver up to $250,000 for covered projects. ²

Sources for Surety Bonds in Rhode Island

1
R.I. Gen. Laws §37-13-14. R.I. Gen. Laws; R.I. Gen. Laws §37-13-14. Accessed 2026-09-29.
2
R.I. Gen. Laws §37-12-1. R.I. Gen. Laws; DOT/Administration projects, bond range and 2024 MBE/WBE waiver. Accessed 2026-09-29.
3
rhode-island insurance regulator. State insurance regulator; DBR Insurance Division overview links to complaint, license lookup, statutes, and regulations. Accessed 2026-09-28.
4
DBR License Status Verification. State insurance regulator; Official page identifies online NAIC-partnered status checks for producers, adjusters, motor vehicle appraisers, surplus-lines brokers, and reinsurance intermediaries. Accessed 2026-09-28.
5
DBR Insurance Consumers. State insurance regulator; Official consumer page explains the division's regulated insurance lines and online complaint route. Accessed 2026-09-28.
6
2025 T-71A Surplus Line Broker Return of Gross Premiums. Rhode Island Division of Taxation; 2025 return, p. 1, lines 1–4: net taxable premium is gross premium less returned premiums; 4% tax; filing due April 1, 2026. Accessed 2026-09-28.
7
Guide to Tax Filings for Surplus Lines. Rhode Island Division of Taxation; 2018 Guide to tax filings, surplus-lines section: gross premium for tax purposes excludes carrier, broker, and inspection fees; no newer official fee-base instruction located as of 2026-09-28. Accessed 2026-09-28.
8
Licenses. At-Bay; Current producer introduction and state table; At-Bay Insurance Services LLC; P&C and surplus-lines identifiers. Accessed 2026-09-21.
9
Licenses and Carriers. Coalition; Licenses and Carriers, re-read 22 September 2026: Insurance Licenses table for Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc., national producer number 18419475, with producer and surplus-lines numbers for all 50 states and DC including California 0L76155, Georgia 196479, Texas 2199630 and 2205589, Pennsylvania 815731 and 817452, Colorado 539028 and Wisconsin 3000108852. Insurance Carriers table naming, with NAIC numbers, Allianz Underwriters Insurance Company 36420, Arch Specialty Insurance Company 21199, Ascot Specialty Insurance Company 45055, Ascot Insurance Company 23752, Aspen Specialty Insurance Company 10717, Chaucer Insurance Company DAC, Coalition Insurance Company 29530, Fireman's Fund Indemnity Corporation 11380, Fortegra Specialty Insurance Company 16823, Lloyd's of London, MSIG Specialty Insurance USA Inc. 34886, MS Transverse Specialty Insurance Company 41807, Steadfast Insurance Company 26387, Vantage Risk Specialty Insurance Company 16275 and Zurich American Insurance Company 16535. Accessed 2026-09-22.
10
Insurance Producer Licenses. Corgi Insurance; Current complete Insurance Producer Licenses table for Corgi Insurance Services, Inc.; 50 rows covering 49 states and DC (DC 3003091619); no New Mexico row; no NPN or as-of date shown. Accessed 2026-09-28.
11
About Hiscox US Insurance. Hiscox; Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. NAIC 10200 as Chicago, IL domiciled insurer admitted or licensed in all 50 states and D.C.; Hiscox Inc. as general agent and Lloyd’s coverholder for Syndicates 33 and 3624; surplus-lines placements through licensed surplus-lines brokers; A.M. Best rating statement. Accessed 2026-09-16.
12
Licenses. ERGO NEXT Insurance; Current entity-by-state license table reopened 28 September 2026: 50 rows under Next First Insurance Agency, Inc., including Washington, DC; New York rows instead list Next Insurance Services PC-1423070 and AP Intego BR-1198885. Accessed 2026-09-28.
13
Licenses. Vouch; Effective 16 January 2025: Vouch Specialty Insurance Services, LLC, NPN 19926463; P&C table (50 states and DC); surplus-lines table includes Idaho 870820; footnote says Georgia and Idaho do not issue agency-level surplus-lines licenses; Idaho retained as producer-only due to conflict. Accessed 2026-09-15.