Rates start at 1% of the contract amount. A $250,000 public job runs roughly $2,500–$7,500 combined, depending on your financials. Call us and we’ll quote your rate before you submit a bid.
South Carolina Performance and Payment Bonds
A South Carolina performance and payment bond is required on public construction contracts exceeding $100,000 under S.C. Code Ann. § 11-35-3030, part of the South Carolina Consolidated Procurement Code. The performance bond protects the contracting agency if you default before the job is done; the payment bond protects your subcontractors and material suppliers if they don’t get paid.
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It’s easy with our simple 3-step process:
- Apply Online
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- Receive Bond
Bond Overview
- Purpose: Performance bond — guarantees the contract gets completed. Payment bond — guarantees subs and suppliers get paid.
- Who Needs It: General contractors bidding on South Carolina public construction work; subs required to bond by their GC’s contract.
- Regulating Authority / Statute: S.C. Code Ann. § 11-35-3030 (South Carolina’s Little Miller Act equivalent), administered by the Division of Procurement Services (DPS).
- Public Contract Threshold: Contracts exceeding $100,000.
- Bond Amount: 100% of the contract price, excluding operation, maintenance, and finance costs, for both bonds.
- Premium Rates: Start at 1% of the contract amount, typically 1–3%.
Disclaimer: Requirements, thresholds, and bond costs listed on this page are accurate as of September 4, 2026, but are subject to change by South Carolina procurement authorities or surety underwriters. For current rates and requirements, call 866-362-6637.
Who Needs Performance and Payment Bonds in South Carolina?
Bonding applies to a specific set of contractors and projects, not every job in the state.
- General contractors bidding South Carolina public contracts exceeding $100,000
- Subcontractors required to bond by the general contractor’s contract terms
- Contractors awarded SCDOT projects of $10,000 or more under S.C. Code § 57-5-1660 (requiring a 100% performance bond and a 50% payment bond)
- Private-project contractors where the owner or lender requires bonding
Some counties and school districts set their own bonding rules, which can differ from the state’s $100,000 figure. Public agencies sometimes require a maintenance bond after completion, covering defects during the warranty period.
costs
How Much Do South Carolina Performance and Payment Bonds Cost?
Performance and payment bonds start at 1% of the contract amount. Rate depends on contract size, your financial statements, and bonding capacity already committed. On a $500,000 contract, 1% runs $5,000 combined; thin financials push that toward 2–3%.
| Contract Amount | Bond Amount | Typical Cost (both bonds) |
|---|---|---|
| $100,000 | $100,000 | $1,000–$3,000 |
| $500,000 | $500,000 | $5,000–$15,000 |
| $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $10,000–$30,000 |
| $5,000,000 | $5,000,000 | $50,000–$150,000 |
We size the bond off your contract value, not your license class.
South Carolina Consolidated Procurement Code Bond Requirements
South Carolina Code § 11-35-3030 (the state’s Little Miller Act equivalent) sets the bonding rules for public construction contracts, administered by the Division of Procurement Services (DPS) under the South Carolina State Fiscal Accountability Authority.
- South Carolina Code Title 11, Chapter 35 — governs mandatory performance and payment bonding on public construction contracts exceeding $100,000.
- S.C. Code § 57-5-1660 — governs bonding on SCDOT highway and infrastructure projects separately, requiring a 100% performance bond and a 50% payment bond on projects of $10,000 or more.
- Performance bond amount — 100% of the contract price, excluding operation, maintenance, and finance costs.
- Payment bond amount — also 100% of that same contract price on standard public contracts; sized identically to the performance bond, not a separate percentage. SCDOT projects follow a different split (see above).
- Filing — bonds must reach the contracting agency before any construction starts on any portion of the work.
- Waiver rule — for construction contracts valued at $50,000 or less, the governmental body may waive bond requirements if the state’s interests are adequately protected.
step by step guide
How to Get Performance and Payment Bonds in South Carolina
-
Choose Your Bond Type
Select the bond you need — commercial, contract, or any specialized bond. We help you find exactly what is required in your state.
-
Submit a Quick Application
Complete a short online form. It only takes a few minutes, with no extra paperwork or long verification steps.
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Get Approved & Receive Your Bond
Get fast approval and receive your bond instantly by email. Your document is ready to use right away.
Turnaround runs same-day for contractors within their approved bonding capacity and clean paperwork; larger contracts or first-time bonding add underwriting time while the surety reviews your financials.
- Confirm your bonding capacity before you bid the job.
- Submit your contract details, financial statements, and work history to a surety underwriter.
- Get approved and receive your performance and payment bond forms.
- File the bonds with the contracting agency before the contract is signed — the awarding agency won’t issue notice to proceed until both are on file.
faq
South Carolina Performance and Payment Bond FAQ
How much does a South Carolina performance and payment bond cost on a typical contract?
What's the difference between the performance bond and the payment bond in South Carolina?
The performance bond guarantees the contract gets finished if you default. The payment bond guarantees your subs and suppliers get paid, even if you don’t pay them. Both are required together on public contracts exceeding $100,000 under § 11-35-3030.
What happens if a South Carolina contractor can't get bonded for a public contract?
The contracting agency won’t award the contract or issue notice to proceed without both bonds filed. Bonding capacity gets denied over weak financials or overextended existing bonds. We’ll review your numbers before the bid deadline.
Does South Carolina require performance and payment bonds on private construction jobs?
No. South Carolina’s $100,000 threshold under § 11-35-3030 applies only to public contracts. Private owners and lenders can require these bonds on any project, regardless of size, purely by contract.
Need bonds sized for a specific bid? Get a South Carolina surety bond quote from our licensed agents, or check our pages on South Carolina contractor license bonds and construction bid bonds if this contract needs those too.
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