County of Sacramento Grading Permit Bond
What is the Purpose of the Grading Permit Bond?
The County of Sacramento requires contractors performing grading in the county to obtain a Grading Permit Bond. The bond represents a financial guarantee by the contractor and the issuing surety company to the County of Sacramento that all contracted work will be completed on time and the jobsite will be returned to its original condition.
How Much Does the Bond Cost?
Per Municipal Code 16.44.110, the bond cost will be in an amount estimated by the Administrator to be the cost for stabilizing the activity site if the site is abandoned or work is stopped during the performance of the activity described in the permit.
The bond cost for the contractor is typically between 1%-7.5% depending on the contractor’s personal credit score.
| Bond Amount | Bond Cost* |
|---|---|
| Varies | 1%-7.5% |
*Prices shown are based on several factors. Not all available pricing tiers are shown. Rates do not constitute an offer of bonding and are subject to change at any time.
How Does the Permit Application Process Work With the County of Sacramento?
Per Municipal Code 16.44.080, applications should be filed in the Office of the County Administrator, and include the following information:
- The name, address and telephone number of the applicant and the applicant’s engineer.
- The address and parcel number of the location for which the permit is sought.
- A copy of all entitlements granted for the property by the County, including conditions of approval and the environmental documentation.
- A copy of all required state and federal permits.
- Plans conforming with the requirements of Section 16.44.090.
- Specifications conforming with the requirements of Section 16.44.100, if the Administrator expressly requires this information.
- Security conforming with the requirements of Section 16.44.110.
- Right of Entry conforming with the requirements of Section 16.44.120.
- Fees conforming with the requirements of Section 16.44.130.
Before a permit is issued, applicants must provide the County Administrator with a security in an amount deemed sufficient for returning the work site to its original state.
Does CCIS File the Bond for Applicants?
County of Sacramento requires wet signatures** on filed bond documents. This means both parties must physically sign the bond prior to sending it in to the County of Sacramento. The original bond form issued by CCIS needs be mailed to or dropped off at the following location by the contractor once signed:
**Properly review bond forms to confirm if notarization is required. Failure to adhere to document requirements may lead to rejection of the bond form by the County of Sacramento.
Does This Bond Expire?
The permit bond expires upon the specified expiration date, typically one year from the date of issuance. A new permit bond will need to be purchased should the project take longer than one year.
Claims Information
If the County of Sacramento files a claim against the Grading Permit Bond, the Surety company will investigate the legitimacy of the claim and proceed accordingly. CCIS does not handle surety claims in office, however, claims contact information will be provided to the contractor, to move the claims process forward.
If the claim is found to be legitimate, the Surety company will payout to the County of Sacramento, up to the limit of the bond.
Unlike insurance policies that protect contractors from unforeseen events, this bond protects the County of Sacramento, its laborers, and suppliers from the actions of a contractor. Contractors are responsible for their actions and therefore must reimburse the Surety company for any claims paid. Failure to do so will significantly inhibit a contractor’s ability to obtain a surety bond for future jobs.
