Phoenix, AZ
Performance and payment bonds in Phoenix, Arizona
Bid, performance, and payment bonds for contractors working in Phoenix, with county industry data. A quote is not a binder.
Phoenix (1,650,070 residents) is part of Maricopa County, where the Census Bureau counted 9,692 construction establishments in 2023, 62.3% of all construction firms in Arizona. Many of them bid public and private work that calls for bid, performance, and payment bonds.
Contractors in Maricopa County by the numbers
| Measure (2023) | Maricopa County | Arizona |
|---|---|---|
| Construction establishments (all) | 9,692 | 15,551 |
| Construction employees | 155,355 | 208,755 |
| Annual payroll per construction employee | $76,844 | $72,769 |
| Commercial and institutional building contractors | 533 | 763 |
| Heavy and civil engineering contractors | 442 | 707 |
| Construction firms with fewer than 5 employees | 58% | 59% |
Census Bureau County Business Patterns, 2023 release.
Road, utility, and site work around Phoenix is handled by 442 heavy and civil contractors in the county. Public works contracts in that sector routinely require performance and payment bonds, and many owners add maintenance bonds after acceptance.
On the building side, 533 commercial and institutional building contractors work in Maricopa County. School districts, hospitals, and municipalities in the area typically require bonds from general contractors, who in turn often require bonds from major subcontractors.
Phoenix's building stock and bonded work
With a median housing year of 1985, Phoenix has a mix of mature neighborhoods and later growth. Expect both rehabilitation of older infrastructure and new subdivision work, which can bring subdivision or site improvement bonds.
About 26% of the city's housing units are in buildings of five or more units, versus 16% statewide. That level of multifamily construction brings private bonded work for contractors with the capacity to handle it.
Renters occupy 43% of Phoenix's homes, and the city counts 653,065.0 housing units in all. Apartment-heavy markets lean toward private bonded projects; owner-heavy ones toward subdivision improvements and public infrastructure.
Source: Census ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates; Vintage 2024 population estimates.
Arizona bond law for Phoenix public projects
Bonds on Phoenix public contracts are required by A.R.S. § 34-222 (performance and payment bonds); federal contracts use the Miller Act. Subcontractors and suppliers should note the payment bond claim deadlines in whichever law applies.
About 58% of Maricopa County's construction firms have fewer than five employees. Smaller contractors can get bonded, usually starting with modest job sizes and relying on owners' credit and experience while financial statements mature.
How Phoenix compares
Mesa shares Maricopa County with Phoenix; its median housing year is 1989. Phoenix's county ranks 1st of 25 profiled Arizona cities for number of construction firms.
What sureties will ask Phoenix contractors for
- Owner name, project location, and bid date
- List of open jobs with costs and billings
- Legal entity details and owners
- The bond form and bid documents
- Owners' personal financial statements
- Year-end financial statements
Questions from Phoenix contractors
When are bonds required on Phoenix public work?
Most public construction contracts in Phoenix above the statutory threshold require performance and payment bonds; the bid documents state the requirement.
How big is the construction industry near Phoenix?
The Census Bureau counted 9,692 construction establishments in Maricopa County in 2023.
Can a new contractor in Phoenix get a performance bond?
Yes, usually starting with smaller bonds. See how to get bonded.
More Arizona cities
Bond quotes in Arizona · Bond types
Last updated October 15, 2026 · How we research