Arkansas
Performance and payment bonds in Arkansas
Construction data, public works bond rules, and city guides for Arkansas contractors. A quote is not a binder.
Arkansas had 6,366 construction establishments employing 58,830 people in 2023, and builders pulled permits for 13,684 new housing units in 2024. Public owners across the state require bid, performance, and payment bonds on most construction contracts. Below are the state's construction numbers, the bond law that applies to public work, the factors sureties weigh, and guides for the largest cities.
Arkansas construction at a glance
| Measure | Arkansas | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Construction establishments (2023) | 6,366 | Census CBP |
| Construction employees (2023) | 58,830 | Census CBP |
| Annual payroll per construction employee | $61,404 | Census CBP |
| Commercial and institutional building contractors | 352 | Census CBP |
| Heavy and civil engineering contractors | 416 | Census CBP |
| Construction firms with fewer than 5 employees | 62% | Census CBP |
| New housing units authorized (2024) | 13,684 | Census BPS |
| Value of new housing units authorized (2024) | $3,247,191,000 | Census BPS |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023: construction (NAICS 23), commercial and institutional building construction (NAICS 236220), and heavy and civil engineering construction (NAICS 237); U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual state estimates.
Public works bond law in Arkansas
State and local public construction in Arkansas is governed by Arkansas's public works bond requirements are set by state law; check the bid documents and the state code. Federal projects in Arkansas are bonded under the Miller Act. Thresholds, notice periods, and claim deadlines differ, so read each solicitation and the statute. More in our public works bond laws guide.
What moves a Arkansas bond quote
- Credit of the company and its owners.
- Financial statements: working capital, net worth, and profitability.
- Experience with jobs of similar type and size.
- Backlog compared with your approved capacity.
- Job terms: bond form, schedule, warranty period, and liquidated damages.
- Bank support and an available line of credit.
See bond cost factors and bonding capacity.
City guides for Arkansas
- Little Rock
- Fayetteville
- Fort Smith
- Springdale
- Jonesboro
- Rogers
- Conway
- North Little Rock
- Bentonville
- Pine Bluff
- Benton
- Hot Springs
- Sherwood
- Bella Vista
- Paragould
- Russellville
- Jacksonville
- Texarkana
- Cabot
- Centerton
Bond types and guides
- Performance bonds for contractors
- Payment bonds
- Bid bonds
- Maintenance bonds
- Supply bonds
- Contractor license and permit bonds
- How to get bonded as a contractor
- Bonding capacity explained
- What determines performance bond cost
- Public works bond laws: the Miller Act and state statutes
- Surety prequalification checklist for contractors
More Arkansas communities
We accept bond requests for projects anywhere in Arkansas. Other communities, A to Z:
A — Adona · Alexander · Alicia · Allport · Alma · Almyra · Alpena · Altheimer · Altus · Amagon · Amity · Anthonyville · Antoine · Arkadelphia · Arkansas City · Ash Flat · Ashdown · Atkins · Aubrey · Augusta · Austin · Avoca
B — Bald Knob · Banks · Barling · Bassett · Batesville · Bauxite · Bay · Bearden · Beaver · Beebe · Beedeville · Bellefonte · Belleville · Ben Lomond · Bergman · Berryville · Big Flat · Bigelow · Biggers · Birdsong · Black Oak · Black Rock · Black Springs · Blevins · Blue Eye · Blue Mountain · Bluff City · Blytheville · Bodcaw · Bonanza · Bono · Booneville · Bradford · Bradley · Branch · Briarcliff · Brinkley · Brookland · Bryant · Buckner · Bull Shoals · Burdette
C — Caddo Valley · Caldwell · Cale · Calico Rock · Calion · Camden · Cammack Village · Campbell Station · Caraway · Carlisle · Carthage · Casa · Cash · Caulksville · Cave City · Cave Springs · Cedarville · Central City · Charleston · Cherokee Village · Cherry Valley · Chester · Chidester · Clarendon · Clarkedale · Clarksville · Clinton · Coal Hill · Colt · Concord · Corinth · Corning · Cotter · Cotton Plant · Cove · Coy · Crawfordsville · Crossett · Cushman
D — Daisy · Damascus · Danville · Dardanelle · Datto · De Queen · De Valls Bluff · DeWitt · Decatur · Delaplaine · Delight · Dell · Denning · Dermott · Des Arc · Diamond City · Diaz · Dierks · Donaldson · Dover · Dumas · Dyer · Dyess
E — Earle · East Camden · Edmondson · Egypt · El Dorado · Elaine · Elkins · Elm Springs · Emerson · Emmet · England · Enola · Etowah · Eudora · Eureka Springs · Evening Shade · Everton
F — Fairfield Bay · Fargo · Farmington · Felsenthal · Fifty-Six · Fisher · Flippin · Fordyce · Foreman · Forrest City · Fouke · Fountain Hill · Fountain Lake · Fourche · Franklin · Fredonia · Friendship · Fulton
G — Garfield · Garland · Garner · Gassville · Gateway · Gentry · Georgetown · Gilbert · Gillett · Gillham · Gilmore · Glenwood · Goshen · Gosnell · Gould · Grady · Grannis · Gravette · Green Forest · Greenbrier · Greenland · Greenway · Greenwood · Greers Ferry · Griffithville · Grubbs · Guion · Gum Springs · Gurdon · Guy
H — Hackett · Hamburg · Hampton · Hardy · Harrell · Harrisburg · Harrison · Hartford · Hartman · Haskell · Hatfield · Havana · Haynes · Hazen · Heber Springs · Hector · Helena-West Helena · Hermitage · Hickory Ridge · Higden · Higginson · Highfill · Highland · Hindsville · Holiday Island · Holland · Holly Grove · Hope · Horatio · Horseshoe Bend · Horseshoe Lake · Houston · Hoxie · Hughes · Humnoke · Humphrey · Hunter · Huntington · Huntsville · Huttig
I — Imboden
J — Jacksonport · Jasper · Jennette · Jericho · Johnson · Joiner · Judsonia · Junction City
K — Keiser · Kensett · Keo · Kibler · Kingsland · Knobel · Knoxville
L — LaGrange · Lafe · Lake City · Lake View · Lake Village · Lakeview · Lamar · Lavaca · Leachville · Lead Hill · Leola · Lepanto · Leslie · Letona · Lewisville · Lexa · Lincoln · Little Flock · Lockesburg · London · Lonoke · Lonsdale · Louann · Lowell · Luxora · Lynn
M — Madison · Magazine · Magness · Magnolia · Malvern · Mammoth Spring · Manila · Mansfield · Marianna · Marie · Marion · Marked Tree · Marmaduke · Marshall · Marvell · Maumelle · Mayflower · Maynard · McCaskill · McCrory · McDougal · McGehee · McNab · McNeil · McRae · Melbourne · Mena · Menifee · Midland · Midway · Mineral Springs · Minturn · Mitchellville · Monette · Monticello · Montrose · Moorefield · Moro · Morrilton · Morrison Bluff · Mount Ida · Mount Pleasant · Mount Vernon · Mountain Home · Mountain Pine · Mountain View · Mountainburg · Mulberry · Murfreesboro
N — Nashville · Newark · Newport · Nimmons · Norfork · Norman · Norphlet
O — O'Kean · Oak Grove · Oak Grove Heights · Oakhaven · Oden · Ogden · Oil Trough · Okolona · Ola · Omaha · Oppelo · Osceola · Oxford · Ozan · Ozark
P — Palestine · Pangburn · Paris · Parkdale · Parkin · Patmos · Patterson · Pea Ridge · Peach Orchard · Perla · Perry · Perrytown · Perryville · Piggott · Pindall · Pineville · Plainview · Pleasant Plains · Plumerville · Pocahontas · Pollard · Portia · Portland · Pottsville · Powhatan · Poyen · Prairie Grove · Prattsville · Prescott · Pyatt
Q — Quitman
R — Ratcliff · Ravenden · Ravenden Springs · Rector · Redfield · Reed · Reyno · Rison · Rockport · Roe · Rondo · Rose Bud · Rosston · Rudy · Russell
S — Salem · Salesville · Scranton · Searcy · Sedgwick · Shannon Hills · Sheridan · Sherrill · Shirley · Sidney · Siloam Springs · Smackover · Smithville · South Lead Hill · Southside · Sparkman · Springtown · St. Charles · St. Francis · St. Joe · St. Paul · Stamps · Star City · Stephens · Strawberry · Strong · Stuttgart · Subiaco · Success · Sulphur Rock · Sulphur Springs · Summit · Sunset · Swifton
T — Taylor · Thornton · Tillar · Tinsman · Tollette · Tontitown · Traskwood · Trumann · Tuckerman · Tull · Tupelo · Turrell · Twin Groves · Tyronza
U — Ulm
V — Valley Springs · Van Buren · Vandervoort · Victoria · Vilonia · Viola
W — Wabbaseka · Waldenburg · Waldo · Waldron · Walnut Ridge · Ward · Warren · Washington · Watson · Weiner · Weldon · West Fork · West Memphis · West Point · Western Grove · Wheatley · Whelen Springs · White Hall · Wickes · Widener · Wiederkehr Village · Williford · Willisville · Wilmar · Wilmot · Wilson · Wilton · Winchester · Winslow · Winthrop · Wooster · Wrightsville · Wynne
Y — Yellville
Z — Zinc
Contractor bonds in Arkansas: FAQ
Which law requires bonds on Arkansas public works?
Arkansas's public works bond requirements are set by state law; check the bid documents and the state code. Federal projects follow the Miller Act.
How many construction companies are in Arkansas?
The Census Bureau counted 6,366 construction establishments in Arkansas in 2023, including 416 heavy and civil engineering contractors.
Who regulates surety companies in Arkansas?
Surety companies are regulated by the Arkansas Insurance Department.
How do I get a performance bond in Arkansas?
Apply with your company and owner information, financial statements, and project details. The surety sets your limits and rate based on underwriting.
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023: construction (NAICS 23), commercial and institutional building construction (NAICS 236220), and heavy and civil engineering construction (NAICS 237)
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual state estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 (tables B25024, B25035)
- U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2024 city population estimates
- Arkansas Insurance Department
Last updated October 15, 2026 · How we research