Idaho
Performance and payment bonds in Idaho
Construction data, public works bond rules, and city guides for Idaho contractors. A quote is not a binder.
Idaho had 9,895 construction establishments employing 62,048 people in 2023, and builders pulled permits for 17,630 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.
Idaho construction at a glance
| Measure | Idaho | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Construction establishments (2023) | 9,895 | Census CBP |
| Construction employees (2023) | 62,048 | Census CBP |
| Annual payroll per construction employee | $61,359 | Census CBP |
| Commercial and institutional building contractors | 321 | Census CBP |
| Heavy and civil engineering contractors | 426 | Census CBP |
| Construction firms with fewer than 5 employees | 70% | Census CBP |
| New housing units authorized (2024) | 17,630 | Census BPS |
| Value of new housing units authorized (2024) | $4,640,721,000 | 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 Idaho
State and local public construction in Idaho is governed by Idaho Code § 54-1926 (public works contractor bonds). Federal projects in Idaho 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 Idaho 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 Idaho
- Boise
- Meridian
- Nampa
- Caldwell
- Idaho Falls
- Pocatello
- Coeur d'Alene
- Twin Falls
- Post Falls
- Rexburg
- Lewiston
- Eagle
- Kuna
- Moscow
- Ammon
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 Idaho communities
We accept bond requests for projects anywhere in Idaho. Other communities, A to Z:
A — Aberdeen · Acequia · Albion · American Falls · Arco · Arimo · Ashton · Athol
B — Bancroft · Basalt · Bellevue · Blackfoot · Bliss · Bloomington · Bonners Ferry · Bovill · Buhl · Burley · Butte City
C — Cambridge · Carey · Cascade · Castleford · Challis · Chubbuck · Clark Fork · Clayton · Clifton · Cottonwood · Council · Craigmont · Crouch · Culdesac
D — Dalton Gardens · Dayton · Deary · Declo · Dietrich · Donnelly · Dover · Downey · Driggs · Drummond · Dubois
E — East Hope · Eden · Elk River · Emmett
F — Fairfield · Ferdinand · Fernan Lake Village · Filer · Firth · Franklin · Fruitland
G — Garden City · Genesee · Georgetown · Glenns Ferry · Gooding · Grace · Grand View · Grangeville · Greenleaf
H — Hagerman · Hailey · Hansen · Harrison · Hauser · Hayden · Hayden Lake · Hazelton · Heyburn · Hollister · Homedale · Hope · Horseshoe Bend · Huetter
I — Idaho City · Inkom · Iona · Irwin · Island Park
J — Jerome · Juliaetta
K — Kamiah · Kellogg · Kendrick · Ketchum · Kimberly · Kooskia · Kootenai
L — Lapwai · Lava Hot Springs · Leadore · Lewisville
M — Mackay · Malad City · Malta · Marsing · McCall · McCammon · Melba · Menan · Middleton · Midvale · Minidoka · Montpelier · Moore · Mountain Home · Moyie Springs · Mud Lake · Mullan · Murtaugh
N — New Meadows · New Plymouth · Newdale · Nezperce · Notus
O — Oakley · Oldtown · Onaway · Orofino · Osburn · Oxford
P — Paris · Parker · Parma · Paul · Payette · Peck · Pierce · Pinehurst · Placerville · Plummer · Ponderay · Potlatch · Preston · Priest River
R — Rathdrum · Reubens · Richfield · Rigby · Riggins · Ririe · Roberts · Rockland · Rupert
S — Salmon · Sandpoint · Shelley · Shoshone · Smelterville · Soda Springs · Spencer · Spirit Lake · St. Anthony · St. Charles · St. Maries · Stanley · Star · State Line · Stites · Sugar City · Sun Valley · Swan Valley
T — Tensed · Teton · Tetonia · Troy
U — Ucon
V — Victor
W — Wallace · Wardner · Warm River · Weippe · Weiser · Wendell · Weston · White Bird · Wilder · Winchester · Worley
Contractor bonds in Idaho: FAQ
Which law requires bonds on Idaho public works?
Idaho Code § 54-1926 (public works contractor bonds). Federal projects follow the Miller Act.
How many construction companies are in Idaho?
The Census Bureau counted 9,895 construction establishments in Idaho in 2023, including 426 heavy and civil engineering contractors.
Who regulates surety companies in Idaho?
Surety companies are regulated by the Idaho Department of Insurance.
How do I get a performance bond in Idaho?
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
- Idaho Department of Insurance
Last updated October 15, 2026 · How we research