Oregon Performance & Payment Bonds: Bond Law & Data

Oregon had 14,907 construction establishments employing 115,773 people in 2023, and builders pulled permits for 14,621 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.

Oregon construction at a glance

Measure	Oregon	Source
Construction establishments (2023)	14,907	Census CBP
Construction employees (2023)	115,773	Census CBP
Annual payroll per construction employee	$76,651	Census CBP
Commercial and institutional building contractors	501	Census CBP
Heavy and civil engineering contractors	589	Census CBP
Construction firms with fewer than 5 employees	67%	Census CBP
New housing units authorized (2024)	14,621	Census BPS
Value of new housing units authorized (2024)	$4,277,615,000	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 Oregon

State and local public construction in Oregon is governed by ORS 279C.380 (performance and payment bonds). Federal projects in Oregon 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 Oregon 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 Oregon

Bond types and guides

More Oregon communities

We accept bond requests for projects anywhere in Oregon. Other communities, A to Z:

A — Adair Village · Adams · Adrian · Amity · Antelope · Arlington · Ashland · Astoria · Athena · Aumsville · Aurora

B — Baker City · Bandon · Banks · Barlow · Bay City · Boardman · Bonanza · Brookings · Brownsville · Burns · Butte Falls

C — Canby · Cannon Beach · Canyon City · Canyonville · Carlton · Cascade Locks · Cave Junction · Central Point · Chiloquin · Clatskanie · Coburg · Columbia City · Condon · Coos Bay · Coquille · Cornelius · Cottage Grove · Cove · Creswell · Culver

D — Dallas · Dayton · Dayville · Depoe Bay · Detroit · Donald · Drain · Dufur · Dundee · Dunes City · Durham

E — Eagle Point · Echo · Elgin · Elkton · Enterprise · Estacada

F — Fairview · Falls City · Florence · Forest Grove · Fossil

G — Garibaldi · Gaston · Gates · Gearhart · Gervais · Gladstone · Glendale · Gold Beach · Gold Hill · Granite · Grass Valley

H — Haines · Halfway · Halsey · Harrisburg · Helix · Heppner · Hermiston · Hines · Hood River · Hubbard · Huntington

I — Idanha · Imbler · Independence · Ione · Irrigon · Island City

J — Jacksonville · Jefferson · John Day · Johnson City · Jordan Valley · Joseph · Junction City

K — King City · Klamath Falls

L — La Grande · La Pine · Lafayette · Lakeside · Lakeview · Lebanon · Lexington · Lincoln City · Lonerock · Long Creek · Lostine · Lowell · Lyons

M — Madras · Malin · Manzanita · Maupin · Maywood Park · Merrill · Metolius · Mill City · Millersburg · Milton-Freewater · Milwaukie · Mitchell · Molalla · Monmouth · Monroe · Monument · Moro · Mosier · Mount Angel · Mount Vernon · Myrtle Creek · Myrtle Point

N — Nehalem · Newberg · Newport · North Bend · North Plains · North Powder · Nyssa

O — Oakland · Oakridge · Ontario

P — Paisley · Pendleton · Philomath · Phoenix · Pilot Rock · Port Orford · Powers · Prairie City · Prescott · Prineville

R — Rainier · Reedsport · Richland · Riddle · Rivergrove · Rockaway Beach · Rogue River · Roseburg · Rufus

S — Sandy · Scappoose · Scio · Scotts Mills · Seaside · Seneca · Shady Cove · Shaniko · Sheridan · Sherwood · Siletz · Silverton · Sisters · Sodaville · Spray · St. Helens · St. Paul · Stanfield · Stayton · Sublimity · Summerville · Sumpter · Sutherlin · Sweet Home

T — Talent · Tangent · The Dalles · Tillamook · Toledo · Troutdale · Tualatin · Turner

U — Ukiah · Umatilla · Union · Unity

V — Vale · Veneta · Vernonia

W — Waldport · Wallowa · Warrenton · Wasco · Waterloo · West Linn · Westfir · Weston · Wheeler · Willamina · Wilsonville · Winston · Wood Village

Y — Yachats · Yamhill · Yoncalla

Contractor bonds in Oregon: FAQ

Which law requires bonds on Oregon public works?

ORS 279C.380 (performance and payment bonds). Federal projects follow the Miller Act.

How many construction companies are in Oregon?

The Census Bureau counted 14,907 construction establishments in Oregon in 2023, including 589 heavy and civil engineering contractors.

Who regulates surety companies in Oregon?

Surety companies are regulated by the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation.

How do I get a performance bond in Oregon?

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
Oregon Division of Financial Regulation

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Last updated October 15, 2026 · How we research

Performance and payment bonds in Oregon