Erie, PA
Performance and payment bonds in Erie, Pennsylvania
Bid, performance, and payment bonds for contractors working in Erie, with county industry data. A quote is not a binder.
With about 92,940 people, Erie sits in a county whose construction sector numbered 480 establishments in 2023. Contractors competing for Erie schools, streets, utilities, and commercial buildings regularly need surety bonds to win and sign contracts.
Contractors in Erie County by the numbers
| Measure (2023) | Erie County | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Construction establishments (all) | 480 | 28,752 |
| Construction employees | 3,662 | 260,932 |
| Annual payroll per construction employee | $65,792 | $77,438 |
| Commercial and institutional building contractors | 28 | 1,497 |
| Heavy and civil engineering contractors | 23 | 1,142 |
| Construction firms with fewer than 5 employees | 60% | 65% |
Data: County Business Patterns 2023 (NAICS 23, 236220, 237).
Infrastructure is a bonded business: 23 heavy and civil engineering firms operate in Erie County, bidding street, sewer, and water projects where bid bonds and final bonds are standard.
There are 28 commercial building contractors in the county. If you build or subcontract on schools, civic buildings, or larger private projects near Erie, expect bond requirements in the bid documents.
What Erie's buildings say about upcoming work
Half of Erie's housing units were built before 1950, a sign of an older city where renovation, utility replacement, and school modernization projects are common. Rehabilitation work carries unknown conditions, so sureties look closely at your experience with similar jobs.
About 14% of the city's housing units are in buildings of five or more units, versus 13% statewide. That level of multifamily construction brings private bonded work for contractors with the capacity to handle it.
43,681.0 housing units stand in Erie today; detached and attached single-family homes account for 64%. Every new block of homes eventually means more water, sewer, and road capacity, which public owners procure under bonded contracts.
Housing data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 (tables B25024, B25035). Population: U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2024 city population estimates.
Public works bond rules that apply in Erie
Bonds on Erie public contracts are required by Public Works Contractors' Bond Law of 1967 (8 P.S. § 191 et seq.); federal contracts use the Miller Act. Subcontractors and suppliers should note the payment bond claim deadlines in whichever law applies.
About 60% of Erie 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.
Nearby construction markets
Philadelphia County, home to Philadelphia, lists 1,658 construction businesses. Allegheny County, home to Pittsburgh, lists 2,700 construction businesses. By county construction establishments, Erie ranks 21st among the 30 Pennsylvania cities profiled here.
Erie bond quote checklist
- The bond form and bid documents
- Year-end financial statements
- Subcontractor and supplier references
- Your bank and available credit line
- Legal entity details and owners
- Owners' personal financial statements
Questions from Erie contractors
When are bonds required on Erie public work?
Generally yes, above thresholds set by Pennsylvania law and the owner. See the Pennsylvania page.
How big is the construction industry near Erie?
The Census Bureau counted 480 construction establishments in Erie County in 2023.
Can a new contractor in Erie get a performance bond?
Yes, usually starting with smaller bonds. See how to get bonded.
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Last updated October 15, 2026 · How we research