Hazleton, PA
Surety bonds for Hazleton, PA contractors
Local construction data, public works bond rules, and what sureties ask Hazleton contractors for. A quote is not a binder.
Luzerne County is home to 573 construction businesses (County Business Patterns, 2023), the market in which Hazleton's 30,354 residents' projects get built. Public owners there require bonds on most construction contracts.
Hazleton-area construction statistics
| Measure (2023) | Luzerne County | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Construction establishments (all) | 573 | 28,752 |
| Construction employees | 4,377 | 260,932 |
| Annual payroll per construction employee | $72,203 | $77,438 |
| Commercial and institutional building contractors | 29 | 1,497 |
| Heavy and civil engineering contractors | 32 | 1,142 |
| Construction firms with fewer than 5 employees | 67% | 65% |
Data: County Business Patterns 2023 (NAICS 23, 236220, 237).
Road, utility, and site work around Hazleton is handled by 32 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.
Luzerne County's 29 commercial and institutional builders compete for offices, schools, and public facilities. Private owners and lenders on larger projects increasingly ask for performance and payment bonds too.
What Hazleton's buildings say about upcoming work
Half of Hazleton's housing units were built before 1953, 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 11% of the city's housing units are in buildings of five or more units, versus 13% statewide. That favors single-family subdivisions, where developers post improvement bonds and contractors may be asked for performance bonds.
Renters occupy 49% of Hazleton's homes, and the city counts 12,567.0 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.
Pennsylvania bond law for Hazleton public projects
If you are bidding a public job in Hazleton, check the solicitation against Public Works Contractors' Bond Law of 1967 (8 P.S. § 191 et seq.). That law sets when performance and payment bonds are required; projects funded and owned by the federal government fall under the Miller Act.
Hazleton compared with other Pennsylvania markets
In Philadelphia, the county construction count is 1,658 establishments. Allegheny County, home to Pittsburgh, lists 2,700 construction businesses. Wilkes-Barre shares Luzerne County with Hazleton; its median housing year is 1943. Hazleton's county ranks 20th of 30 profiled Pennsylvania cities for number of construction firms.
What sureties will ask Hazleton contractors for
- Owners' personal financial statements
- Bank line of credit details
- Project solicitation and required bond forms
- List of open jobs with costs and billings
- Company name, entity type, and ownership
- Subcontractor and supplier references
Hazleton bond FAQ
When are bonds required on Hazleton public work?
Generally yes, above thresholds set by Pennsylvania law and the owner. See the Pennsylvania page.
How big is the construction industry near Hazleton?
The Census Bureau counted 573 construction establishments in Luzerne County in 2023.
Can a new contractor in Hazleton get a performance bond?
Yes, usually starting with smaller bonds. See how to get bonded.
Other bond pages near Hazleton
Bond quotes in Pennsylvania · Bond types
Last updated October 15, 2026 · How we research