Plum, PA

Surety bonds for Plum, PA contractors

Local construction data, public works bond rules, and what sureties ask Plum contractors for. A quote is not a binder.

With about 26,420 people, Plum sits in a county whose construction sector numbered 2,700 establishments in 2023. Contractors competing for Plum schools, streets, utilities, and commercial buildings regularly need surety bonds to win and sign contracts.

Allegheny County construction industry data

Measure (2023)Allegheny CountyPennsylvania
Construction establishments (all)2,70028,752
Construction employees31,399260,932
Annual payroll per construction employee$77,894$77,438
Commercial and institutional building contractors1841,497
Heavy and civil engineering contractors1091,142
Construction firms with fewer than 5 employees61%65%

Data: County Business Patterns 2023 (NAICS 23, 236220, 237).

There are 184 commercial building contractors in the county. If you build or subcontract on schools, civic buildings, or larger private projects near Plum, expect bond requirements in the bid documents.

What Plum's buildings say about upcoming work

With a median housing year of 1972, Plum has a mix of mature neighborhoods and later growth. Expect both rehabilitation of older infrastructure and new subdivision work, which can bring subdivision or site improvement bonds.

Buildings with five or more units make up 8% of Plum's housing (Pennsylvania: 13%). Lower-density development tends to emphasize site, utility, and road work tied to subdivisions.

The Census Bureau's 2020–2024 survey puts Plum's housing stock at 11,533.0 units, 88% of them single-family homes, with 19% of occupied homes rented. Those numbers shape the mix of bonded street, utility, and facility contracts the city puts out.

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 Plum

For city, county, school district, and state contracts in Plum, the governing law is Public Works Contractors' Bond Law of 1967 (8 P.S. § 191 et seq.). Federal work is bonded under the Miller Act instead. See our public works bond laws guide.

How Plum compares

In Philadelphia, the county construction count is 1,658 establishments. Allentown (Lehigh County) draws on 673 construction establishments in its county. Also in Allegheny County, Pittsburgh has housing with a median build year of 1942. Plum's county ranks 4th of 30 profiled Pennsylvania cities for number of construction firms.

Preparing a Plum bond request

  • Owner name, project location, and bid date
  • Project solicitation and required bond forms
  • Work-in-progress schedule
  • Company name, entity type, and ownership
  • CPA-prepared statements for the last fiscal year
  • Largest jobs completed in the last five years

Start a Plum bond request

Plum bond FAQ

When are bonds required on Plum public work?

Generally yes, above thresholds set by Pennsylvania law and the owner. See the Pennsylvania page.

How many contractors work in Allegheny County?

The Census Bureau counted 2,700 construction establishments in Allegheny County in 2023.

Can a new contractor in Plum 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