Scranton, PA
Surety bonds for Scranton, PA contractors
Bid, performance, and payment bonds for contractors working in Scranton, with county industry data. A quote is not a binder.
Lackawanna County is home to 457 construction businesses (County Business Patterns, 2023), the market in which Scranton's 75,905 residents' projects get built. Public owners there require bonds on most construction contracts.
Lackawanna County construction industry data
| Measure (2023) | Lackawanna County | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Construction establishments (all) | 457 | 28,752 |
| Construction employees | 3,483 | 260,932 |
| Annual payroll per construction employee | $71,251 | $77,438 |
| Commercial and institutional building contractors | 20 | 1,497 |
| Heavy and civil engineering contractors | 25 | 1,142 |
| Construction firms with fewer than 5 employees | 66% | 65% |
Census Bureau County Business Patterns, 2023 release.
Infrastructure is a bonded business: 25 heavy and civil engineering firms operate in Lackawanna County, bidding street, sewer, and water projects where bid bonds and final bonds are standard.
On the building side, 20 commercial and institutional building contractors work in Lackawanna County. School districts, hospitals, and municipalities in the area typically require bonds from general contractors, who in turn often require bonds from major subcontractors.
Scranton's building stock and bonded work
Half of Scranton's housing units were built before 1939, 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.
Buildings with five or more units make up 15% of Scranton's housing (Pennsylvania: 13%). Larger multifamily and mixed-use projects frequently involve lenders who require payment and performance bonds from the general contractor.
Measured by homes, Scranton is a 35,512.0-unit city (59% single-family). For a surety, local scale matters less than your own record, but it tells you how much bonded work may be on the bid calendar.
Source: Census ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates; Vintage 2024 population estimates.
Pennsylvania bond law for Scranton public projects
State and local public works in Scranton fall under Pennsylvania's bond statute: Public Works Contractors' Bond Law of 1967 (8 P.S. § 191 et seq.). Federal projects in the area follow the Miller Act. Thresholds and claim deadlines differ, so read each solicitation.
About 66% of Lackawanna 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.
Scranton compared with other Pennsylvania markets
In Philadelphia, the county construction count is 1,658 establishments. In Pittsburgh, the county construction count is 2,700 establishments. By county construction establishments, Scranton ranks 23rd among the 30 Pennsylvania cities profiled here.
Preparing a Scranton bond request
- Legal entity details and owners
- Subcontractor and supplier references
- Your bank and available credit line
- Work-in-progress schedule
- List of completed projects
- Owners' personal financial statements
Questions from Scranton contractors
Do Scranton public projects require performance bonds?
Most public construction contracts in Scranton above the statutory threshold require performance and payment bonds; the bid documents state the requirement.
How big is the construction industry near Scranton?
The Census Bureau counted 457 construction establishments in Lackawanna County in 2023.
Can a new contractor in Scranton 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