Wilkes-Barre, PA
Surety bonds for Wilkes-Barre, PA contractors
Bid, performance, and payment bonds for contractors working in Wilkes-Barre, with county industry data. A quote is not a binder.
Luzerne County is home to 573 construction businesses (County Business Patterns, 2023), the market in which Wilkes-Barre's 44,661 residents' projects get built. Public owners there require bonds on most construction contracts.
The construction market around Wilkes-Barre
| 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% |
Census Bureau County Business Patterns, 2023 release.
Luzerne County has 32 heavy and civil engineering contractors, the firms that build roads, bridges, water lines, and utility systems. Nearly all of that work is public, and nearly all of it is bonded.
On the building side, 29 commercial and institutional building contractors work in Luzerne County. School districts, hospitals, and municipalities in the area typically require bonds from general contractors, who in turn often require bonds from major subcontractors.
Wilkes-Barre's building stock and bonded work
Wilkes-Barre is an older city (median housing year 1943). Aging water and sewer lines, streets, and public buildings drive a steady flow of bonded rehabilitation work, often with tight schedules and occupied sites.
About 18% 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.
19,781.0 housing units stand in Wilkes-Barre 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.
Source: Census ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates; Vintage 2024 population estimates.
Pennsylvania bond law for Wilkes-Barre public projects
For city, county, school district, and state contracts in Wilkes-Barre, 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.
67% of construction businesses in the county are small (under five employees). Growing from small bonds to larger programs depends on working capital, completed-job history, and reliable financial reporting.
Nearby construction markets
Philadelphia (Philadelphia County) draws on 1,658 construction establishments in its county. Allegheny County, home to Pittsburgh, lists 2,700 construction businesses. Hazleton shares Luzerne County with Wilkes-Barre; its median housing year is 1952. By county construction establishments, Wilkes-Barre ranks 19th among the 30 Pennsylvania cities profiled here.
Wilkes-Barre bond quote checklist
- Contract amount, schedule, and owner
- Trade references who can speak to your payment record
- The bond form and bid documents
- Legal entity details and owners
- Year-end financial statements
- List of open jobs with costs and billings
Start a Wilkes-Barre bond request
Questions from Wilkes-Barre contractors
When are bonds required on Wilkes-Barre public work?
Most public construction contracts in Wilkes-Barre above the statutory threshold require performance and payment bonds; the bid documents state the requirement.
How big is the construction industry near Wilkes-Barre?
The Census Bureau counted 573 construction establishments in Luzerne County in 2023.
Can a small Wilkes-Barre contractor get bonded?
Yes, usually starting with smaller bonds. See how to get bonded.
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Last updated October 15, 2026 · How we research