Houston, TX
Surety bonds for Houston, TX contractors
Bid, performance, and payment bonds for contractors working in Houston, with county industry data. A quote is not a binder.
Houston (2,310,000 residents) is part of Harris County, where the Census Bureau counted 7,718 construction establishments in 2023, 13.7% of all construction firms in Texas. Many of them bid public and private work that calls for bid, performance, and payment bonds.
Contractors in Harris County by the numbers
| Measure (2023) | Harris County | Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Construction establishments (all) | 7,718 | 56,287 |
| Construction employees | 166,110 | 791,588 |
| Annual payroll per construction employee | $80,240 | $75,479 |
| Commercial and institutional building contractors | 649 | 3,649 |
| Heavy and civil engineering contractors | 595 | 4,468 |
| Construction firms with fewer than 5 employees | 57% | 61% |
Census Bureau County Business Patterns, 2023 release.
Road, utility, and site work around Houston is handled by 595 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.
On the building side, 649 commercial and institutional building contractors work in Harris County. School districts, hospitals, and municipalities in the area typically require bonds from general contractors, who in turn often require bonds from major subcontractors.
What Houston's buildings say about upcoming work
Houston's median housing year of 1982 points to infrastructure entering its replacement cycle, from water mains to roofs on public buildings, all common sources of bonded contracts.
Buildings with five or more units make up 44% of Houston's housing (Texas: 21%). Larger multifamily and mixed-use projects frequently involve lenders who require payment and performance bonds from the general contractor.
Measured by homes, Houston is a 1,040,576.0-unit city (48% 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.
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.
Texas bond law for Houston public projects
Bonds on Houston public contracts are required by Texas Government Code chapter 2253 (public work performance and payment bonds); federal contracts use the Miller Act. Subcontractors and suppliers should note the payment bond claim deadlines in whichever law applies.
Small firms dominate local construction, with 57% employing fewer than five people. If you are among them, a clean balance sheet and CPA-prepared statements are the fastest route to larger bonds.
Houston compared with other Texas markets
Bexar County, home to San Antonio, lists 3,053 construction businesses. Dallas County, home to Dallas, lists 4,921 construction businesses. Pasadena shares Harris County with Houston; its median housing year is 1977. Houston's county ranks 1st of 30 profiled Texas cities for number of construction firms.
Houston bond quote checklist
- Owner name, project location, and bid date
- Bank line of credit details
- Owners' personal financial statements
- Year-end financial statements
- Subcontractor and supplier references
- List of open jobs with costs and billings
Houston bond FAQ
When are bonds required on Houston public work?
Generally yes, above thresholds set by Texas law and the owner. See the Texas page.
How many contractors work in Harris County?
The Census Bureau counted 7,718 construction establishments in Harris County in 2023.
Can a new contractor in Houston 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