Waco, TX
Surety bonds for Waco, TX contractors
Bid, performance, and payment bonds for contractors working in Waco, with county industry data. A quote is not a binder.
Construction is a substantial local industry around Waco: 591 establishments in Mclennan County, or 1.0% of the Texas total of 56,287. For contractors in that market, bonding capacity often decides which jobs they can chase.
The construction market around Waco
| Measure (2023) | Mclennan County | Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Construction establishments (all) | 591 | 56,287 |
| Construction employees | 7,465 | 791,588 |
| Annual payroll per construction employee | $61,484 | $75,479 |
| Commercial and institutional building contractors | 35 | 3,649 |
| Heavy and civil engineering contractors | 35 | 4,468 |
| Construction firms with fewer than 5 employees | 60% | 61% |
Data: County Business Patterns 2023 (NAICS 23, 236220, 237).
Road, utility, and site work around Waco is handled by 35 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.
There are 35 commercial building contractors in the county. If you build or subcontract on schools, civic buildings, or larger private projects near Waco, expect bond requirements in the bid documents.
What Waco's buildings say about upcoming work
With a median housing year of 1979, Waco 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 27% of Waco's housing (Texas: 21%). Larger multifamily and mixed-use projects frequently involve lenders who require payment and performance bonds from the general contractor.
The Census Bureau's 2020–2024 survey puts Waco's housing stock at 61,163.0 units, 61% of them single-family homes, with 51% of occupied homes rented. Those numbers shape the mix of bonded street, utility, and facility contracts the city puts out.
Source: Census ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates; Vintage 2024 population estimates.
Public works bond rules that apply in Waco
For city, county, school district, and state contracts in Waco, the governing law is Texas Government Code chapter 2253 (public work performance and payment bonds). Federal work is bonded under the Miller Act instead. See our public works bond laws guide.
About 60% of Mclennan 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.
How Waco compares
In Houston, the county construction count is 7,718 establishments. Bexar County, home to San Antonio, lists 3,053 construction businesses. Waco's county ranks 22nd of 30 profiled Texas cities for number of construction firms.
What sureties will ask Waco contractors for
- Project solicitation and required bond forms
- Personal financial information for indemnitors
- CPA-prepared statements for the last fiscal year
- Work-in-progress schedule
- Owner name, project location, and bid date
- Largest jobs completed in the last five years
Questions from Waco contractors
When are bonds required on Waco public work?
Most public construction contracts in Waco above the statutory threshold require performance and payment bonds; the bid documents state the requirement.
How many contractors work in Mclennan County?
The Census Bureau counted 591 construction establishments in Mclennan County in 2023.
Can a small Waco 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