Bremerton, WA
Performance and payment bonds in Bremerton, Washington
Local construction data, public works bond rules, and what sureties ask Bremerton contractors for. A quote is not a binder.
With about 45,291 people, Bremerton sits in a county whose construction sector numbered 903 establishments in 2023. Contractors competing for Bremerton schools, streets, utilities, and commercial buildings regularly need surety bonds to win and sign contracts.
Bremerton-area construction statistics
| Measure (2023) | Kitsap County | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Construction establishments (all) | 903 | 27,190 |
| Construction employees | 4,842 | 229,133 |
| Annual payroll per construction employee | $68,373 | $83,136 |
| Commercial and institutional building contractors | 23 | 782 |
| Heavy and civil engineering contractors | 27 | 909 |
| Construction firms with fewer than 5 employees | 69% | 68% |
Census Bureau County Business Patterns, 2023 release.
Road, utility, and site work around Bremerton is handled by 27 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, 23 commercial and institutional building contractors work in Kitsap County. School districts, hospitals, and municipalities in the area typically require bonds from general contractors, who in turn often require bonds from major subcontractors.
Renovation, growth, and bonding in Bremerton
Half of Bremerton's housing units were built before 1970, 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 24% of Bremerton's housing (Washington: 22%). Larger multifamily and mixed-use projects frequently involve lenders who require payment and performance bonds from the general contractor.
19,735.0 housing units stand in Bremerton today; detached and attached single-family homes account for 58%. Every new block of homes eventually means more water, sewer, and road capacity, which public owners procure under bonded contracts.
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 Bremerton
State and local public works in Bremerton fall under Washington's bond statute: RCW 39.08 (contractor's bond). Federal projects in the area follow the Miller Act. Thresholds and claim deadlines differ, so read each solicitation.
69% 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
Seattle (King County) draws on 6,775 construction establishments in its county. Spokane (Spokane County) draws on 1,927 construction establishments in its county. Bremerton's county ranks 24th of 30 profiled Washington cities for number of construction firms.
Preparing a Bremerton bond request
- List of open jobs with costs and billings
- Owners' personal financial statements
- Project solicitation and required bond forms
- Year-end financial statements
- Contract amount, schedule, and owner
- Company name, entity type, and ownership
Start a Bremerton bond request
Questions from Bremerton contractors
Do Bremerton public projects require performance bonds?
Most public construction contracts in Bremerton above the statutory threshold require performance and payment bonds; the bid documents state the requirement.
How many contractors work in Kitsap County?
The Census Bureau counted 903 construction establishments in Kitsap County in 2023.
Can a small Bremerton contractor get bonded?
Yes, usually starting with smaller bonds. See how to get bonded.
Other bond pages near Bremerton
Bond quotes in Washington · Bond types
Last updated October 15, 2026 · How we research