Florida Subdivision Bond Guide
A Florida subdivision bond (also called a plat bond or site improvement bond) guarantees a developer will complete required public improvements — roads, curbs, sidewalks, drainage, sewer, water and related site work — according to approved plans and municipal standards. This practical guide gives developers clear steps to secure bonds quickly, manage underwriting, and avoid map‑recordation or permit delays.
Florida subdivision bond
Local governments require a Florida subdivision bond before allowing lot sales or recording final plats. The bond protects taxpayers and future homeowners by ensuring unfinished infrastructure will be completed if the developer stops work.
Site improvement bond
Site improvement bonds cover on‑site and off‑site public infrastructure: paving, curb and gutter, storm drainage, utilities, erosion control, and sometimes landscaping or long‑term monitoring items. Confirm the precise scope with the jurisdiction.
Subdivision bond Florida
Agencies set the bond penalty using an engineer’s estimate of remaining work plus contingency and mobilization. Penalties commonly run 100%–150% of the remaining cost; reconciling the estimate with contractor bids can lower the number and premium.
Plat bond Florida
A plat bond (another name for the same instrument) is often required to record the final plat. The municipality will not record until it receives the executed bond form with the exact obligee name and required penalty amount.
Developer bond Florida
Developers should treat bond placement as part of project closeout planning. Early broker engagement, complete documentation, and contractor bid packages shorten underwriting and reduce the need for collateral or guaranties.
How to get subdivision bond
Request the agency bond form and the engineer’s cost estimate.
Contact a surety broker experienced with Florida municipalities.
Submit 2–3 years of financials, bank references, contractor bids, construction schedule, and a concise project resume.
If credit is limited, prepare a parent or corporate guaranty, or consider collateral options.
Subdivision bond checklist
Confirm obligee name, bond penalty, expiration and extension terms.
Secure the agency’s required bond form and submission instructions.
Provide engineer estimate, contractor bids, schedule, and financials.
Ask for phased or partial release language to reduce exposure.
Deliver the executed bond before final plat recordation.
Subdivision bond amounts
Understand how the penalty is calculated: remaining contractor cost, contingency, mobilization, and sometimes administrative allowances. Provide competitive contractor bids to adjust inflated engineer estimates and lower your premium.
Phased subdivision bond
Phased bonds allow bonding by construction stage or area, reducing a single large penalty and premium. Jurisdictions may accept phased security if milestones, inspection triggers, and partial release language are clearly defined.
Blanket subdivision bond
Blanket bonds cover multiple plats or projects under one instrument and can streamline administration for developers with several small plats. They require aggregate exposure reporting and typically need stronger financials or collateral.
Practical Tips for Developers Start the bonding conversation during plan approval. Provide contractor bids early to challenge conservative engineer estimates. Negotiate clear release milestones and avoid open‑ended automatic extensions. If your credit profile is thin, discuss collateral or guaranty options with multiple brokers to get competitive terms.
Action Steps Now
Request the agency bond form and engineer estimate.
Contact an experienced surety broker and assemble your bond packet.
Provide contractor bids to reconcile penalties and secure the bond before plat recordation.