How do I collect from a contractor's surety bond in Oregon?

To collect from an Oregon contractor's surety bond, you must: (1) have an active CCB complaint against the licensed contractor, AND (2) obtain a certified court judgment or arbitration award in your favor that goes unpaid by the contractor. You cannot access the bond through mediation alone — a court judgment is required. Once you have a certified judgment, submit it to the CCB. Bond payout takes at least 60 days from the date the CCB receives the certified judgment.

How much is a contractor's surety bond in Oregon?

Oregon surety bond amounts depend on license type. Residential General Contractors (RGC) carry a $25,000 bond. Residential Specialty Contractors (RSC) carry $20,000. Residential Limited Contractors carry $15,000. Commercial General Contractors Level 1 carry $80,000. These are the maximum amounts available to pay all claims — not per-claimant limits.

What if there are multiple claims against the same contractor bond?

If multiple claims are filed against the same contractor's bond within the same 90-day period, the CCB holds payment until all claims within that period are resolved. This prevents a 'race to the bond' and ensures that similarly situated claimants have an equal chance of recovery. The bond amount is shared among all valid claimants if total claims exceed the bond limit.

Oregon Consumer Protection Guide

How to Collect from a Contractor's Surety Bond in Oregon

Q: Can I collect from the bond if mediation failed?

Mediation alone does not give access to the bond. The only path to bond recovery is: active CCB complaint + certified court judgment or arbitration award that goes unpaid. If mediation fails, you must file in court within 30 days of the CCB's notice, obtain a judgment, and submit it to the CCB.

A contractor's surety bond is your financial safety net when things go wrong. But collecting from it requires specific legal steps that most homeowners don't know about until it's too late.

Verify a contractor's bond is active before work begins — it's your first protection.

Check Bond Status

What is a contractor's surety bond?

A surety bond is a financial guarantee that protects property owners when a licensed contractor fails to complete work, causes damage, or fails to pay subcontractors and suppliers. Oregon requires every CCB-licensed contractor to maintain a surety bond as a condition of their license.

The bond is not insurance for the contractor — it protects you. If a contractor breaches their contract, abandons the project, or causes compensable damage, the bond is the financial resource available to compensate you. Bond amounts range from $15,000 for smaller license types to $80,000 for Commercial General Contractors Level 1.

The critical thing most homeowners don't know

Mediation alone does not give you access to the bond. The only path to bond recovery is an active CCB complaint plus a court judgment or arbitration award that goes unpaid by the contractor. You cannot bypass the court step. This is why acting quickly — and filing your CCB complaint before deadlines expire — is so important.

The two requirements to collect from the bond

Active CCB Complaint

You must have an open, active complaint filed with the Oregon CCB against the licensed contractor. The complaint keeps your claim on record with the board and the surety company.

Certified Court Judgment

You must obtain a certified court judgment or arbitration award in your favor that goes unpaid by the contractor. This is the only mechanism that unlocks bond payment. No exceptions.

Step-by-step: how to collect from the bond

Verify the bond is active before anything else

Before investing time in the complaint process, verify the contractor's bond status at CCB Lookup. A license can be Active while the bond has expired — they have separate expiration dates. If the bond is expired, there is nothing to collect from through the CCB process, though other legal remedies may still be available through the courts.

File the CCB complaint promptly

File as soon as possible — the bond amount is limited and there may be multiple claimants. The CCB notes that people should "file a complaint promptly" because the bond amount is finite and shared among all valid claimants. Strict filing deadlines apply — typically one year from the date work was substantially completed. See our full guide on how to file a CCB complaint.

Attempt mediation

After jurisdiction is confirmed, the CCB will schedule mediation. About 70% of disputes resolve at this stage — which is faster and cheaper than going to court. If you reach a settlement at CCB mediation, the signed agreement is a binding contract. If the contractor breaches the settlement, you are back in court — but with a stronger position.

File in court if mediation fails

If mediation is unsuccessful, the CCB notifies you to file in court within 30 days. Small Claims Court handles claims up to $10,000 without an attorney — the fastest path for smaller disputes. For claims over $10,000, Circuit Court is required and typically involves an attorney. Note: attorney fees are not covered by the surety bond — you pay them regardless of outcome.

Obtain a certified judgment and submit to CCB

Once you win a judgment in court, obtain a certified copy. If the contractor does not pay within the required period, submit the certified judgment to the CCB. The CCB then processes the bond claim. Bond payout takes at least 60 days from the date the CCB receives the certified judgment.

Bond amounts by license type

License type	Bond amount	Insurance minimum
RGC — Residential General Contractor	$25,000	$500K/occ.
RSC — Residential Specialty Contractor	$20,000	$300K/occ.
RLC — Residential Limited Contractor	$15,000	$100K/occ.
CGC1 — Commercial General Level 1	$80,000	$2M agg.
CGC2 — Commercial General Level 2	$25,000	$1M agg.
CSC1 — Commercial Specialty Level 1	$55,000	$1M agg.
CSC2 — Commercial Specialty Level 2	$25,000	$500K/occ.

Important: bond amounts are shared, not per-claimant

The bond amount is a total pool available to all valid claimants — not a per-person limit. If a $25,000 RGC bond has $30,000 in valid claims against it, each claimant recovers proportionally. If multiple claims are filed within the same 90-day window, the CCB holds all payments until the period resolves to avoid a "race to the bond." This is why filing promptly is essential — and why you should verify the bond is still active before investing in the complaint process.

What the bond does not cover

Attorney fees — even if you win in Circuit Court, attorney costs are not recoverable from the bond
Claims against unlicensed contractors — the bond only applies to licensed contractors with active CCB records
Claims beyond the bond limit — if your damages exceed the bond amount, you must pursue the contractor personally for the difference
Claims settled at mediation but not enforced — a mediation settlement is a contract, not a bond claim; breaches require a new court action
Claims filed after the deadline — one year from substantial completion for residential work; missed deadlines typically cannot be reopened

Frequently Asked Questions

You need two things: (1) an active CCB complaint, and (2) a certified court judgment or arbitration award that goes unpaid. File the complaint first, attempt mediation, then file in court if mediation fails. Once you have a certified judgment, submit it to the CCB. Payout takes at least 60 days.

It depends on license type. RGC: $25,000. RSC: $20,000. RLC: $15,000. CGC1: $80,000. CGC2: $25,000. CSC1: $55,000. These are total pool amounts — shared among all valid claimants, not per-person limits.

At least 60 days from the date the CCB receives your certified judgment. If multiple claims exist within the same 90-day window, payment may be held longer until all claims in that period are resolved.

The CCB holds all payments until claims filed within the same 90-day window are resolved, then distributes proportionally. If total valid claims exceed the bond limit, each claimant receives a proportional share. File promptly — the bond amount is finite.

Last updated: February 2026. Information sourced from the Oregon CCB Consumer Protection page. Not legal advice — consult a licensed Oregon attorney for advice specific to your situation.

Check the Bond First

Verify the contractor's bond is active before investing time in the complaint process.