Developers who have successfully bid on a construction project within a public right of way area must file a Right of Way Bond (formally referred to as a Permitted Work Performance Bond) with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) no less than 10 days before the hired contractors are to commence work.
Jet Insurance Company provides the Right of Way Bond to act as a financial assurance to the FDOT that permit obligations will be upheld according to the contract. If the developer fails to meet all permit specifications and due so on time or does not appropriately pay the hired laborers (i.e. contractors, subcontractors, or vendors), funds from the surety bond may be used to reimburse the damaged claimant for their financial losses.
The Right of Way Bond has a custom limit that is determined by the Florida Department of Transportation and typically must be in an amount equal to the awarded contract price.
At Jet, the cost of the Right of Way Bond is a small percentage of the bond’s dollar amount and is based on the credit score of the developer. Let’s use an example: so if you are seeking up to a $10,000 bond limit, prices start at $100 for a one-year bond term.
Further custom bond limits and Jet’s credit tier rates can be found in the chart below.
Bond Limit | Cost |
---|---|
Up to $10,000 | $100 |
$25,000 | $250 |
$50,000 | $500 |
$100,000 | $1,000 |
It is important to note that if you are seeking a large bond limit ($50k or higher), additional details such as the financial history of your business may need to be reviewed as well. No need to worry though! A Jet underwriter will give you a quick call to request further information if this is the case.
According to the Right of Way Procedures Manual, the Right of Way Bond is required of developers who have recently been awarded a construction bid that is to take place within a public right-of-way area.
However, a portion of the surety bond amount or general requirement may be waived by the Florida Department of Transportation for any of the following reasons:
Jet’s application for the Right of Way Bond can be completed online. To begin, some general information is required such as your contact details, an indication of the bond limit needed, and your social security number for a soft credit check (this process won't impact your score). As stated before, higher bond amounts will require a review from a Jet underwriter, so you may receive a quick call after submitting the initial application.
Either way, you’ll receive an approved rate via email that is ready for immediate purchase. Once payment has been fulfilled, a copy of your receipt and bond form will be sent to you instantly.
The Jet team can file your bond for you at no extra cost! However, if you would prefer to file the form yourself, the option to do so may be selected at check out.
The original signed and sealed Right of Way Bond, along with any other required paperwork, must be submitted to the Florida Department of Transportation, Office of Right of Way at the following mailing address:
Florida Department of Transportation
Office of Right of Way
605 Suwannee St.
Tallahassee, FL 32399
The Right of Way Bond is to remain in effect for the entire duration of the granted permit. If the construction project takes longer than expected, the FDOT will extend the permit and your bond will likely need to be renewed for another term. The original term is only just a year. For details on how to complete this process with Jet, select the “How to Renew My Bond” button at the bottom of the page.
It is important to note that the Right of Way Bond is not up for early cancellation. Upon the completion of the project, and if FDOT has approved the developer’s Contract Completion Report, they will send notice to the surety provider (Jet) to terminate the bond. Once this occurs, the Jet team will do just that.