Bonds protect the city and, indirectly, the property owner by giving DOT a way to recover costs if a contractor abandons a job, fails an inspection and doesn't fix it, or damages public infrastructure beyond the permitted scope. Not every small residential sidewalk repair requires a bond, but larger or higher-risk projects — extensive excavation, commercial corridors, work near sensitive infrastructure — often do as part of the permit stipulations. Asking a contractor whether their work is bonded, alongside standard insurance questions, is a reasonable due-diligence step before signing a contract.
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