# Montgomery County Plat Bonds, CLOMR Bonds and Detention Rules URL: https://mycontractorsinsurancequote.com/texas/metros/houston/montgomery-county Updated: 2026-10-29 · Reviewed by the Principal, Gleason Insurance Brokers, LLC Publisher: My Contractors Insurance Quote, a website of Gleason Insurance Brokers, LLC Under the Development Regulations unincorporated Montgomery County adopted March 4, 2025, with amendments through October 8, 2026, a subdivision bond is figured at $250 per linear foot of standard road, $500 for boulevards and $2,000 for bridges, plus $15,000 per acre-foot of detention. The bond drops automatically to 50% at initial acceptance, covers a mandatory developer maintenance period of at least one year and is released at final acceptance. A separate $50,000 or $75,000 performance bond applies when a CLOMR or LOMR is part of the project. ## Key Decision Points - Section 9.J requires a bond or alternate guarantee for both public and private road subdivisions, payable to the County Judge, from plat approval until final completion. - Rates are $250 per linear foot for standard two- or three-lane roads, $500 for boulevards and $2,000 for bridges, plus $15,000 per acre-foot of detention volume. - The bond reduces automatically to 50% at initial acceptance, and the developer maintenance period runs at least one year before final acceptance and release. - Section 9.K adds a $50,000 performance bond for CLOMRs of 100 acres or less and $75,000 above that, or a letter from a special district instead. - The County issues no permit for utility work in its right-of-way: it gives a statement of no objection and charges a $500 road-cut fee per cut. ## Unincorporated Montgomery County and the 2025 Regulations This page covers unincorporated Montgomery County. Cities such as Conroe set their own subdivision requirements inside their limits, and a city's extraterritorial jurisdiction can bring the city's rules into play, so confirm which agency approves the plat before sizing security. The city rules were not part of the research for this page. The County's Development Regulations were adopted March 4, 2025. The copy linked from the Engineering page incorporates amendments through October 8, 2026. That makes them among the newest county subdivision rules in the Houston region, and the bond figures below come from that copy. Because the regulations have been amended within the last month, confirm the current requirement with Montgomery County Engineering before quoting a bond amount to a lender or partner. How the north-side counties fit the wider region is summarized on the [Houston-area construction insurance and surety](https://mycontractorsinsurancequote.com/texas/metros/houston). ## Section 9.J Bond Rates per Foot and per Acre-Foot Section 9.J requires a bond or alternate guarantee before the plat moves forward, payable to the County Judge and in force from plat approval until final completion. The regulations say the bonding requirement applies to both public and private road subdivisions, which matters for gated and private-street projects that might expect to skip it. The amount is calculated from the plan, not from a cost estimate: - $250 per linear foot of street or road for the standard two- or three-lane cross section - $500 per linear foot for boulevards - $2,000 per linear foot for bridges, with a separate $1,500 rate for bridge-class culverts (confirm the unit in Section 9.J) - $15,000 per acre-foot of detention volume provided How plat security works across Texas cities and counties is explained under [Texas subdivision improvement bond options](https://mycontractorsinsurancequote.com/construction-surety-bonds/subdivision-improvement-bonds/texas). ### Illustrative scenario: A Private-Street Section with a CLOMR North of Conroe Lake Creek Land Partners is developing a fictional 140-lot gated section in unincorporated Montgomery County with 6,500 linear feet of standard private streets and 30 acre-feet of detention. Because Section 9.J applies to private road subdivisions too, its bond is figured at about $1,625,000 for streets plus $450,000 for detention, a little over $2 million in all, from an A-minus or better surety. The project also needs a CLOMR on 80 acres, and the utility district serving the land agrees to deliver a letter to the County Engineer instead of the developer posting a $50,000 bond. At initial acceptance the bond drops to half, and the developer's broker lines up completed-operations coverage for the one-year maintenance period. The company and details are hypothetical; a real program depends on the County's current requirements, the surety and carriers involved and the firm's own risk. ## Surety Rating and Letter of Credit Terms Bonding companies must hold an A.M. Best rating of A-minus or better. An automatically renewing letter of credit from a federally insured institution is the listed alternative. The detention charge can move the total more than many developers expect: a site with 40 acre-feet of storage adds $600,000 to the bond before a single foot of road is counted. That size matters for surety capacity. A developer running several Montgomery County sections at once may find the per-foot and per-acre-foot totals use much of its bonding program, subject to underwriting, so it helps to model the amounts for every planned section before the first plat goes to Commissioners Court. Statewide developer bonding and insurance terms are summarized under [Texas developer bond and insurance rules](https://mycontractorsinsurancequote.com/texas/audiences/developers). ## Initial Acceptance, the 50% Reduction and the Maintenance Period The bond reduces automatically to 50% of the original amount at initial acceptance. The regulations define the Developer Maintenance Period as a mandatory minimum one-year period between initial acceptance and final acceptance, and the bond is released at final acceptance. The Appendix B forms are titled Maintenance Bond, with and without a surety, and no separate maintenance bond percentage beyond the 50% reduction was found in the regulations. For roadway improvement agreements covering work inside existing County right-of-way, Section 7 calls for a warranty period of at least one year after initial acceptance by Commissioners Court. Contractors performing that work should expect their completed-operations exposure to run at least that long, and should confirm their policies extend beyond it, subject to the terms of the policies issued. How warranty-period bonds differ from performance bonds is explained under [maintenance and warranty bonds](https://mycontractorsinsurancequote.com/construction-surety-bonds/maintenance-warranty-bonds). ## The CLOMR and LOMR Bond and the Special District Letter Section 9.K adds a second instrument when a project relies on a conditional letter of map revision. The developer files a separate performance bond of $50,000 for CLOMRs covering 100 acres or less, or $75,000 above 100 acres. When a special district such as a municipal utility district or a water control and improvement district is involved, the regulations let the district deliver an executed letter to the County Engineer in lieu of a bond. The letter option can save surety capacity, but it moves the commitment to the district. A developer should confirm the district board will sign it and how the district's own agreements allocate the cost if the map revision is not completed. Detention design follows the County's Drainage Criteria Manual, whose current cover is dated September 17, 2026. It requires NOAA Atlas 14 rainfall data and a minimum of 0.55 acre-feet of detention storage for every acre of developed area for the 100-year event. Multiplied by the $15,000-per-acre-foot rate, that floor ties drainage design directly to the bond total. Pollution coverage for detention and grading work is covered under [site development pollution liability](https://mycontractorsinsurancequote.com/contractors-pollution-liability-insurance/site-development). ## Utility Work, Overweight Permits and Insurance Terms Montgomery County does not issue permits for utility work in its right-of-way. Its Engineering page describes a notice of proposed installation and a statement of no objection, with forms dated July and October 2026, 72 hours' notice before work and a traffic control plan for every utility project. Table 6-1 of the regulations lists a road-cut fee of $500 per cut for utility installation. The utility page states no bond or insurance requirement. Table 6-1 also lists a $50,000 yearly blanket bond for overweight permits, which heavy haulers and site contractors moving equipment on County roads should plan for. The word insurance appears in the regulations only in flood insurance definitions, and no developer or contractor insurance requirement was found. Insurance terms typically come from the permit, the owner contract or a municipal utility district agreement, so confirm them with the County and the owner before binding coverage. How other Texas agencies bond right-of-way work is explained under [Texas right-of-way and encroachment permit bonds](https://mycontractorsinsurancequote.com/construction-surety-bonds/encroachment-permit-bonds/texas). ## The 2025 Road Bond and Neighboring Counties Commissioners Court called a $480 million road bond election on February 11, 2025. In the May 3, 2025, election, Proposition A passed 5,764 to 5,149 in the official canvass, which points to a sustained pipeline of County road work for civil and paving contractors. Compared with its neighbors, Montgomery County's per-foot rates are higher than Fort Bend's and it adds a detention charge, while Harris County prices plat surety per lot. A developer working in more than one county should expect different bond totals, reduction points and release events on similar projects. The southwest county's schedule is laid out under [Fort Bend County per-foot plat bonds](https://mycontractorsinsurancequote.com/texas/metros/houston/fort-bend-county). ## Before You Ask for a Quote ### What to Gather - The current Development Regulations from Montgomery County Engineering, including Sections 7, 9.J and 9.K - Linear feet of road by cross section and any bridge or bridge-class culvert - Detention volume in acre-feet from the drainage report prepared to the Drainage Criteria Manual - Any CLOMR or LOMR application and the acreage it covers - The municipal utility district or water district agreement, if a district letter may replace the CLOMR bond - Utility installation notices, traffic control plans and the count of road cuts ### What to Ask the Insurer or Surety - Does our surety carry an A.M. Best rating of A-minus or better? - What is the full Section 9.J total once detention volume is added? - Will the district sign the letter in lieu of the CLOMR bond, and on what terms? - When will initial acceptance trigger the 50% reduction? - What insurance does the owner contract or district agreement require, since the regulations do not state any? - Does completed-operations coverage last through final acceptance? ## Broker Notes **Quick Answer:** Unincorporated Montgomery County bonds plats at $250 per linear foot of standard road, $500 for boulevards and $2,000 for bridges plus $15,000 per acre-foot of detention, reduces the bond to 50% at initial acceptance and releases it at final acceptance after at least one year. **Common Mistake:** Leaving detention out of the bond estimate or assuming private streets are exempt. The regulations add $15,000 per acre-foot of detention and apply the bond to private road subdivisions. **Broker Perspective:** A broker typically models the Section 9.J total for every planned section, checks the A-minus surety floor and asks early whether a district letter can replace the CLOMR bond. **Coverage Impact:** Because the regulations state no insurance requirement, coverage terms usually come from the owner contract or district agreement, and a policy written without reading those documents may not match what they require. ## Questions Buyers Ask ### Does Montgomery County require a bond for a private-street subdivision? Yes. Section 9.J of the Development Regulations says the bonding requirement applies to both public and private road subdivisions. The bond is payable to the County Judge and runs from plat approval until final completion. Confirm the current terms with County Engineering, because the regulations were amended in October 2026. ### How is detention priced into a Montgomery County plat bond? The total bond must include $15,000 per acre-foot of detention volume provided, on top of the per-foot road amounts. The Drainage Criteria Manual sets a minimum of 0.55 acre-feet per developed acre for the 100-year event, so detention can be a large share of the bond. ### When does the Montgomery County bond drop or end? It reduces automatically to 50% of the original amount at initial acceptance. The developer maintenance period then runs at least one year, and the bond is released at final acceptance. ### What is the CLOMR bond in Montgomery County? Section 9.K requires a separate performance bond of $50,000 for CLOMRs covering 100 acres or less and $75,000 for larger areas. A special district such as a municipal utility district may instead deliver an executed letter to the County Engineer. ### Does Montgomery County require a bond for utility work in its right-of-way? The County does not issue permits for utility work in its right-of-way. It gives a statement of no objection, requires 72 hours' notice and a traffic control plan and charges $500 per road cut. No bond or insurance term appears on that page, so confirm any requirement with the County and the utility owner. ## Official Sources 1. [Montgomery County Development Regulations, adopted 3/4/2025 incorporating amendments 10-8-2026](https://www.mctx.org/Development%20Regulations%20-%20Adopted%203-4-2025%20(incorporating%20amendments%2010-8-2026).pdf), Montgomery County Engineering and Commissioners Court. Section 9.J bond rates per linear foot and per acre-foot of detention, public and private roads, 50% automatic reduction, release at final acceptance, A-minus surety floor, letter of credit; Developer Maintenance Period of at least one year; Section 9.K CLOMR/LOMR bond and special district letter; Section 7 warranty; Table 6-1 road-cut fee and overweight blanket bond. Verified 2026-10-25. 2. [Utilities in ROW Submittals](https://www.mctx.org/departments/departments_d_-_f/engineering/utilities_in_row_submittals.php), Montgomery County Engineering. No County permit for utility work in right-of-way; statement of no objection; 72 hours' notice; traffic control plan; forms dated July and October 2026. Verified 2026-10-25. 3. [Montgomery County Drainage Criteria Manual (cover dated September 17, 2026)](https://www.mctx.org/MoCo_DCM_September%202026_Clean.pdf), Montgomery County Commissioners Court and Engineering. NOAA Atlas 14 rainfall required; minimum 0.55 acre-feet of detention per developed acre for the 100-year event. Verified 2026-10-25. 4. [Order Calling Road Bond Election (passed February 11, 2025)](https://elections.mctx.org/pdf/CON050325/_%20Montgomery%20County%20May%202025%20Road%20Bond%20Election%20-%20Order%20Calling%20Road%20Bond%20Election.pdf), Montgomery County Commissioners Court. Proposition A, $480,000,000 in road bonds. Verified 2026-10-25. 5. [May 3, 2025, Official Canvass Report](https://elections.mctx.org/results/2025_May_Canvass_Report.pdf), Montgomery County Elections. Proposition A official totals: 5,764 for and 5,149 against. Verified 2026-10-25. 6. [Regulations of Subdivisions, Section 3.9 Bond or Letter of Credit (comparison)](https://www.fortbendcountytx.gov/sites/default/files/document-central/document-central/engineering-documents/regulations-subdivisions/Section3PlatSubmittalProce.pdf), Fort Bend County Engineering. Fort Bend per-linear-foot plat security schedule used for the county comparison. Verified 2026-10-25. 7. [Regulations for the Approval and Acceptance of Infrastructure (comparison)](https://www.eng.hctx.net/portals/23/infraregs-effect190709.pdf), Harris County Engineering Department. Harris County per-lot financial surety schedule used for the county comparison. Verified 2026-10-25. 8. [Rules for Construction of Facilities within Harris County and HCFCD Rights-of-Way (comparison)](https://oce.harriscountytx.gov/Portals/43/Documents/Publications/Construction-in-HC-or-HCFCD-ROW-Regs.pdf), Harris County and Harris County Flood Control District. Neighboring county right-of-way bond schedule used for comparison. Verified 2026-10-25. ## Related Decisions - [Houston metro construction insurance](https://mycontractorsinsurancequote.com/texas/metros/houston) - [Harris County plat surety and right-of-way rules](https://mycontractorsinsurancequote.com/texas/metros/houston/harris-county) - [Fort Bend County plat bonds and right-of-way security](https://mycontractorsinsurancequote.com/texas/metros/houston/fort-bend-county) - [Texas civil and infrastructure contractor bonding](https://mycontractorsinsurancequote.com/texas/audiences/civil-infrastructure-contractors) - [insurance and bonds for land developers](https://mycontractorsinsurancequote.com/who-we-serve/developers-subdividers/land-developers) --- Start a quote request: https://mycontractorsinsurancequote.com/get-a-quote · Call 844-978-7283 Contract and insurance reviews are a courtesy service that may be available at times, depending on our workload and on the size, timing and complexity of the project. A review is not guaranteed and is limited to insurance considerations. It is not legal advice and is not a substitute for advice from your own legal counsel, which you may need before signing a contract or obtaining coverage. Insurance and surety services are provided through Gleason Insurance Brokers, LLC. Site information is educational and does not constitute legal advice, a binder, an offer of coverage, a guarantee of eligibility or confirmation of policy terms. Insurance conditions are governed by actual issued policies; surety rights and obligations are governed by bond and indemnity documents.