California Public Official Bond (Continuous)
Overview
California's Government Code devotes an entire chapter to official bonds — Chapter 3 of Division 4, sections 1450 through 1653 — and section 1458 names the county officers whose bonds it governs: supervisors, treasurers, county clerks, auditors, sheriffs, tax collectors, district attorneys, recorders, assessors, surveyors, superintendents of schools, and others. A public official bond guarantees the faithful performance of the duties of the office, and the continuous form keeps that guarantee in force across the official's tenure until the bond is cancelled, rather than expiring on a fixed date.
Who Needs This Bond?
Elected and appointed California officials whose positions carry a statutory bond requirement — the county officers listed in Government Code section 1458 are the classic examples — file an official bond before exercising the powers of the office. The requirement can also reach deputies and employees whose duties involve handling public funds, where the appointing authority requires bonding. If your oath-of-office paperwork or county counsel has told you a bond must be filed, this is that bond.
What is this Bond For?
An official bond protects the public and the government entity, not the official. It guarantees faithful performance of official duties under the Government Code's official bond chapter — if an official misappropriates public funds, fails to account for money collected, or otherwise breaches the duties of the office, the bond provides a financial remedy to the entity and taxpayers harmed. The continuous form means the protection does not silently expire mid-term; it stays in force until formally cancelled.
When is it Required?
Before taking office. The bond is filed with the appropriate officer as a prerequisite to assuming the powers of a bonded position, and it must remain in effect throughout service in that position. With a continuous bond there is no annual re-filing on a fixed expiration — the coverage runs until cancelled, which is precisely why counties favor the format for multi-year terms.
Where Does it Apply?
Throughout California. The official bond framework lives in the Government Code, so it applies to covered offices in every county, with the executed bond filed where the code and the local entity direct — typically with the county clerk or another designated filing officer for county positions.
How to Buy Online
Click 'Buy This Bond Online' to open the secure surety portal in a new tab. Provide the office, the bond amount fixed for the position, and the filing details, then pay online. Your executed California public official bond will be ready to file before the oath of office.
Why Bond Titan?
Bond Titan is powered by The Southern Agency, a licensed surety agency. The statutory basis for California official bonds is linked in the Official Sources section, so you — or your county counsel — can verify the framework in the Government Code before purchasing, and the online process keeps a swearing-in date from slipping.
Official Sources
The requirements described on this page are verified against the official sources below.
- Official bonds of county officers — supervisors, treasurers, county clerks, auditors, sheriffs, tax collectors, district attorneys, recorders, assessors, surveyors, superintendents of schools — governed under the Government Code's official bond chapter (Chapter 3, Division 4, §§1450–1653): California Government Code §1458 (verified July 16, 2026)