{
  "name": "Competitive bid thresholds for local government by US state \u2014 the dollar amount at which a city, county or school district must formally bid, with statutory citations",
  "description": "State-by-state dollar thresholds at which a local government must put a purchase or a construction project out to formal competitive bidding. Each record is one state and one class of entity (municipalities, counties, school districts, or all local public bodies), with the amount the statute sets, the lower band where informal quotes are allowed instead, whether the figure is automatically inflation-adjusted, and the statutory citation. Thresholds range from $15,000 (California school district public projects) to $500,000 (North Carolina construction), and several states index the number annually \u2014 Ohio raises it 3% every year, Florida tracks the Engineering News-Record Building Cost Index. Answers 'what is the bid threshold for a city in [state]', 'does my school district have to bid this purchase', and 'what dollar amount triggers formal competitive bidding for a county'.",
  "url": "https://referencesource.org/competitive-bid-thresholds-by-state/",
  "licence": "unknown",
  "last_verified": "2026-08-19",
  "stale_after": "2027-08-19",
  "sources": [
    "https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=PCC&sectionNum=20111",
    "https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0200-0299/0255/Sections/0255.20.html",
    "https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=010500050K10-20.21",
    "https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/26.3.pdf",
    "https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/471.345",
    "https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/GMU/103?format=raw",
    "https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_143/GS_143-129.html",
    "https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-9.17",
    "https://codes.findlaw.com/tx/local-government-code/loc-gov-t-sect-262-023.html",
    "https://codes.findlaw.com/tx/local-government-code/loc-gov-t-sect-252-021.html",
    "https://codes.findlaw.com/tx/education-code/educ-sect-44-031.html",
    "https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title2.2/chapter43/section2.2-4303/",
    "https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/62/I/15"
  ],
  "records": [
    {
      "jurisdiction_entity": "California \u2014 school districts",
      "state": "California",
      "entity_type": "school districts",
      "spend_category": "equipment, materials, supplies and services (higher figure); public projects as defined in Pub. Cont. Code \u00a7 22002(c) (lower figure)",
      "formal_bid_threshold": "more than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000)",
      "threshold_usd": "$50,000 for equipment, materials, supplies and services; $15,000 for public projects",
      "informal_quote_tier": "none stated in this section",
      "indexation": "adjusted annually by the Superintendent for the change in the Implicit Price Deflator, rounded to the nearest $100",
      "statutory_citation": "Cal. Pub. Cont. Code \u00a7 20111",
      "id": "california-school-districts",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/competitive-bid-thresholds-by-state/california-school-districts/",
      "source": "https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=PCC&sectionNum=20111",
      "source_quote": "The governing board of any school district, in accordance with any requirement established by that governing board pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 2000, shall let any contracts involving an expenditure of more than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for any of the following:",
      "verified_fields": [
        "formal_bid_threshold"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "entity_type",
        "indexation",
        "informal_quote_tier",
        "jurisdiction_entity",
        "spend_category",
        "state",
        "statutory_citation",
        "threshold_usd"
      ]
    },
    {
      "jurisdiction_entity": "Florida \u2014 counties, municipalities and special districts",
      "state": "Florida",
      "entity_type": "counties, municipalities, special districts and other political subdivisions",
      "spend_category": "public construction works (higher figure); electrical work (lower figure)",
      "formal_bid_threshold": "estimated to cost more than $300,000",
      "threshold_usd": "$300,000 for construction; $75,000 for electrical work",
      "informal_quote_tier": "none stated in this section",
      "indexation": "adjusted by the change in the Engineering News-Record Building Cost Index from January 1, 2009 to January 1 of the year the project is scheduled to begin",
      "statutory_citation": "Fla. Stat. \u00a7 255.20(1)",
      "id": "florida-counties-municipalities-and-special-districts",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/competitive-bid-thresholds-by-state/florida-counties-municipalities-and-special-districts/",
      "source": "https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0200-0299/0255/Sections/0255.20.html",
      "source_quote": "A county, municipality, special district as defined in chapter 189, or other political subdivision of the state seeking to construct or improve a public building, structure, or other public construction works must competitively award to an appropriately licensed contractor each project that is estimated to cost more than $300,000. For electrical work, the local government must competitively award to an appropriately licensed contractor each project that is estimated to cost more than $75,000.",
      "verified_fields": [
        "formal_bid_threshold"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "entity_type",
        "indexation",
        "informal_quote_tier",
        "jurisdiction_entity",
        "spend_category",
        "state",
        "statutory_citation",
        "threshold_usd"
      ]
    },
    {
      "jurisdiction_entity": "Illinois \u2014 school districts",
      "state": "Illinois",
      "entity_type": "school districts",
      "spend_category": "supplies and materials, and work",
      "formal_bid_threshold": "in excess of $35,000",
      "threshold_usd": "$35,000",
      "informal_quote_tier": "none stated \u2014 but a school board may set a lower threshold by its own policy",
      "indexation": "no adjustment mechanism stated in this section",
      "statutory_citation": "105 ILCS 5/10-20.21",
      "id": "illinois-school-districts",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/competitive-bid-thresholds-by-state/illinois-school-districts/",
      "source": "https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=010500050K10-20.21",
      "source_quote": "purchase of supplies and materials or work involving an expenditure in excess of $35,000 or a lower amount as required by board policy",
      "verified_fields": [
        "formal_bid_threshold"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "entity_type",
        "indexation",
        "informal_quote_tier",
        "jurisdiction_entity",
        "spend_category",
        "state",
        "statutory_citation",
        "threshold_usd"
      ]
    },
    {
      "jurisdiction_entity": "Iowa \u2014 governmental entities, public improvements",
      "state": "Iowa",
      "entity_type": "governmental entities (cities, counties, school districts and other public bodies)",
      "spend_category": "public improvements",
      "formal_bid_threshold": "one hundred thousand dollars",
      "threshold_usd": "$100,000, or the adjusted threshold published under Iowa Code \u00a7 314.1B",
      "informal_quote_tier": "none stated in this section",
      "indexation": "adjusted competitive bid threshold established under Iowa Code \u00a7 314.1B",
      "statutory_citation": "Iowa Code \u00a7 26.3(1)",
      "id": "iowa-governmental-entities-public-improvements",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/competitive-bid-thresholds-by-state/iowa-governmental-entities-public-improvements/",
      "source": "https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/26.3.pdf",
      "source_quote": "If the estimated total cost of a public improvement exceeds the competitive bid threshold of one hundred thousand dollars, or the adjusted competitive bid threshold established in section 314.1B, the governmental entity shall advertise for sealed bids for the proposed public improvement",
      "verified_fields": [
        "formal_bid_threshold"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "entity_type",
        "indexation",
        "informal_quote_tier",
        "jurisdiction_entity",
        "spend_category",
        "state",
        "statutory_citation",
        "threshold_usd"
      ]
    },
    {
      "jurisdiction_entity": "Minnesota \u2014 all municipalities",
      "state": "Minnesota",
      "entity_type": "all municipalities (the Uniform Municipal Contracting Law supersedes inconsistent entity-specific laws)",
      "spend_category": "all contracts for the purchase or sale of supplies, materials, equipment, and the construction, alteration, repair or maintenance of real or personal property",
      "formal_bid_threshold": "estimated to exceed $175,000",
      "threshold_usd": "$175,000",
      "informal_quote_tier": "over $25,000 but not over $175,000: sealed bids or direct negotiation on two or more quotations; $25,000 or less: quotation or open market",
      "indexation": "no adjustment mechanism stated in this section",
      "statutory_citation": "Minn. Stat. \u00a7 471.345, subd. 3",
      "id": "minnesota-all-municipalities",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/competitive-bid-thresholds-by-state/minnesota-all-municipalities/",
      "source": "https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/471.345",
      "source_quote": "If the amount of the contract is estimated to exceed $175,000, sealed bids shall be solicited by public notice in the manner and subject to the requirements of the law governing contracts by the particular municipality or class thereof.",
      "verified_fields": [
        "formal_bid_threshold"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "entity_type",
        "indexation",
        "informal_quote_tier",
        "jurisdiction_entity",
        "spend_category",
        "state",
        "statutory_citation",
        "threshold_usd"
      ]
    },
    {
      "jurisdiction_entity": "New York \u2014 all political subdivisions",
      "state": "New York",
      "entity_type": "all political subdivisions and districts, including soil conservation districts",
      "spend_category": "public work (higher figure) and purchase contracts (lower figure)",
      "formal_bid_threshold": "more than thirty-five thousand dollars",
      "threshold_usd": "$35,000 for public work; $20,000 for purchase contracts",
      "informal_quote_tier": "none stated in this section",
      "indexation": "no adjustment mechanism stated in this section",
      "statutory_citation": "N.Y. Gen. Mun. Law \u00a7 103(1)",
      "id": "new-york-all-political-subdivisions",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/competitive-bid-thresholds-by-state/new-york-all-political-subdivisions/",
      "source": "https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/GMU/103?format=raw",
      "source_quote": "all contracts for public work involving an expenditure of more than thirty-five thousand dollars and all purchase contracts involving an expenditure of more than twenty thousand dollars, shall be awarded by the appropriate officer, board or agency of a political subdivision or of any district therein including but not limited to a soil conservation district to the lowest responsible bidder",
      "verified_fields": [
        "formal_bid_threshold"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "entity_type",
        "indexation",
        "informal_quote_tier",
        "jurisdiction_entity",
        "spend_category",
        "state",
        "statutory_citation",
        "threshold_usd"
      ]
    },
    {
      "jurisdiction_entity": "North Carolina \u2014 all political subdivisions",
      "state": "North Carolina",
      "entity_type": "any board or governing body of the State, of a State institution, or of any political subdivision",
      "spend_category": "construction or repair work (higher figure); apparatus, supplies, materials or equipment (lower figure)",
      "formal_bid_threshold": "equal to or more than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000)",
      "threshold_usd": "$500,000 for construction or repair; $90,000 for apparatus, supplies, materials or equipment",
      "informal_quote_tier": "none stated in this section",
      "indexation": "no adjustment mechanism stated in this section",
      "statutory_citation": "N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 143-129(a)",
      "id": "north-carolina-all-political-subdivisions",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/competitive-bid-thresholds-by-state/north-carolina-all-political-subdivisions/",
      "source": "https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_143/GS_143-129.html",
      "source_quote": "No construction or repair work requiring the estimated expenditure of public money in an amount equal to or more than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) or purchase of apparatus, supplies, materials, or equipment requiring an estimated expenditure of public money in an amount equal to or more than ninety thousand dollars ($90,000) may be performed, nor may any contract be awarded therefor, by any board or governing body of the State, or of any institution of the State government, or of any political subdivision of the State, unless the provisions of this section are complied with",
      "verified_fields": [
        "formal_bid_threshold"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "entity_type",
        "indexation",
        "informal_quote_tier",
        "jurisdiction_entity",
        "spend_category",
        "state",
        "statutory_citation",
        "threshold_usd"
      ]
    },
    {
      "jurisdiction_entity": "Ohio \u2014 all local governments",
      "state": "Ohio",
      "entity_type": "all local governments (counties under ORC 307.86, school districts under ORC 3313.46, cities under ORC 735.05 all reference this single amount)",
      "spend_category": "all contracts, purchases, leases and construction under any Revised Code section that references ORC 9.17",
      "formal_bid_threshold": "seventy-five thousand dollars",
      "threshold_usd": "$75,000 base through calendar year 2024, rising 3% each calendar year thereafter (\u2248$79,568 in 2026)",
      "informal_quote_tier": "counties must solicit informal estimates from no fewer than three persons between this amount and $125,000 (ORC 307.86)",
      "indexation": "increased 3% each calendar year, as determined and published by the director of commerce",
      "statutory_citation": "Ohio Rev. Code \u00a7 9.17",
      "id": "ohio-all-local-governments",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/competitive-bid-thresholds-by-state/ohio-all-local-governments/",
      "source": "https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-9.17",
      "source_quote": "(A) The amount for purposes of a provision of the Revised Code that references this section shall be as follows: (1) Beginning on the effective date of this section through calendar year 2024, seventy-five thousand dollars; (2) For each calendar year thereafter, the amount for the previous calendar year increased by three per cent as determined and published by the director of commerce.",
      "verified_fields": [
        "formal_bid_threshold"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "entity_type",
        "indexation",
        "informal_quote_tier",
        "jurisdiction_entity",
        "spend_category",
        "state",
        "statutory_citation",
        "threshold_usd"
      ]
    },
    {
      "jurisdiction_entity": "Texas \u2014 counties",
      "state": "Texas",
      "entity_type": "counties",
      "spend_category": "purchases of one or more items under a contract",
      "formal_bid_threshold": "exceeding $100,000",
      "threshold_usd": "$100,000",
      "informal_quote_tier": "none stated in this section",
      "indexation": "no adjustment mechanism stated in this section",
      "statutory_citation": "Tex. Loc. Gov't Code \u00a7 262.023",
      "id": "texas-counties",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/competitive-bid-thresholds-by-state/texas-counties/",
      "source": "https://codes.findlaw.com/tx/local-government-code/loc-gov-t-sect-262-023.html",
      "source_quote": "Before a county may purchase one or more items under a contract that will require an expenditure exceeding $100,000 , the commissioners court of the county must:",
      "verified_fields": [
        "formal_bid_threshold"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "entity_type",
        "indexation",
        "informal_quote_tier",
        "jurisdiction_entity",
        "spend_category",
        "state",
        "statutory_citation",
        "threshold_usd"
      ]
    },
    {
      "jurisdiction_entity": "Texas \u2014 municipalities",
      "state": "Texas",
      "entity_type": "municipalities",
      "spend_category": "all contracts requiring an expenditure from municipal funds",
      "formal_bid_threshold": "more than $100,000",
      "threshold_usd": "$100,000",
      "informal_quote_tier": "none stated in this section",
      "indexation": "no adjustment mechanism stated in this section",
      "statutory_citation": "Tex. Loc. Gov't Code \u00a7 252.021",
      "id": "texas-municipalities",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/competitive-bid-thresholds-by-state/texas-municipalities/",
      "source": "https://codes.findlaw.com/tx/local-government-code/loc-gov-t-sect-252-021.html",
      "source_quote": "Before a municipality may enter into a contract that requires an expenditure of more than $100,000 from one or more municipal funds, the municipality must:",
      "verified_fields": [
        "formal_bid_threshold"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "entity_type",
        "indexation",
        "informal_quote_tier",
        "jurisdiction_entity",
        "spend_category",
        "state",
        "statutory_citation",
        "threshold_usd"
      ]
    },
    {
      "jurisdiction_entity": "Texas \u2014 school districts",
      "state": "Texas",
      "entity_type": "school districts",
      "spend_category": "goods and services, aggregated across a 12-month period; produce and vehicle fuel excepted",
      "formal_bid_threshold": "$100,000 or more in the aggregate for each 12-month period",
      "threshold_usd": "$100,000",
      "informal_quote_tier": "none stated in this section",
      "indexation": "no adjustment mechanism stated in this section",
      "statutory_citation": "Tex. Educ. Code \u00a7 44.031",
      "id": "texas-school-districts",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/competitive-bid-thresholds-by-state/texas-school-districts/",
      "source": "https://codes.findlaw.com/tx/education-code/educ-sect-44-031.html",
      "source_quote": "Except as provided by this subchapter, all school district contracts for the purchase of goods and services, except contracts for the purchase of produce or vehicle fuel, valued at $100,000 or more in the aggregate for each 12-month period shall be made by the method, of the following methods, that provides the best value for the district:",
      "verified_fields": [
        "formal_bid_threshold"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "entity_type",
        "indexation",
        "informal_quote_tier",
        "jurisdiction_entity",
        "spend_category",
        "state",
        "statutory_citation",
        "threshold_usd"
      ]
    },
    {
      "jurisdiction_entity": "Virginia \u2014 all public bodies",
      "state": "Virginia",
      "entity_type": "all public bodies (state and local)",
      "spend_category": "goods and non-professional services, and non-transportation-related construction; transportation-related construction is set separately",
      "formal_bid_threshold": "not expected to exceed $200,000",
      "threshold_usd": "$200,000 for goods and non-professional services; $300,000 for non-transportation construction; $25,000 for transportation construction; $80,000 for professional services",
      "informal_quote_tier": "written small purchase procedures may be used below these ceilings, but must provide for competition wherever practicable",
      "indexation": "no adjustment mechanism stated in this section",
      "statutory_citation": "Va. Code \u00a7 2.2-4303(G)",
      "id": "virginia-all-public-bodies",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/competitive-bid-thresholds-by-state/virginia-all-public-bodies/",
      "source": "https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title2.2/chapter43/section2.2-4303/",
      "source_quote": "A public body may establish purchase procedures, if adopted in writing, not requiring competitive sealed bids or competitive negotiation for single or term contracts for: 1. Goods and services other than professional services, if the aggregate or the sum of all phases is not expected to exceed $200,000, and non-transportation-related construction, if the aggregate or the sum of all phases is not expected to exceed $300,000; and 2. Transportation-related construction, if the aggregate or sum of all phases is not expected to exceed $25,000.",
      "verified_fields": [
        "formal_bid_threshold"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "entity_type",
        "indexation",
        "informal_quote_tier",
        "jurisdiction_entity",
        "spend_category",
        "state",
        "statutory_citation",
        "threshold_usd"
      ]
    },
    {
      "jurisdiction_entity": "Wisconsin \u2014 cities",
      "state": "Wisconsin",
      "entity_type": "cities (board of public works)",
      "spend_category": "general public construction (higher figure); public highway construction (lower figure)",
      "formal_bid_threshold": "For general public construction contract bidding, $50,000.",
      "threshold_usd": "$50,000 for general public construction; $25,000 for public highway construction",
      "informal_quote_tier": "separate, lower notice thresholds: $10,000 for general public construction notice, $5,000 for highway construction notice",
      "indexation": "no adjustment mechanism stated in this section",
      "statutory_citation": "Wis. Stat. \u00a7 62.15(1)(c)",
      "id": "wisconsin-cities",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/competitive-bid-thresholds-by-state/wisconsin-cities/",
      "source": "https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/62/I/15",
      "source_quote": "For general public construction contract bidding, $50,000.",
      "verified_fields": [
        "formal_bid_threshold"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "entity_type",
        "indexation",
        "informal_quote_tier",
        "jurisdiction_entity",
        "spend_category",
        "state",
        "statutory_citation",
        "threshold_usd"
      ]
    }
  ]
}