Menifee amends municipal code to clarify bonds and securities for development projects

The Menifee City Council approved a first reading of amendments to municipal-code provisions that govern improvement securities — including payment and performance bonds, acceptable forms of security and release procedures.

Chris Jensen presented the changes and said they align local code with recent Government Code updates, clarify when a surety payment bond is required for labor and material, and standardize template agreements so staff and developers face fewer case-by-case legal reviews. Jensen explained that public-right-of-way or public improvements require securities based on 100% of construction costs, while purely private grading projects may be secured at 50% of construction cost.

Councilors voted 3-0 to introduce the ordinance; staff said the second reading will come in April with the ordinance effective 30 days after adoption.

What it means: The amendments aim to streamline development processing, reduce repeated legal reviews via standardized templates and make the city’s requirements consistent with state law for payment/performance bonds.