Vinyl terminated poly hexamethylene guanidine hydrochloride (PHMG) and methyl methacrylate (MMA) were copolymerized and tested for surface antimicrobial activity. PHMG chains of molecular weight ~2000 were functionalized with vinyl end groups (PHMG–C = C) by reacting the PHMG amino end groups with 1,2‐epoxy‐9‐decene, or glycidyl methacrylate. PHMG–C = C was copolymerized with MMA at 10% w/w ratio to form water insoluble poly(MMA‐co‐PHMG). Films of these copolymers demonstrated strong antimicrobial activity for 3 months against Escherichia coli and heterotrophic plate count bacteria. The synthesized PHMG–MMA copolymers may be used for self‐sterilizing coatings and water decontamination. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.