ARTICLE 1. General Provisions [9350. - 9364.]

Cal. Civil Code - CIV 1.

in effect

Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 9350. Section 9350.

The rights of all persons furnishing work pursuant to a public works contract, with respect to any fund for payment of construction costs, are governed exclusively by this chapter, and no person may assert any legal or equitable right with respect to that fund, other than a right created by direct written contract between the person and the person holding the fund, except pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.

Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 9352. Section 9352.

(a) A stop payment notice shall comply with the requirements of Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 8100) of Title 1, and shall be signed and verified by the claimant. (b) The notice shall include a general description of work to be provided, and an estimate of the total amount in value of the work to be provided. (c) The amount claimed in the notice may include only the amount due the claimant for work provided through the date of the notice.

Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 9354. Section 9354.

(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), a stop payment notice shall be given in compliance with the requirements of Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 8100) of Title 1. (b) A stop payment notice shall be given to the public entity by giving the notice to the following person: (1) In the case of a public works contract of the state, the director of the department that awarded the contract. (2) In the case of a public works contract of a public entity other than the state, the office of the controller, auditor, or other public disbursing officer whose duty it is to make payment pursuant to the contract, or the commissioners, managers, trustees, officers, board of supervisors, board of trustees, common council, or other body by which the contract was awarded.

Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 9356. Section 9356.

A stop payment notice is not effective unless given before the expiration of whichever of the following time periods is applicable: (a) If a notice of completion, acceptance, or cessation is recorded, 30 days after that recordation. (b) If a notice of completion, acceptance, or cessation is not recorded, 90 days after cessation or completion.

Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 9358. Section 9358.

(a) The public entity shall, on receipt of a stop payment notice, withhold from the direct contractor sufficient funds due or to become due to the direct contractor to pay the claim stated in the stop payment notice and to provide for the public entity’s reasonable cost of any litigation pursuant to the stop payment notice. (b) The public entity may satisfy its duty under this section by refusing to release funds held in escrow under Section 10263 or 22300 of the Public Contract Code.

Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 9360. Section 9360.

(a) This chapter does not prohibit payment of funds to a direct contractor or a direct contractor’s assignee if a stop payment notice is not received before the disbursing officer actually surrenders possession of the funds. (b) This chapter does not prohibit payment of any amount due to a direct contractor or a direct contractor’s assignee in excess of the amount necessary to pay the total amount of all claims stated in stop payment notices received by the public entity at the time of payment plus any interest and court costs that might reasonably be anticipated in connection with the claims.

Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 9362. Section 9362.

(a) Not later than 10 days after each of the following events, the public entity shall give notice to a claimant that has given a stop payment notice of the time within which an action to enforce payment of the claim stated in the stop payment notice must be commenced: (1) Completion of a public works contract, whether by acceptance or cessation. (2) Recordation of a notice of cessation or completion. (b) The notice shall comply with the requirements of Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 8100) of Title 1. (c) A public entity need not give notice under this section unless the claimant has paid the public entity ten dollars ($10) at the time of giving the stop payment notice.

Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 9364. Section 9364.

(a) A public entity may, in its discretion, permit the direct contractor to give the public entity a release bond. The bond shall be executed by an admitted surety insurer, in an amount equal to 125 percent of the claim stated in the stop payment notice, conditioned for the payment of any amount the claimant recovers in an action on the claim, together with court costs if the claimant prevails. (b) On receipt of a release bond, the public entity shall not withhold funds from the direct contractor pursuant to the stop payment notice. (c) The surety on a release bond is jointly and severally liable to the claimant with the sureties on any payment bond given under Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 9550).

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026