CHAPTER 7. Contract Clauses [7100. - 7203.]

Cal. Public Contract Code - PCC 7.

in effect

Cal. Public Contract Code - PCC § 7100. Section 7100.

Provisions in public works contracts with public entities which provide that acceptance of a payment otherwise due a contractor is a waiver of all claims against the public entity arising out of the work performed under the contract or which condition the right to payment upon submission of a release by the contractor of all claims against the public entity arising out of performance of the public work are against public policy and null and void. This section shall not prohibit a public entity from placing in a public works contract and enforcing a contract provision which provides that payment of undisputed contract amounts is contingent upon the contractor furnishing the public entity with a release of all claims against the public entity arising by virtue of the public works contract related to those amounts. Disputed contract claims in stated amounts may be specifically excluded by the contractor from the operation of the release.

Cal. Public Contract Code - PCC § 7101. Section 7101.

The state or any other public entity in any public works contract awarded to the lowest bidder, may provide for the payment of extra compensation to the contractor for the cost reduction changes in the plans and specifications for the project made pursuant to a proposal submitted by the contractor. The extra compensation to the contractor shall be 50 percent of the net savings in construction costs as determined by the public entity. For projects under the supervision of the Department of Transportation or local or regional transportation entities, the extra compensation to the contractor shall be 60 percent of the net savings, if the cost reduction changes significantly reduce or avoid traffic congestion during construction of the project, in the opinion of the public entity. The contractor may not be required to perform the changes contained in an eligible change proposal submitted in compliance with the provisions of the contract unless the proposal was accepted by the public entity.

Cal. Public Contract Code - PCC § 7102. Section 7102.

Contract provisions in construction contracts of public agencies and subcontracts thereunder which limit the contractee’s liability to an extension of time for delay for which the contractee is responsible and which delay is unreasonable under the circumstances involved, and not within the contemplation of the parties, shall not be construed to preclude the recovery of damages by the contractor or subcontractor. No public agency may require the waiver, alteration, or limitation of the applicability of this section. Any such waiver, alteration, or limitation is void. This section shall not be construed to void any provision in a construction contract which requires notice of delays, provides for arbitration or other procedure for settlement, or provides for liquidated damages.

Cal. Public Contract Code - PCC § 7103. Section 7103.

(a) (1) Every original contractor that is awarded a contract by a state entity, as defined in subdivision (d), involving an expenditure in excess of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for any public work shall, before entering upon the performance of the work, file a payment bond with and approved by the officer or state entity that awarded the contract. The bond shall be in a sum not less than 100 percent of the total amount payable by the terms of the contract. (2) The state entity shall state in its call for bids for any contract that a payment bond is required in the case of such an expenditure. (b) A payment bond filed and approved in accordance with this section shall be sufficient to enter upon the performance of work under a duly authorized contract that supplements the contract for which the payment bond was filed if the requirement of a new bond is waived by the state entity. (c) For purposes of this section, providers of architectural, engineering, and land surveying services pursuant to a contract with a state entity for a public work shall not be deemed an original contractor and shall not be required to post or file the payment bond required in subdivisions (a) and (b). (d) For purposes of this section, “state entity” means every state office, department, division, bureau, board, or commission, but does not include the Legislature, the courts, any agency in the judicial branch of government, or the University of California. All other public entities shall be governed by Section 9550 of the Civil Code. (e) For purposes of this section, “public work” includes the erection, construction, alteration, repair, or improvement of any state structure, building, road, or other state improvement of any kind.

Cal. Public Contract Code - PCC § 7103.5. Section 7103.5.

(a) As used in this section: (1) “Public works contract” means a contract awarded through competitive bids by the state or any of its political subdivisions or public agencies, on whose behalf the Attorney General may bring an action pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 16750 of the Business and Professions Code, for the erection, construction, alteration, repair, or improvement of any structure, building, road, or other improvement of any kind. (2) “Awarding body” means the state or the subdivision or agency awarding a public works contract. (b) In entering into a public works contract or a subcontract to supply goods, services, or materials pursuant to a public works contract, the contractor or subcontractor offers and agrees to assign to the awarding body all rights, title, and interest in and to all causes of action it may have under Section 4 of the Clayton Act (15 U.S.C. Sec. 15) or under the Cartwright Act (Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 16700) of Part 2 of Division 7 of the Business and Professions Code), arising from purchases of goods, services, or materials pursuant to the public works contract or the subcontract. This assignment shall be made and become effective at the time the awarding body tenders final payment to the contractor, without further acknowledgment by the parties. (c) Subdivision (b) shall be included in full in the specifications for the public works contract or in the general provisions incorporated therein and shall be included in full in the public works contract or in the general provisions incorporated therein.

Cal. Public Contract Code - PCC § 7104. Section 7104.

Any public works contract of a local public entity which involves digging trenches or other excavations that extend deeper than four feet below the surface shall contain a clause which provides the following: (a) That the contractor shall promptly, and before the following conditions are disturbed, notify the local public entity, in writing, of any: (1) Material that the contractor believes may be material that is hazardous waste, as defined in Section 25117 of the Health and Safety Code, that is required to be removed to a Class I, Class II, or Class III disposal site in accordance with provisions of existing law. (2) Subsurface or latent physical conditions at the site differing from those indicated by information about the site made available to bidders prior to the deadline for submitting bids. (3) Unknown physical conditions at the site of any unusual nature, different materially from those ordinarily encountered and generally recognized as inherent in work of the character provided for in the contract. (b) That the local public entity shall promptly investigate the conditions, and if it finds that the conditions do materially so differ, or do involve hazardous waste, and cause a decrease or increase in the contractor’s cost of, or the time required for, performance of any part of the work shall issue a change order under the procedures described in the contract. (c) That, in the event that a dispute arises between the local public entity and the contractor whether the conditions materially differ, or involve hazardous waste, or cause a decrease or increase in the contractor’s cost of, or time required for, performance of any part of the work, the contractor shall not be excused from any scheduled completion date provided for by the contract, but shall proceed with all work to be performed under the contract. The contractor shall retain any and all rights provided either by contract or by law which pertain to the resolution of disputes and protests between the contracting parties.

Cal. Public Contract Code - PCC § 7105. Section 7105.

(a) Construction contracts of public agencies shall not require the contractor to be responsible for the cost of repairing or restoring damage to the work, which damage is determined to have been proximately caused by an act of God, in excess of 5 percent of the contracted amount, provided, that the work damaged is built in accordance with accepted and applicable building standards and the plans and specifications of the awarding authority. However, contracts may include provisions for terminating the contract. The requirements of this section shall not be mandatory as to construction contracts financed by revenue bonds. This section shall not prohibit a public agency from requiring that a contractor obtain insurance to indemnify the public agency for any damage to the work caused by an act of God if the insurance premium is a separate bid item. If insurance is required, requests for bids issued by public agencies shall set forth the amount of the work to be covered and the contract resulting from the requests for bids shall require that the contractor furnish evidence of satisfactory insurance coverage to the public agency prior to execution of the contract. (b) For the purposes of this section: (1) “Public agency” shall include the state, the Regents of the University of California, a city, county, district, public authority, public agency, municipal utility, and any other political subdivision or public corporation of the state. (2) “Acts of God” shall include only the following occurrences or conditions and effects: earthquakes in excess of a magnitude of 3.5 on the Richter Scale and tidal waves. (c) Public agencies may make changes in construction contracts for public improvements in the course of construction to bring the completed improvements into compliance with environmental requirements or standards established by state and federal statutes and regulations enacted after the contract has been awarded or entered into. The contractor shall be paid for the changes in accordance with the provisions of the contract governing payment for changes in the work or, if no provisions are set forth in the contract, payment shall be as agreed to by the parties. (d) (1) Where authority to contract is vested in any public agency, excluding the state, the authority shall include the power, by mutual consent of the contracting parties, to terminate, amend, or modify any contract within the scope of such authority. (2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to contracts entered into pursuant to any statute expressly requiring that contracts be let or awarded on the basis of competitive bids. Contracts of public agencies, excluding the state, required to be let or awarded on the basis of competitive bids pursuant to any statute may be terminated, amended, or modified only if the termination, amendment, or modification is so provided in the contract or is authorized under provision of law other than this subdivision. The compensation payable, if any, for amendments and modifications shall be determined as provided in the contract. The compensation payable, if any, in the event the contract is so terminated shall be determined as provided in the contract or applicable statutory provision providing for the termination. (3) Contracts of public agencies may include provisions for termination for environmental considerations at the discretion of the public agencies.

Cal. Public Contract Code - PCC § 7106. Section 7106.

Every bid on every public works contract of a public entity shall include a declaration under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California, in the following form: “NONCOLLUSION DECLARATION TO BE EXECUTED BY BIDDER AND SUBMITTED WITH BID The undersigned declares: I am the ____ of ____, the party making the foregoing bid. The bid is not made in the interest of, or on behalf of, any undisclosed person, partnership, company, association, organization, or corporation. The bid is genuine and not collusive or sham. The bidder has not directly or indirectly induced or solicited any other bidder to put in a false or sham bid. The bidder has not directly or indirectly colluded, conspired, connived, or agreed with any bidder or anyone else to put in a sham bid, or to refrain from bidding. The bidder has not in any manner, directly or indirectly, sought by agreement, communication, or conference with anyone to fix the bid price of the bidder or any other bidder, or to fix any overhead, profit, or cost element of the bid price, or of that of any other bidder. All statements contained in the bid are true. The bidder has not, directly or indirectly, submitted his or her bid price or any breakdown thereof, or the contents thereof, or divulged information or data relative thereto, to any corporation, partnership, company, association, organization, bid depository, or to any member or agent thereof, to effectuate a collusive or sham bid, and has not paid, and will not pay, any person or entity for such purpose. Any person executing this declaration on behalf of a bidder that is a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or any other entity, hereby represents that he or she has full power to execute, and does execute, this declaration on behalf of the bidder. I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing is true and correct and that this declaration is executed on ___[date], at ___[city], ___[state].”

Cal. Public Contract Code - PCC § 7107. Section 7107.

(a) This section is applicable with respect to all contracts entered into on or after January 1, 1993, relating to the construction of any public work of improvement. (b) The retention proceeds withheld from any payment by the public entity from the original contractor, or by the original contractor from any subcontractor, shall be subject to this section. (c) Within 60 days after the date of completion of the work of improvement, the retention withheld by the public entity shall be released. In the event of a dispute between the public entity and the original contractor, the public entity may withhold from the final payment an amount not to exceed 150 percent of the disputed amount. For purposes of this subdivision, “completion” means any of the following: (1) The occupation, beneficial use, and enjoyment of a work of improvement, excluding any operation only for testing, startup, or commissioning, by the public agency, or its agent, accompanied by cessation of labor on the work of improvement. (2) The acceptance by the public agency, or its agent, of the work of improvement. (3) After the commencement of a work of improvement, a cessation of labor on the work of improvement for a continuous period of 100 days or more, due to factors beyond the control of the contractor. (4) After the commencement of a work of improvement, a cessation of labor on the work of improvement for a continuous period of 30 days or more, if the public agency files for record a notice of cessation or a notice of completion. (d) Subject to subdivision (e), within seven days from the time that all or any portion of the retention proceeds are received by the original contractor, the original contractor shall pay each of its subcontractors from whom retention has been withheld, each subcontractor’s share of the retention received. However, if a retention payment received by the original contractor is specifically designated for a particular subcontractor, payment of the retention shall be made to the designated subcontractor, if the payment is consistent with the terms of the subcontract. (e) The original contractor may withhold from a subcontractor its portion of the retention proceeds if a bona fide dispute exists between the subcontractor and the original contractor. The amount withheld from the retention payment shall not exceed 150 percent of the estimated value of the disputed amount. (f) In the event that retention payments are not made within the time periods required by this section, the public entity or original contractor withholding the unpaid amounts shall be subject to a charge of 2 percent per month on the improperly withheld amount, in lieu of any interest otherwise due. Additionally, in any action for the collection of funds wrongfully withheld, the prevailing party shall be entitled to attorney’s fees and costs. (g) If a state agency retains an amount greater than 125 percent of the estimated value of the work yet to be completed pursuant to Section 10261, the state agency shall distribute undisputed retention proceeds in accordance with subdivision (c). However, notwithstanding subdivision (c), if a state agency retains an amount equal to or less than 125 percent of the estimated value of the work yet to be completed, the state agency shall have 90 days in which to release undisputed retentions. (h) Any attempted waiver of the provisions of this section shall be void as against the public policy of this state.

Cal. Public Contract Code - PCC § 7108. Section 7108.

Any contract of a public entity to provide train service shall require compliance with the personnel requirements of Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 6900) of Part 2 of Division 5 of the Labor Code.

Cal. Public Contract Code - PCC § 7109. Section 7109.

(a) For purposes of this section: (1) “Antigraffiti technology” means landscaping, paint, or other covering resistant to graffiti, or other procedures to deter graffiti. (2) “Graffiti” means any unauthorized inscription, work, figure, or design that is marked, etched, scratched, drawn, or painted on any structural component of any building, structure, or other facility regardless of its content or nature and regardless of the nature of the material of the structural component. (3) “Project” means the erection, construction, alteration, repair, or improvement of any public structure, building, road, or other public improvement of any kind. (b) If a public entity determines that a project may be vulnerable to graffiti and the public entity will be awarding a public works contract after January 1, 1996, for that project, it is the intent of the Legislature that the public entity may do one or more of the following: (1) Include a provision in the public works contract that specifies requirements for antigraffiti technology in the plans and specifications for the project. (2) Establish a method to finance a graffiti abatement program. (3) Establish a program to deter graffiti.

Cal. Public Contract Code - PCC § 7110. Section 7110.

(a) It is the policy of this state that anyone who enters into a contract with a state agency shall recognize the importance of child and family support obligations and shall fully comply with all applicable state and federal laws relating to child and family support enforcement, including, but not limited to, disclosure of information and compliance with earnings assignment orders, as provided in Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 5200) of Part 5 of Division 9 of the Family Code. (b) Every written contract in excess of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) executed between a contractor and a state agency shall contain the following: (1) An acknowledgment by the contractor of the policy of the state set forth in subdivision (a). (2) An acknowledgment by the contractor that to the best of its knowledge it is fully complying with the earnings assignment orders of all employees and is providing the names of all new employees to the New Hire Registry maintained by the Employment Development Department.

Cal. Public Contract Code - PCC § 7200. Section 7200.

(a) (1) This section shall apply with respect to all contracts entered into on or after January 1, 1999, between a public entity and an original contractor, between an original contractor and a subcontractor, and between all subcontractors thereunder, relating to the construction of any public work of improvement. (2) For purposes of this section, “public entity” means the state, including every state agency, office, department, division, bureau, board, or commission, a city, county, city and county, including chartered cities and chartered counties, district, special district, public authority, political subdivision, public corporation, or nonprofit transit corporation wholly owned by a public agency and formed to carry out the purposes of the public agency. (b) In a contract between the original contractor and a subcontractor, and in a contract between a subcontractor and any subcontractor thereunder, the percentage of the retention proceeds withheld may not exceed the percentage specified in the contract between the public entity and the original contractor. (c) When a performance and payment bond is required in the solicitation for bids, subdivision (b) shall not apply to either of the following: (1) The original contractor, if the subcontractor fails or refuses to provide a performance and payment bond, issued by an admitted surety insurer, to the original contractor. (2) The subcontractor, if a subcontractor thereunder fails or refuses to provide a performance and payment bond, issued by an admitted surety insurer, to the subcontractor. (d) No party identified in subdivision (b) shall require any other party to waive any provision of this section. (e) In the event that the contractor elects to substitute securities in lieu of retentions, the contractor may withhold from his or her subcontractors, who have not elected to substitute securities in lieu of retentions, the amount of retentions that would have otherwise been withheld.

Cal. Public Contract Code - PCC § 7201. Section 7201.

(a) (1) This section shall apply with respect to all contracts entered into on or after January 1, 2012, between a public entity and an original contractor, between an original contractor and a subcontractor, and between all subcontractors thereunder, relating to the construction of any public work of improvement. (2) Under no circumstances shall any provision of this section be construed to limit the ability of any public entity to withhold 150 percent of the value of any disputed amount of work from the final payment, as provided for in subdivision (c) of Section 7107. In the event of a good faith dispute, nothing in this section shall be construed to require a public entity to pay for work that is not approved or accepted in accordance with the proper plans or specifications. (3) For purposes of this section, “public entity” means the state, including every state agency, office, department, division, bureau, board, or commission, the California State University, the University of California, a city, county, city and county, including charter cities and charter counties, district, special district, public authority, political subdivision, public corporation, or nonprofit transit corporation wholly owned by a public agency and formed to carry out the purposes of the public agency. (b) (1) The retention proceeds withheld from any payment by a public entity from the original contractor, by the original contractor from any subcontractor, and by a subcontractor from any subcontractor thereunder shall not exceed 5 percent of the payment. In no event shall the total retention proceeds withheld exceed 5 percent of the contract price. In a contract between the original contractor and a subcontractor, and in a contract between a subcontractor and any subcontractor thereunder, the percentage of the retention proceeds withheld shall not exceed the percentage specified in the contract between the public entity and the original contractor. (2) This subdivision shall not apply if the contractor provides written notice to the subcontractor, pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 4108, prior to, or at, the time that the bid is requested, that bonds shall be required, and the subcontractor subsequently is unable or refuses to furnish to the contractor a performance and payment bond issued by an admitted surety insurer. (3) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subdivision, the retention proceeds withheld from any payment by an awarding entity set forth in paragraphs (1) to (5), inclusive, of subdivision (a) of Section 10106, from the original contractor, by the original contractor from any subcontractor, and by a subcontractor from any subcontractor thereunder, may exceed 5 percent on specific projects where the director of the department has made a finding prior to the bid that the project is substantially complex and therefore requires a higher retention amount than 5 percent and the department includes in the bid documents details explaining the basis for the finding and the actual retention amount. In a contract between the original contractor and a subcontractor, and in a contract between a subcontractor and any subcontractor thereunder, the percentage of the retention proceeds withheld shall not exceed the percentage specified in the contract between the department and the original contractor. (4) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subdivision, the retention proceeds withheld from any payment by the awarding entity of a city, county, city and county, including charter cities and charter counties, district, special district, public authority, political subdivision, public corporation, or nonprofit transit corporation wholly owned by a public agency and formed to carry out the purposes of the public agency, from the original contractor, by the original contractor from any subcontractor, and by a subcontractor from any subcontractor thereunder, may exceed 5 percent on specific projects where the governing body of the public entity or designee, including, but not limited to, a general manager or other director of an appropriate department, has approved a finding, on a project by project basis, during a properly noticed and normally scheduled public hearing and prior to bid that the project is substantially complex and therefore requires a higher retention amount than 5 percent and the awarding entity includes in the bid documents details explaining the basis for the finding and the actual retention amount. In a contract between the original contractor and a subcontractor, and in a contract between a subcontractor and any subcontractor thereunder, the percentage of the retention proceeds withheld shall not exceed the percentage specified in the contract between the department and the original contractor. (5) Any finding by a public entity that a project is substantially complex shall include a description of the specific project and why it is a unique project that is not regularly, customarily, or routinely performed by the agency or licensed contractors. (c) A party identified in subdivision (a) shall not require any other party to waive any provision of this section.

Cal. Public Contract Code - PCC § 7202. Section 7202.

(a) The Department of Transportation is prohibited from withholding retention proceeds when making progress payments to a contractor for work performed on a transportation project. (b) Nothing in this section shall alter, amend, or impair the rights, duties, and obligations of an original contractor, its subcontractors, and all subcontractors thereunder, relating to the construction of any public work of improvement as set forth in Section 7200. (c) The Department of Transportation shall promptly notify the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature if the state’s best interests are compromised because retention was not withheld on a transportation project.

Cal. Public Contract Code - PCC § 7203. Section 7203.

(a) A public works contract entered into on or after January 1, 2016, that contains a clause that expressly requires a contractor to be responsible for delay damages is not enforceable unless the delay damages have been liquidated to a set amount and identified in the public works contract. (b) “Delay damages” as used in this section, means damages incurred by the public agency for each day after the date on which the work was to be completed by the contractor pursuant to the public works contract. Delay damages shall not include damages incurred by a public agency after the filing of a notice of completion or, in the absence of a notice of completion, the acceptance by the public agency of the public work as complete. (c) “Public agency” shall include the state, the Regents of the University of California, a city, charter city, county, charter county, district, public authority, municipal utility, and any other political subdivision or public corporation of the state. (d) This section shall not be construed to limit a right or remedy that the public agency has to enforce the express terms of the public works contract, except for a clause that expressly requires a contractor to be liable for delay damages. (e) This section shall not be construed to preclude a public agency from including more than one clause for delay damages for specified portions of work when the delay damages have been liquidated to a set amount for each individual clause and identified in the public works contract. (f) This section shall not apply to departments identified in Section 10106.

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