ARTICLE 3. Stop Work Notice [8830. - 8848.]

Cal. Civil Code - CIV 3.

in effect

Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 8830. Section 8830.

“Stop work notice” means notice given under this article by a direct contractor to an owner that the contractor will stop work if the amount owed the contractor is not paid within 10 days after notice is given.

Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 8832. Section 8832.

If a direct contractor is not paid the amount due pursuant to a written contract within 35 days after the date payment is due under the contract, and there is no dispute as to the satisfactory performance of the contractor, the contractor may give the owner a stop work notice. The notice shall comply with the requirements of Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 8100) of Title 1.

Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 8834. Section 8834.

A direct contractor that gives an owner a stop work notice shall give the following additional notice: (a) At least five days before giving the stop work notice, the contractor shall post notice of intent to give a stop work notice. The notice shall comply with the requirements of Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 8100) of Title 1. In addition to posting the notice pursuant to Section 8114, the notice shall also be posted at the main office of the site, if one exists. (b) At the same time the contractor gives the stop work notice, the contractor shall give a copy of the stop work notice to all subcontractors with whom the contractor has a direct contractual relationship on the work of improvement.

Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 8836. Section 8836.

Within five days after receipt of a stop work notice from a direct contractor, the owner shall give a copy of the notice to the construction lender, if any. The copy of the notice shall be given in compliance with the requirements of Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 8100) of Title 1.

Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 8838. Section 8838.

(a) The direct contractor or the direct contractor’s surety, or a subcontractor or a subcontractor’s surety, is not liable for delay or damage that the owner or a contractor of a subcontractor may suffer as a result of the direct contractor giving a stop work notice and subsequently stopping work for nonpayment, if the notice and posting requirements of this article are satisfied. (b) A direct contractor’s or original subcontractor’s liability to a subcontractor or material supplier after the direct contractor stops work under this article is limited to the amount the subcontractor or material supplier could otherwise recover under this title for work provided up to the date the subcontractor or material supplier ceases work, subject to the following exceptions: (1) The direct contractor’s or original subcontractor’s liability continues for work provided up to and including the 10-day notice period and not beyond. (2) This subdivision does not limit liability for custom work, including materials that have been fabricated, manufactured, or ordered to specifications that are unique to the job.

Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 8840. Section 8840.

On resolution of the claim in the stop work notice or the direct contractor’s cancellation of the stop work notice, the contractor shall post, and give subcontractors with whom the contractor has a direct contractual relationship on the work of improvement, notice of the resolution or cancellation. The notice shall comply with the requirements of Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 8100) of Title 1. In addition to posting the notice pursuant to Section 8114, the notice shall also be posted at the main office of the site, if one exists.

Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 8842. Section 8842.

A direct contractor’s right to stop work under this article is in addition to other rights the direct contractor may have under the law.

Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 8844. Section 8844.

(a) If payment of the amount claimed is not made within 10 days after a stop work notice is given, the direct contractor, the direct contractor’s surety, or an owner may in an expedited proceeding in the superior court in the county in which the private work of improvement is located, seek a judicial determination of liability for the amount due. (b) The expedited proceeding shall be set for hearing or trial at the earliest possible date in order that it shall be quickly heard and determined, and shall take precedence over all other cases except older matter of the same character and other matters to which special precedence has been given.

Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 8846. Section 8846.

It is against public policy to waive the provisions of this article by contract.

Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 8848. Section 8848.

(a) This article applies to a contract entered into on or after January 1, 1999. (b) This article does not apply to a retention withheld by a lender pursuant to a construction loan agreement.

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