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HomeCivil CodeDiv. 4Pt. 6Ch. 5§ 9550 Public Works Payment Bonds

§ 9550 Public Works Payment Bonds

Civil Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 9550 Public Works Payment Bonds

Key Takeaways

  • •If a company gets a government job worth more than $25,000, they must get a special promise (payment bond) before starting work.
  • •The government must say in their job posting that this special promise is needed for jobs over $25,000.
  • •This special promise can also cover extra work added to the job if the government says it's okay.
  • •People who design things (like architects) don’t need to give this special promise.

Example

A construction company wins a bid to build a new school playground for $30,000.

Before they start building, the company must give the school a payment bond to make sure everyone working on the playground gets paid.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 9550 Public Works Payment Bonds

(a) A direct contractor that is awarded a public works contract involving an expenditure in excess of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) shall, before commencement of work, give a payment bond to and approved by the officer or public entity by whom the contract was awarded. (b) A public entity shall state in its call for bids that a payment bond is required for a public works contract involving an expenditure in excess of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000). (c) A payment bond given and approved under this section will permit performance of and provide coverage for work pursuant to a public works contract that supplements the contract for which the bond is given, if the requirement of a new bond is waived by the public entity. (d) For the purpose of this section, a design professional is not deemed a direct contractor and is not required to give a payment bond. (e) This section does not apply to a public works contract with a “state entity” as defined in subdivision (d) of Section 7103 of the Public Contract Code. (Added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 697, Sec. 20. (SB 189) Effective January 1, 2011. Operative July 1, 2012, by Sec. 105 of Ch. 697 and by Section 8052.)

Last verified: January 21, 2026

Key Terms

direct contractorpayment bondpublic works contractstate entity

Related Statutes

  • § 9566 Public Works Bond Claims
  • § 8522 Owner Stop Payment Obligations
  • § 9552 Payment Bond Claim Requirements
  • § 9100 Public Works Payment Claims
  • § 8520 Stop Payment Notice Requirements

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Civil Code. Section 9550.
View Official Source