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DIVISION 4. GENERAL PROVISIONS 3274-9566›PART 6. WORKS OF IMPROVEMENT 8000-9566›TITLE 2. PRIVATE WORKS OF IMPROVEMENT 8160-8851›CHAPTER 8. Prompt Payment 8800-8851›ARTICLE 2. Retention Payment 8810-8822

§ 8814

California Civil Code · 2026-09 edition · updated 2026-10-03 · California

(a) If a direct contractor has withheld a retention from one or more subcontractors, the direct contractor shall, within 10 days after receiving all or part of a retention payment, pay to each subcontractor from whom retention has been withheld that subcontractor’s share of the payment.

(b) If a retention received by the direct contractor is specifically designated for a particular subcontractor, the direct contractor shall pay the retention payment to the designated subcontractor, if consistent with the terms of the subcontract.

(c) If a good faith dispute exists between the direct contractor and a subcontractor, the direct contractor may withhold from the retention to the subcontractor an amount not in excess of 150 percent of the estimated value of the disputed amount.

(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.)

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