GC Laws — Missouri contractor-law checklist preview (free) Sources reviewed 2026-09-30. Public summaries remain free on gclaws.com. [ ] Licensing - An electrical contractor working where no local credential is required, or holding the required local credential, is not required to obtain the statewide license to continue there. Statewide applicants must meet the listed insurance, examination and experience requirements. - A business using statewide licensure must employ a statewide-licensed supervisory qualifier; a qualifier represents only one business at a time. - Political subdivisions must recognize the statewide credential in lieu of their electrical-trade credential, while retaining the listed business-license, permit, code and inspection powers. [ ] Mechanic's liens - Section 429.010 grants liens for the specified labor, materials and services; its equipment-rental conditions apply to renting equipment to others and do not apply identically to contractors using rented equipment to perform their own work. - The original contractor gives the statutory owner disclosure before receiving payment; this is a condition of its lien under section 429.012. - File the verified lien account with the circuit clerk within six months after indebtedness accrues; for rental equipment/machinery, within 60 days after last removal. - A claimant other than the original contractor gives the owner ten days’ notice before filing. - Commence enforcement within six months after filing and prosecute without unnecessary delay. [ ] Retainage - Public construction-contract and subcontract retainage cannot exceed 5%, subject to the specified small-unbonded-contract exception. - At least 98% of retainage, less lawful offsets/deductions, is payable within 30 days after substantial-completion acceptance and receipt of complete acceptable required documents; state-highway specifications may provide the stated alternative. Rejection requires a written explanation within 14 calendar days. - Remaining minor items may support withholding of 150% of their value. Separate good-faith grounds for disputed/performance-related payment withholding remain under the statute. [ ] Prompt payment - Public progress payments are generally monthly and due within 30 days of the latest applicable delivery, duly delivered invoice or approval event. The statute separately addresses owner-generated estimates and permits specified good-faith withholding and funding qualifications. - Without reasonable cause, downstream delay beyond 15 days after receipt triggers 1.5% monthly interest; the rule extends through lower tiers. - Private scheduled payments follow the contract. The court may award up to 1.5% monthly interest from the due date and reasonable fees to the prevailing party, subject to the residential exclusion. [ ] Prevailing wage - The Department’s prevailing-wage guidance requires the proper rate for the occupational classification and county on covered public works; rates differ by county and work type. - Rates must be posted and the total prevailing wage paid for project-site hours. Ordinary travel, meals and mileage reimbursements are not fringes except under the identified statutory provision. [ ] Davis-Bacon (federal) - Under 40 U.S.C. section 3142, covered contracts require payment to laborers and mechanics employed directly on the site of the work at least weekly, at rates no lower than the applicable prevailing wage determination. The required compensation includes the basic hourly rate and required fringe benefits, which may be provided through qualifying benefits or cash as the statute permits. - Qualifying apprentices may receive a lower registered-program rate only when the applicable registration and program conditions are met. The Department of Labor’s apprenticeship rules govern those exceptions. - The Department of Labor determines the prevailing rates for the work classifications and locality. Contractors and subcontractors must use the wage determination applicable to their covered contract. - Federal assistance alone does not establish coverage: many, but not all, construction-assistance statutes include Davis-Bacon requirements. Identify the funding program and its governing Related Act. - SAM.gov publishes Davis-Bacon wage determinations. Search by the wage-determination number or the Davis-Bacon public-buildings-or-works category, and match the decision to the contract, locality, and work classification. This preview lists the topics and rules covered in the full state pack. The paid pack adds the complete source URLs, citations, review dates, and the three editable tools. GC Laws is owned and operated by GCExperts LLC, a Texas corporation.