GC Laws — Oregon contractor-law checklist preview (free)
Sources reviewed 2026-09-30. Public summaries remain free on gclaws.com.

[ ] Licensing
      - ORS 701.021 requires a current CCB license and appropriate endorsement before covered contracting or bidding. ORS 701.010 includes a narrow exemption for casual, minor or inconsequential work below $1,000, unavailable to someone advertising as a contractor.
      - ORS 701.038 limits a residential limited contractor to $40,000 in annual volume and contracts of $5,000 or less.

[ ] Mechanic's liens
      - ORS 87.021 generally requires a notice of right to lien when furnishing is not requested by the owner; it ordinarily protects only furnishing after the date eight nonholiday weekdays before delivery/mailing. Specified commercial labor/equipment claimants have exceptions.
      - ORS 87.035 requires ordinary labor/material/equipment claimants to record within 75 days after they stop furnishing or construction completes, whichever is earlier; other §87.010 claimants use 75 days after completion.
      - ORS 87.055 ordinarily requires suit within 120 days after recording; a properly stated extended-payment agreement has a limited exception. Section 87.057 requires intent-to-foreclose notice at least 10 days before suit; failure can forfeit fees and costs.

[ ] Retainage
      - Under ORS 279C.570(7), a public agency may reduce retainage, and may eliminate future retainage after 50% completion if progress is satisfactory; contractor application and surety approval are ordinarily required.
      - ORS 701.420 limits owner/contractor/subcontractor ordinary retainage to 5% of completed work. When a contractor pays a subcontractor fully, the owner must release corresponding retained money within 15 days after notice.
      - ORS 279C.845 separately requires 25% withholding until required certified payroll statements are filed, with release within 14 days after filing; do not treat the ordinary cap as overriding this payroll remedy.

[ ] Prompt payment
      - ORS 279C.570 requires monthly progress payments and automatic statutory interest commencing 30 days after invoice receipt or 15 days after agency approval, whichever is earlier. Written invoice-defect or dispute notice is due within 15 days.
      - ORS 279C.580 requires public contracts to obligate contractors to pay first-tier subcontractors and suppliers for satisfactory performance within 10 days from agency-paid amounts, with required payment and interest clauses passed to lower tiers; permitted withholding requires the statutory written notice.

[ ] Prevailing wage
      - ORS 279C.840 requires covered workers to receive the applicable prevailing wage by trade or occupation and locality. Determine the project’s classification and applicable BOLI schedule.
      - Do not decide coverage from price alone: ORS 279C.810 contains funding and project exclusions, including specifically defined predominantly affordable privately owned residential construction.

[ ] 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.
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