Washington prompt payment

Who and what this applies to

State and local public contracts; downstream public-work payments under RCW 39.04.250.

Thresholds and scope

Public-invoice timing is separate from the ten-day downstream rule.

The rules

• RCW 39.76.011 ordinarily requires payment by the contractual date, no later than 30 days after the later of a proper invoice or receipt of goods/services. For grant- or federally funded contracts, satisfactory work is payable within 30 days after the compliant request or receipt of the funding, whichever is later. Source
• For public-work payment requests, RCW 39.76.011(2)(b) requires written notice within eight working days stating the performance or invoice problem and remedial steps if payment will be withheld. Source
• RCW 39.04.250 requires a contractor or subcontractor receiving public-work payment to pass each subcontractor’s attributable share within ten days. A good-faith dispute permits withholding no more than 150% of the disputed amount; parties outside the dispute remain entitled to prompt full payment. Source

Deadlines

Public owner: generally 30 days; downstream: ten days after receipt.

Primary sources

• default.aspx?cite=39.76.011
• default.aspx?cite=39.04.250

Sources reviewed 2026-09-30. This guide covers the projects and rules stated above.

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