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Washington Public Time Frames


Step 1: Notice
  • Subcontractors and Suppliers: Notice to the prime contractor within 10 days of first furnishing.
  • Notice is not necessary when selling to the Prime Contractor (principal).

Step 2: Bond Claim
  • Notice to the public agency within 30 days from acceptance.

Step 3: Suit Against Bond
  • Review bond for suit requirments. To preserve a claim for attorney fees, suit on a payment bond must be filed no less than 30 days after notice of the claim. See Speed Bumps.

Bond Bits

  • Contracts of $150,000 or less, the public entity may retain 10% of the contract amount in lieu of bond for a period of 30 days after date of final acceptance.
  • Amount of Bond: 100% of contract price on state jobs. May be as low as 25% on some for municipal jobs.
  • Small business contracts less than $50,000 are excluded from obtaining payment and performance bonds. The public owner of the project assumes liability when the small business contractor fails to make payments.

Washington Public Improvement Lien Time Frames


Step 1: Public Improvement Lien
  • All claimants must give written notice of a claim of lien on retained funds to the public agency no later than 45 days after completion of the contract work. Suppliers only must give written notice to the prime contractor within 60 days of the first delivery.
  • Late notice excludes the claim only for those materials delivered prior to 60 days before the notice.

Step 2: Suit
  • Within 4 months from filing lien.