Public works retention: public entity must release retention within 60 days after completion
60 days after date of completion of the work of improvement (as defined in 7107(c)), under Cal. Pub. Contract Code 7107(c).
Rule text
Within 60 days after the date of completion of the work of improvement, the retention withheld by the public entity shall be released.
Calculate this deadline
Deadline
Tuesday, January 5, 2027
- Trigger (Date of completion of the work of improvement (as defined in 7107(c))): Friday, November 6, 2026.
- Exclude the trigger day and count 60 calendar days: Tuesday, January 5, 2027.
Rules applied
Cal. Pub. Contract Code 7107(c)
Within 60 days after the date of completion of the work of improvement, the retention withheld by the public entity shall be released.Official source
Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 12, 12a, 12b; Cal. Gov. Code 6800, 6707 (state agency filings); Fed. R. Civ. P. 6(a) (federal statutes and federal court filings)
CCP 12: "The time in which any act provided by law is to be done is computed by excluding the first day, and including the last, unless the last day is a holiday, and then it is also excluded." CCP 12a(a): "If the last day for the performance of any act provided or required by law to be performed within a specified period of time is a holiday, then that period is hereby extended to and including the next day that is not a holiday. For purposes of this section, “holiday” means all day on Saturdays, all holidays specified in Section 135 and, to the extent provided in Section 12b, all days that by terms of Section 12b are required to be considered as holidays." Gov. Code 6707: "When the last day for filing any instrument or other document with a state agency falls upon a Saturday or holiday, such act may be performed upon the next business day with the same effect as if it had been performed upon the day appointed." FRCP 6(a): "The following rules apply in computing any time period specified in these rules, in any local rule or court order, or in any statute that does not specify a method of computing time. (1) ... (A) exclude the day of the event that triggers the period; (B) count every day, including intermediate Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays; and (C) include the last day of the period, but if the last day is a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the period continues to run until the end of the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday."Official source
- May withhold up to 150 percent of a disputed amount. State agencies holding 125 percent or less of remaining work value have 90 days (7107(g)). Late-release penalty provision (7107(f)) not quoted here.
- If the clerk's office is closed or inaccessible on the last day (weather, emergency or local closure orders), the deadline may be extended. Check local orders.
This calculator applies the cited rules to the dates you enter. It is not legal advice. Court orders, local rules, and case-specific facts can change a deadline; verify before relying on it. Rule set pending attorney review.
Worked example
Date of completion of the work of improvement (as defined in 7107(c)) on Monday, March 15, 2027, personal service: due Friday, May 14, 2027.
- Trigger (Date of completion of the work of improvement (as defined in 7107(c))): Monday, March 15, 2027.
- Exclude the trigger day and count 60 calendar days: Friday, May 14, 2027.
Notes
May withhold up to 150 percent of a disputed amount. State agencies holding 125 percent or less of remaining work value have 90 days (7107(g)). Late-release penalty provision (7107(f)) not quoted here.
Related deadlines
- Public works claim: public entity must give written statement of disputed/undisputed portions within 45 days of receipt of claim (45 days after)
- Public works claim: payment of undisputed portion within 60 days after the public entity's written statement (60 days after)
- Public works claim: after claimant's written demand (registered/certified mail), public entity must schedule meet-and-confer within 30 days (30 days after)
- Public works claim: written statement of remaining dispute within 10 business days after meet-and-confer concludes (10 business days after)
- Public works claim: parties must agree on a mediator within 10 business days after the disputed portion is identified in writing (10 court days after)
- Public works pass-through claim: prime contractor must tell subcontractor within 45 days whether it presented the claim (45 days after)
- Local agency claim under $50,000: written response within 45 days of receipt (or request for documentation within 30 days) (45 days after)
- Local agency claim over $50,000 up to $375,000: written response within 60 days of receipt (or documentation request within 30 days) (60 days after)
Rules current as of 2026-10-27. Confirm against the official source and any local rule or court order before relying on a date. Rules changelog.