Public works claim: public entity must give written statement of disputed/undisputed portions within 45 days of receipt of claim
45 days after date the public entity received the claim, under Cal. Pub. Contract Code 9204(d)(1)(A) (amended by Stats. 2019, ch. 489 (AB 456), eff. Jan. 1, 2020).
Rule text
Upon receipt of a claim pursuant to this section, the public entity to which the claim applies shall conduct a reasonable review of the claim and, within a period not to exceed 45 days, shall provide the claimant a written statement identifying what portion of the claim is disputed and what portion is undisputed.
Calculate this deadline
Deadline
Monday, December 21, 2026
- Trigger (Date the public entity received the claim): Friday, November 6, 2026.
- Exclude the trigger day and count 45 calendar days: Monday, December 21, 2026.
Rules applied
Cal. Pub. Contract Code 9204(d)(1)(A) (amended by Stats. 2019, ch. 489 (AB 456), eff. Jan. 1, 2020)
Upon receipt of a claim pursuant to this section, the public entity to which the claim applies shall conduct a reasonable review of the claim and, within a period not to exceed 45 days, shall provide the claimant a written statement identifying what portion of the claim is disputed and what portion is undisputed.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
- Public works claim (Pub. Contract Code 9204). 1, 2027 unless a later statute extends it; confirm whether 2026 legislation extended it before relying on these rules for claims after Dec. 31, 2026. Extendable by mutual agreement. If governing-body approval is needed and it does not meet within 45 days, up to 3 days after its next noticed meeting ((d)(1)(C)). Failure to respond = claim deemed rejected in its entirety ((d)(3)). SB 33 (Stats. 2026, ch. 99) deleted the Jan. 1, 2027 repeal date; the claim procedure continues.
- 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 the public entity received the claim on Monday, March 15, 2027, personal service: due Thursday, April 29, 2027.
- Trigger (Date the public entity received the claim): Monday, March 15, 2027.
- Exclude the trigger day and count 45 calendar days: Thursday, April 29, 2027.
Notes
Public works claim (Pub. Contract Code 9204). 1, 2027 unless a later statute extends it; confirm whether 2026 legislation extended it before relying on these rules for claims after Dec. 31, 2026. Extendable by mutual agreement. If governing-body approval is needed and it does not meet within 45 days, up to 3 days after its next noticed meeting ((d)(1)(C)). Failure to respond = claim deemed rejected in its entirety ((d)(3)). SB 33 (Stats. 2026, ch. 99) deleted the Jan. 1, 2027 repeal date; the claim procedure continues.
Related deadlines
- 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)
- Local agency claim: last day for agency to request additional documentation (30 days after receipt of claim) (30 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.