California DIR Requirements
California runs the most demanding prevailing wage program in the country. We keep your construction company compliant with every DIR requirement.
The California Department of Industrial Relations enforces prevailing wage law on virtually every public works construction project over one thousand dollars. That includes schools, roads, bridges, water infrastructure, transit, and affordable housing. The program comes with contractor registration requirements, electronic certified payroll reporting, apprenticeship mandates, and an active enforcement arm, the Labor Commissioner's Office, that issues civil wage and penalty assessments with penalties of up to $200 per worker per day.
Whether you are a California general contractor, a specialty subcontractor, or an out of state construction firm winning work here for the first time, we manage the full DIR compliance stack so your project, your progress payments, and your retention stay protected.
What we cover
DIR Contractor Registration
Annual public works contractor registration and renewals for your company and every subcontractor. Registration is required before a contractor can bid, be listed on a bid, or be awarded a public works contract.
PWC-100 Project Registration
Awarding body project registration filed correctly at contract award so the project starts clean.
eCPR Certified Payroll
Electronic certified payroll uploaded to the Labor Commissioner through eCPR at least monthly (or as often as the contract requires), reviewed for classification and wage rate errors before it is filed.
DAS-140, DAS-142, and Ratios
Apprenticeship contract award notices, apprentice dispatch requests, journeyman to apprentice ratio tracking, and California Apprenticeship Council training fund contributions.
Skilled and Trained Workforce
Monthly STW reports demonstrating apprenticeship graduation percentages for every craft where your contract requires them.
Labor Commissioner Defense
Civil wage and penalty assessment responses, settlement support, and review proceedings handled alongside your construction attorney.
What California public works requires.
Enforced by DIR, Labor Commissioner, DAS.
What it costs to miss
Underpayment penalties run up to $200 per worker per day, plus liquidated damages if back wages aren't paid within 60 days of an assessment.
- Prevailing wage applies to public works paid for in whole or in part with public funds, including many subsidized private projects.
- Every contractor and sub must be DIR-registered before bidding. Projects up to $25,000 ($15,000 for maintenance) are exempt from registration and eCPR.
- Certified payroll goes to the Labor Commissioner through eCPR, and records must be produced within 10 days of a request.
- DAS-140 within 10 days of the contract and before the first day of work. DAS-142 dispatch requests at least 72 hours (business days) before apprentices are needed.
- One apprentice hour for every five journeyman hours, plus training fund contributions for every craft.
- Overtime is owed after 8 hours in a day, not just 40 in a week, unless the determination allows otherwise.
Summary for general information, current as of 2026. Specific projects can add requirements through contracts, PLAs, or funding agreements.
Other industries
Bidding a public works job, or holding a notice?
Send us the contract, the wage determination, or the letter. We'll tell you what applies and what it takes to handle it.
Tell us about your project.
Tell us the job, who's funding it, and what you need help with. You'll hear back within one business day.
- Call the office
- (562) 418-4269
- Office
- 444 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 800
Long Beach, CA 90802 - Hours
- Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Pacific