Am I Entitled to a Contractor Warranty?

State laws determine whether you are entitled to a contractor warranty. Many states require that the licensed contractor provides a warranty against defects in workmanship, but property owners must notify the contractor of any defects within a certain amount of time. Use our free legal tool below to learn more about contractor warrant laws in your state.

UPDATED: Jul 16, 2021

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Jeffrey Johnson

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Jeffrey Johnson is a legal writer with a focus on personal injury. He has worked on personal injury and sovereign immunity litigation in addition to experience in family, estate, and criminal law. He earned a J.D. from the University of Baltimore and has worked in legal offices and non-profits in Maryland, Texas, and North Carolina. He has also earned an MFA in screenwriting from Chapman Univer...

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UPDATED: Jul 16, 2021

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It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right legal decisions.

We strive to help you make confident insurance and legal decisions. Finding trusted and reliable insurance quotes and legal advice should be easy. This doesn’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own.

Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about legal topics and insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything legal and insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by experts.

UPDATED: Jul 16, 2021

Advertiser Disclosure

It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right legal decisions.

We strive to help you make confident insurance and legal decisions. Finding trusted and reliable insurance quotes and legal advice should be easy. This doesn’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own.

UPDATED: Jul 16, 2021Fact Checked

The contractor may be hired to do a variety of different jobs on a home, from a complete remodel to a cosmetic update. When a contractor is hired, the property owner is dependent on the contractor’s knowledge, skill, and expertise in complying with all local building codes and in providing a quality finished product. As such, the owner is concerned about whether a contractor warranty is available against defects of workmanship or service. A homeowner’s right to such a warranty is determined both by state law and by whether the contractor has included a warranty in the construction or remodeling contract.

State Laws and Contractor Warranties


Many states require that the licensed contractor provides a warranty against defects in workmanship. For example, in California, there is a “one year expressed limited warranty” provided under California Civil Code 900. This is a one year implied warranty for both new construction and remodeling projects. The property owner who wishes to take advantage of this warranty must file a complaint within one year.

The owner must notify the contractor in writing of any defects under California Civil Code section 917, and may then file a legal complaint if the contractor fails to act to make repairs within a reasonable time. The complaint may be filed in either civil or small claims court, but the owner is responsible for his own legal fees and costs. Alternatively, the owner may make a complaint with the Contractor’s State License Board, who can help to investigate and resolve the complaint. The time limit for filing a compliant with the Contractor’s State License board is the same as the legal warranty deadline.

California law also states that the licensed contractor must provide a warranty guaranteeing that items installed under the contractor’s license is free from defective installation. The installation must comply with both local building codes and manufacturer installation requirements. If a product is damaged due to defective installation, the contractor may be held liable for the cost of repairs and damages. This warranty extends for four years after the completion of a job.

Finally, under California law, both the contractor and engineer who signs off on a project must provide a ten year warranty against structural defects, including latent defects such as unstable building sites, foundation integrity, and roofing work.

Laws in other states differ, but many provide similar protections to the California consumer through implied warranties and other warranty requirements. To determine what the specific contractor warranty requirements are in your state, it is always best to consult a qualified construction law attorney in your jurisdiction. In addition, federal laws including the Magnus-Moss Warranty Act provide some protection for the property owner, such as protection against defective building materials and goods. Magnus-Moss, however, is limited to “tangible personal property” and does not encompass real property like your home.

Written Warranties From Your Contractor


While state laws and implied warranties may provide some measure of protection, you should always negotiate a written warranty with your contractor for work performed. This warranty can be part of your construction contract and negotiated along with the other terms of your agreement. The warranty will then be enforced under contract and warranty laws in the state where you live.

It is also important to note that most written and implied warranties do not hold the contractor responsible for defects in materials and products that provide their own warranty. For example, if a refrigerator you purchase has a one year warranty and there is a defect in the unit, as opposed to installation, the refrigerator manufacturer is responsible for the cost of repair and/or replacement and not the contractor.

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Jeffrey Johnson

Insurance Lawyer

Jeffrey Johnson is a legal writer with a focus on personal injury. He has worked on personal injury and sovereign immunity litigation in addition to experience in family, estate, and criminal law. He earned a J.D. from the University of Baltimore and has worked in legal offices and non-profits in Maryland, Texas, and North Carolina. He has also earned an MFA in screenwriting from Chapman Univer...

Insurance Lawyer

Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about legal topics and insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything legal and insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by experts.

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