Connecticut Subcontractor Agreement Template | Statutory Compliant
Generate a construction subcontract tailored to Connecticut law — with statutory prompt payment deadlines, retainage caps, lien waiver rules, and anti-indemnification protections built in.
Contract Parties
Subcontractor
Project & Schedule
Payment Terms
Total subcontract price for your scope of work.
Connecticut rules: Connecticut does not cap retainage on private construction; retainage is a matter of contract negotiation.
Days after GC receives owner payment.
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Download a clean, print-ready PDF with all Connecticut statutory clauses included — prompt payment, retainage, lien waiver, and indemnification.
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Subcontractor Agreement
Construction Subcontract — State of Connecticut
This Subcontractor Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of October 5, 2026 by and between [General Contractor Name] (“General Contractor”) and [Subcontractor Name] (“Subcontractor”), governed by Connecticut General Statutes Title 49, Chapter 899 and the laws of the State of Connecticut.
General Contractor
[General Contractor Name]
Subcontractor
[Subcontractor Name]
Project Owner
—
Project Address
—
Contract Price
[Contract Price]
License #
—
1. Scope of Work
Subcontractor shall furnish all labor, tools, equipment, and materials necessary to complete the agreed scope of work in a good and workmanlike manner, in compliance with all applicable building codes.
2. Payment
GC shall pay Subcontractor within 10 days after receiving payment from the Project Owner. Under Connecticut Prompt Payment law (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 42-119qq et seq.), the general contractor must pay subcontractors within 30 days after receiving payment from the owner or, if the owner has not paid, within 30 days of completing the sub’s work (and 10% annual interest on late amounts).
3. Retainage
GC may withhold 10% retainage from each progress payment. Connecticut does not cap retainage on private construction; retainage is a matter of contract negotiation. Public construction retention is generally governed by state contract statutes.
4. Lien Waivers
Connecticut does not mandate statutory lien waiver forms; waivers are enforceable if they clearly identify the project, amount, and date. Best practice is conditional waivers until payment clears, to preserve lien rights under Conn. Gen. Stat. Title 49.
5. Mechanics Lien Rights Preserved
Connecticut requires filing a mechanic’s lien on the land records within 90 days of the last date work or materials were furnished. Connecticut does not require a statutory preliminary notice for private projects; lien rights arise automatically upon performing work, though best practice is to send a voluntary Notice of Intent to Lien.
6. Indemnification
Connecticut does not have a specific anti-indemnification statute for construction contracts; broad indemnity is generally enforceable if clearly worded. Subcontractors should negotiate express limits and rely on the Prompt Payment Act’s remedies for late payment.
7. Governing Law
This Agreement is governed by the laws of the State of Connecticut, including Connecticut General Statutes Title 49, Chapter 899 (Connecticut Construction Lien Law) and Prompt Payment provisions in Public Act 21-136 (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 42-119qq et seq.).
[General Contractor Name] — General Contractor
Print Name / Title
[Subcontractor Name] — Subcontractor
Print Name / Title
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Connecticut Payment & Retainage Rules
Under Connecticut Prompt Payment law (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 42-119qq et seq.), the general contractor must pay subcontractors within 30 days after receiving payment from the owner or, if the owner has not paid, within 30 days of completing the sub’s work (and 10% annual interest on late amounts).
Retainage Cap
Connecticut does not cap retainage on private construction; retainage is a matter of contract negotiation. Public construction retention is generally governed by state contract statutes.
Pay-When-Paid
Your agreement states that owner payment is a timing mechanism, not an absolute condition precedent — preserving your right to payment and statutory remedies under Connecticut General Statutes Title 49, Chapter 899.
Lien Waivers
Connecticut does not mandate statutory lien waiver forms; waivers are enforceable if they clearly identify the project, amount, and date. Best practice is conditional waivers until payment clears, to preserve lien rights under Conn. Gen. Stat. Title 49.
Your Mechanics Lien Rights in Connecticut
This agreement expressly preserves your right to record a mechanics lien and serve statutory preliminary notices — no pay-if-paid, pay-when-paid, or lien waiver clause in the document can waive your lien rights beyond payment actually received.
Connecticut requires filing a mechanic’s lien on the land records within 90 days of the last date work or materials were furnished.
Connecticut does not require a statutory preliminary notice for private projects; lien rights arise automatically upon performing work, though best practice is to send a voluntary Notice of Intent to Lien.
Deadlines matter: missing a Connecticut lien or notice deadline can permanently waive your security interest in the project. Calendar both dates the day you mobilize on site.
Indemnification Limits Under Connecticut Law
Connecticut does not have a specific anti-indemnification statute for construction contracts; broad indemnity is generally enforceable if clearly worded. Subcontractors should negotiate express limits and rely on the Prompt Payment Act’s remedies for late payment.
Connecticut Subcontractor Agreement FAQs
When must a general contractor pay me under Connecticut prompt payment law?
Under Connecticut Prompt Payment law (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 42-119qq et seq.), the general contractor must pay subcontractors within 30 days after receiving payment from the owner or, if the owner has not paid, within 30 days of completing the sub’s work (and 10% annual interest on late amounts). Your subcontract should mirror these statutory deadlines so that late payments automatically trigger the statutory interest and remedies without negotiation.
How much retainage can a GC legally withhold in Connecticut?
Connecticut does not cap retainage on private construction; retainage is a matter of contract negotiation. Public construction retention is generally governed by state contract statutes. Your agreement should specify the exact retainage percentage, the release schedule (typically at substantial completion and final completion), and payment of statutory interest on withheld retainage.
Are pay-if-paid clauses enforceable in Connecticut subcontracts?
While Connecticut has not enacted a blanket statutory ban on pay-if-paid clauses, courts and statutes in most states treat "pay-when-paid" as a reasonable timing provision rather than an absolute condition. Check Connecticut General Statutes Title 49, Chapter 899 (Connecticut Construction Lien Law) and Prompt Payment provisions in Public Act 21-136 (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 42-119qq et seq.) for specific restrictions, and make sure your subcontract states that payment from the owner is not an absolute condition precedent to your right to be paid.
What lien waiver rules apply in Connecticut?
Connecticut does not mandate statutory lien waiver forms; waivers are enforceable if they clearly identify the project, amount, and date. Best practice is conditional waivers until payment clears, to preserve lien rights under Conn. Gen. Stat. Title 49. Never sign an unconditional waiver until payment has actually cleared your bank account, and make sure your waiver identifies the specific billing period and amounts to avoid losing lien rights on future work.
Can a Connecticut subcontract require me to indemnify the GC for the GC’s own negligence?
Connecticut does not have a specific anti-indemnification statute for construction contracts; broad indemnity is generally enforceable if clearly worded. Subcontractors should negotiate express limits and rely on the Prompt Payment Act’s remedies for late payment. Always read the indemnification clause carefully — even in states with anti-indemnity statutes, "broad form" indemnity for joint negligence is typically still enforceable.
How do I preserve my mechanics lien rights in Connecticut?
Connecticut requires filing a mechanic’s lien on the land records within 90 days of the last date work or materials were furnished. Connecticut does not require a statutory preliminary notice for private projects; lien rights arise automatically upon performing work, though best practice is to send a voluntary Notice of Intent to Lien. Send statutory notices by certified mail or another trackable method, keep copies of everything, and calendar the deadlines immediately upon each project’s completion.