California Home Improvement Change Order
CALIFORNIA HOME IMPROVEMENT CHANGE ORDER
Before you use this: Identify and attach this blank form as the change order exhibit to the original home improvement contract. Complete the changed work, price, payment and date fields. Both parties sign the completed order before the changed work begins; give each party a copy.
Change order number: [____] Date prepared: [__/__/____]
Original home improvement contract date: [__/__/____]
Buyer / owner or tenant: [FULL LEGAL NAME]
Contractor: [LICENSED LEGAL NAME]; California license number: [NUMBER]
Project address: [STREET, CITY, CA ZIP]
1. Changed work
The parties change the original contract only as described here. Describe each added, deleted or revised task, its location, and significant materials or equipment. Identify any revised drawing or specification by name and date, and attach it.
| Original item or location | Added, deleted or revised work | Material, equipment or plan reference |
|---|---|---|
| [ITEM 1] | [SPECIFIC CHANGE] | [DETAILS / NONE] |
| [ITEM 2 / NONE] | [SPECIFIC CHANGE / NONE] | [DETAILS / NONE] |
Work expressly excluded from this order: [DETAILS / NONE]
2. Price change
| Contract amount | Dollars and cents |
|---|---|
| Original contract price | $[AMOUNT] |
| Net of earlier signed change orders | $[AMOUNT / 0.00] |
| This order: amount added | $[AMOUNT / 0.00] |
| This order: amount subtracted | $[AMOUNT / 0.00] |
| Revised total contract price | $[AMOUNT] |
The net price change for this order is $[AMOUNT ADDED OR SUBTRACTED]. It includes [LABOR, MATERIALS, EQUIPMENT, TAXES AND OTHER IDENTIFIED COSTS]. No other price or finance charge changes unless written here: [DETAILS / NONE].
3. Progress payments and completion
Effect on the progress payment schedule: [STATE EACH REVISED PHASE, WORK OR MATERIAL MILESTONE, AMOUNT AND PAYMENT DUE EVENT / NO CHANGE]. Attach a replacement schedule if more space is needed; identify it here: [SCHEDULE NAME, DATE / NONE].
Effect on approximate start date: [NEW DATE / NO CHANGE].
Effect on approximate completion date: [NEW DATE / NO CHANGE].
Reason for a date change, if any: [DETAILS / NONE].
4. Subcontractor notice
Will one or more subcontractors be used for work under this change order? ☐ Yes ☐ No
“One or more subcontractors will be used on this project, and the contractor is aware that a list of subcontractors is required to be provided, upon request, along with the names, contact information, license number, and classification of those subcontractors.”
5. Authorization and signatures
The buyer authorizes only the work and terms recorded in this order. All terms of the original contract that this order does not expressly change continue to apply. This completed order becomes part of that contract when both parties sign it before the changed work starts.
Buyer signature: ______________________________ Date: [__/__/____]
Printed name: [FULL LEGAL NAME]
Contractor or authorized representative signature: ______________________________ Date: [__/__/____]
Printed name and title: [FULL LEGAL NAME; TITLE]
Copy delivered to buyer: [__/__/____] by [HAND / EMAIL / OTHER METHOD]
Sources and References
About this template
- Last updated
- November 9, 2026
- Citations checked
- November 9, 2026
- Jurisdiction
- California
- Category
- Contracts & Agreements
Legal authority
- Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 7159(c)(5), (c)(7)(C)
- Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 7159.6(a)-(c)
A contract is a written record of what two or more parties agreed to and what happens if someone does not follow through. Clear language, defined terms, and clean signature blocks keep disputes small and enforceable. The most common mistakes in contracts come from vague promises, missing details about timing or payment, and skipping standard protective clauses like governing law and dispute resolution.
Not legal advice
This template is provided for informational purposes. We recommend having an attorney review any legal document before signing, especially for high-value or complex matters.
Checked against the law it cites
A reviewer verified this template's legal citations against the official source on November 9, 2026.
Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 7159(c)(5) (checked November 9, 2026): "A change-order form for changes or extra work shall be incorporated into the contract and shall become part of the contract only if it is in writing and signed by the parties prior to the commencement of any work covered by a change order."
Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 7159(c)(7)(C) (checked November 9, 2026): "If there is a change order during the project, the same disclaimer set forth in subparagraph (B) shall be on each change order."
Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 7159.6(a) (checked November 9, 2026): "An extra work or change order is not enforceable against a buyer unless the change order sets forth all of the following: (1) The scope of work encompassed by the order. (2) The amount to be added or subtracted from the contract."
Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 7159.6(b) (checked November 9, 2026): "The buyer may not require a contractor to perform extra or change-order work without providing written authorization."
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