Contractor's Bonds and Lien on Funds

C.R.S. tit. 38, art. 26
in effect

C.R.S. § 38-26-101 Contractor defined

38-26-101. Contractor defined. The word "contractor", as used in sections 38-26-101, 38-26-106, and 38-26-107, means any person, copartnership, association of persons, company, or corporation to whom is awarded any contract for the construction, erection, repair, maintenance, or improvement of any building, road, bridge, viaduct, tunnel, excavation, or other public work of this state or for any county, city and county, municipality, school district, or other political subdivision of the state.

C.R.S. § 38-26-102 Railroad and irrigation contractor's bond - action - limitation

38-26-102. Railroad and irrigation contractor's bond - action - limitation. (1) Whenever any railroad, reservoir, or irrigating canal company contracts with any person or corporation for the construction of its railroad, reservoir, or irrigating canal, or any part thereof, such company shall take from the person or corporation with whom such contract is made a good and sufficient bond, conditioned that such contractor shall pay or cause to be paid to all laborers, mechanics, materialmen, ranchmen, farmers, merchants, and other persons who supply such contractor, or any of his or her subcontractors, with labor, work, laborers, materials, ranch or farm products, provisions, goods, or supplies of any kind all just debts incurred therefor in carrying on such work, which bond shall be filed by such company in the office of the county clerk and recorder in the county where the principal work of such contractor is carried on. If any such railroad, reservoir, or irrigation canal company fails to take such bond, such company shall be liable to the persons mentioned to the full extent of all such debts so contracted by such contractor or any of his or her subcontractors. Any such contractor may take a similar bond from each of his or her subcontractors to secure the payment of all debts of the kind mentioned incurred by such contractor and file the same. (2) All such persons mentioned in this section to whom any debt of the kind mentioned is due from any such contractor or subcontractor shall severally have a right of action upon any such bond covering such debt taken as provided for the recovery of the full amount of such debt. A certified copy of the bond shall be received as evidence in any such action. In order that the right of action upon such bonds may exist, such person or parties granted such right shall comply with either of the following conditions: (a) An action in a court of competent jurisdiction in the county where such bond is filed shall be commenced within ninety days after the last item of indebtedness has accrued; or (b) An itemized statement of the indebtedness duly verified shall be filed within ninety days after the last item of such indebtedness has accrued in the office of the county clerk and recorder of the proper county, and an action shall be brought in any court of competent jurisdiction of such county within three months after the filing of such statement. (3) In case an action is commenced upon the bond of a contractor, such contractor may give notice thereof to the subcontractor liable for the claim. In such case the result of such action shall be binding upon the subcontractor and his sureties. In any case when a contractor has paid a claim for which a subcontractor is liable, such contractor shall bring action against the subcontractor and his sureties within sixty days after the payment of such claim.

C.R.S. § 38-26-103 Verified account to company - withhold payments

38-26-103. Verified account to company - withhold payments. Every laborer, mechanic, ranchman, farmer, merchant, or other person performing any work or labor or furnishing any laborers, materials, ranch or farm products, provisions, goods, or supplies to any contractor or subcontractor in the construction of any railroad, reservoir, or irrigation canal, or any part thereof, used by such contractor or subcontractor in carrying on said work of construction whose demand for work, labor, laborers, material, ranch or farm products, provisions, goods, or supplies so furnished has not been paid may deliver to the company owning such railroad, reservoir, or irrigation canal, or to its agent, a verified account of the amount and value of the work and labor so performed or the laborers, material, ranch or farm products, provisions, goods, or supplies so furnished. Thereupon such company, or its agent, shall retain out of the subsequent payments to the contractor the amount of such unpaid account for the benefit of the person to whom the same is due.

C.R.S. § 38-26-104 Contractor furnished copy - undisputed accounts - condition

38-26-104. Contractor furnished copy - undisputed accounts - condition. Whenever any verified account mentioned in section 38-26-103 is placed in the hands of any railroad, reservoir, or irrigating canal company, or its agent, it is the duty of such company to furnish the contractor with a copy of such verified account so that if there is any disagreement between the debtor and creditor as to the amount due the same may be amicably adjusted. If the contractor or subcontractor, if he is the debtor, does not give, within ten days after the receipt of such amount, the same railroad, reservoir, or irrigating canal company, or its agent, written notice that the claim is disputed, he shall be considered as assenting to its payment and the railroad, reservoir, or irrigating canal company, or its agent, shall be justified in paying the same when due and charging the same to the contractor. The person to whom any such debt is due and who delivers a verified account thereof as provided may recover the amount thereof in an action at law to the extent of any balance due by the railroad, reservoir, or irrigating canal company to the contractor at or after the time of delivering the verified account. Nothing in this section or in section 38-26-103 shall interfere with the right of action upon bonds provided for in section 38-26-102 or against the railroad, reservoir, or irrigating canal company for the full amount of any such debt in case of a failure of the company to take a bond.

C.R.S. § 38-26-105 Public works contractor's bond - conditions - applicability - definitions

38-26-105. Public works contractor's bond - conditions - applicability - definitions. (1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section, any person, company, firm, or corporation entering into a contract for more than fifty thousand dollars with any county, municipality, or school district for the construction of any public building or the prosecution or completion of any public works or for repairs upon any public building or public works is required before commencing work to execute, in addition to all bonds that may be required of it, a penal bond with good and sufficient surety to be approved by the board or boards of county commissioners of the county or counties, the governing body or bodies of the municipality or municipalities, or the district school board or boards, conditioned that such contractor shall at all times promptly make payments of all amounts lawfully due to all persons supplying or furnishing such person or such person's subcontractors with labor, laborers, materials, rental machinery, tools, or equipment used or performed in the prosecution of the work provided for in such contract and that such contractor will indemnify and save harmless the county, municipality, or school district to the extent of any payments in connection with the carrying out of any such contract which the county or counties, municipality or municipalities, and school district or school districts may be required to make under the law. Subcontractors, materialmen, mechanics, suppliers of rental equipment, and others may have a right of action for amounts lawfully due them from the contractor or subcontractor directly against the principal and surety of such bond. Such action for laborers, materials, rental machinery, tools, or equipment furnished or labor rendered must be brought within six months after the completion of the work. (2) Notwithstanding the monetary qualification provided in subsection (1) of this section, the state, or the governing body of any county, municipality, school district, or other political subdivision determining it to be in the best interest of this state, or any county, municipality, school district, or other political subdivision may require the execution of a penal bond for any contract of fifty thousand dollars or less. (3) This section applies to all contracts for more than fifty thousand dollars awarded to a private entity for the construction of any public building or the prosecution or completion of any public works or for repairs upon any public building or public works that is situated or located on publicly owned property using any public or private money or public or private financing.

C.R.S. § 38-26-106 Contractor executes bond - applicability

38-26-106. Contractor executes bond - applicability. (1) Before entering upon the performance of any work included in the contract, a contractor shall duly execute, deliver to, and file with the board, officer, body, or person by whom the contract was awarded a good and sufficient bond or other acceptable surety approved by the contracting board, officer, body, or person, in a penal sum not less than one-half of the total amount payable under the terms of the contract; except that, for a public works contract having a total value of five hundred million dollars or more, a bond or other acceptable surety, including but not limited to a letter of credit, may be issued in a penal sum not less than one-half of the maximum amount payable under the terms of the contract in any calendar year in which the contract is performed. The contracting board, office, body, or person shall ensure that the contract requires that a bond or other acceptable surety, including but not limited to a letter of credit, be filed and current for the duration of the contract. (2) A bond or other acceptable surety shall be duly executed by a qualified corporate surety or other qualified financial institution, conditioned upon the faithful performance of the contract, and, in addition, shall provide that, if the contractor or his or her subcontractor fails to duly pay for any labor, materials, team hire, sustenance, provisions, provender, or other supplies used or consumed by such contractor or his or her subcontractor in performance of the work contracted to be done or fails to pay any person who supplies laborers, rental machinery, tools, or equipment, all amounts due as the result of the use of such laborers, machinery, tools, or equipment, in the prosecution of the work, the surety or other qualified financial institution will pay the same in an amount not exceeding the sum specified in the bond or other acceptable surety together with interest at the rate of eight percent per annum. Unless a bond or other acceptable surety is executed, delivered, and filed, no claim in favor of the contractor arising under the contract shall be audited, allowed, or paid. A certified or cashier's check or a bank money order made payable to the treasurer of the state of Colorado or to the treasurer or other officer designated by the governing body of the contracting local government may be accepted in lieu of a bond or other acceptable surety. (3) This section applies to: (a) A contractor who is awarded a contract for more than fifty thousand dollars for the construction, erection, repair, maintenance, or improvement of any building, road, bridge, viaduct, tunnel, excavation, or other public works for any county, city and county, municipality, school district, or other political subdivision of the state; (b) A contractor who is awarded a contract for more than one hundred fifty thousand dollars for the construction, erection, repair, maintenance, or improvement of any building, road, bridge, viaduct, tunnel, excavation, or other public works for this state; and (c) All contracts for more than one hundred fifty thousand dollars awarded by any county, city and county, municipality, school district, or other political subdivision of the state to a private entity for the construction, erection, repair, maintenance, or improvement of any building, road, bridge, viaduct, tunnel, excavation, or other public works that is situated or located on publicly owned property using any public or private money or public or private financing.

C.R.S. § 38-26-107 Supplier may file statement - notice - withholding funds

38-26-107. Supplier may file statement - notice - withholding funds. (1) Any person, as defined in section 2-4-401 (8), C.R.S., that has furnished labor, materials, sustenance, or other supplies used or consumed by a contractor or his or her subcontractor in or about the performance of the work contracted to be done or that supplies laborers, rental machinery, tools, or equipment to the extent used in the prosecution of the work whose claim therefor has not been paid by the contractor or the subcontractor may, at any time up to and including the time of final settlement for the work contracted to be done, file with the board, officer, person, or other contracting body by whom the contract was awarded a verified statement of the amount due and unpaid on account of the claim. If the amount of the contract awarded to the contractor exceeds one hundred fifty thousand dollars, the board, officer, person, or other contracting body by whom the contract was awarded shall, no later than ten days before the final settlement is made, publish a notice of the final settlement at least twice in a newspaper of general circulation in any county where the work was contracted for or performed or in an electronic medium approved by the executive director of the department of personnel. It is unlawful for any person to divide a public works contract into two or more separate contracts for the sole purpose of evading or attempting to evade the requirements of this subsection (1). (2) Upon the filing of any such claim, such board, officer, person, or other body awarding the contract shall withhold from all payments to said contractor sufficient funds to insure the payment of said claims until the same have been paid or such claims as filed have been withdrawn, such payment or withdrawal to be evidenced by filing with the person or contracting body by whom the contract was awarded a receipt in full or an order for withdrawal in writing and signed by the person filing such claim or his duly authorized agents or assigns. Such funds shall not be withheld longer than ninety days following the date fixed for final settlement as published unless an action is commenced within that time to enforce such unpaid claim and a notice of lis pendens is filed with the person or contracting body by whom the contract was awarded. (3) At the expiration of the ninety-day period, the person or other body awarding the contract shall pay to the contractor such moneys and funds as are not the subject of suit and lis pendens notices and shall retain thereafter, subject to the final outcome thereof, only sufficient funds to insure the payment of judgments that may result from the suit. Failure on the part of a claimant to comply with the provisions of sections 38-26-101, 38-26-106, and this section shall relieve the board, officer, body, or person by whom such contract was awarded from any liability for making payment to the contractor. At any time within ninety days following the date fixed for final settlement as published, any person, copartnership, association of persons, company, or corporation, or its assigns, whose claims have not been paid by any such contractor or subcontractor may commence an action to recover the same, individually or collectively, against the surety or other qualified financial institution on the bond or other acceptable surety specified and required in section 38-26-106.

C.R.S. § 38-26-108 Substitution of bond allowed

38-26-108. Substitution of bond allowed. (1) Whenever a verified statement of a claim has been filed in accordance with section 38-26-107, the contractor holding the contract against which such statement has been filed, or other person who has an interest in the payments being withheld, by the contracting body that awarded the contract may, at any time, file with the clerk of the district court of the county where the contract is being performed or of the county where the office in which the verified statement of claim is located an ex parte motion for approval of a substitute corporate surety bond or any other undertaking that may be acceptable to a judge of such district court. (2) A corporate surety bond or undertaking filed pursuant to subsection (1) of this section shall be in an amount equal to one and one-half times the amount of the claim plus costs allowed by the court up to the date of such filing and shall have been approved by an order of a judge of the district court in which such bond or undertaking is filed. The order shall state that: (a) The corporate surety bond or undertaking is approved; (b) The verified statement of claim is discharged; (c) The corporate surety bond or undertaking shall be substituted for the moneys withheld pursuant to the verified statement of claim; and (d) The contracting body that awarded the contract shall release the moneys being withheld pursuant to the verified statement of claim on the same terms and conditions as if the verified statement of claim had been released by the claimant. (3) A corporate surety bond or undertaking filed pursuant to subsection (1) of this section shall be conditioned that, if the claimant is finally adjudged to be entitled to recover upon the claim upon which the claimant's verified statement of a claim is based, the surety issuing the bond or undertaking or the principal thereunder, shall pay to such claimant the amount of the judgment issued upon such claim, together with any interest, costs, and other amounts awarded by the judgment. (4) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 38-26-107, upon the issuance of an order from a judge of the district court approving a bond or undertaking filed pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, the clerk of such district court shall issue a certificate of release, which shall be served on the board, officer, person, or other contracting body by whom the contract was awarded by certified mail, return receipt requested, or by personal delivery. The certificate of release shall show that such claim against the contract has been discharged and released in full and the corporate surety bond or undertaking has been substituted. After the certificate of release is filed, payments to the contractor by the contracting body by whom the contract was awarded shall resume in accordance with the terms of the contract, and any funds previously withheld as a result of the filing of the verified statement shall be released to the contractor pursuant to the terms of the contract or, if not specified in the contract, within thirty days after the receipt of the certificate of release by the board, officer, person, or other contracting body by whom the contract was awarded. (5) When a corporate surety bond or undertaking is substituted for a claim as provided in this section, the claimant who filed the verified statement of a claim pursuant to section 38-26-107 (1) may bring an action against such bond or undertaking. Such action shall be commenced within the time allowed for the commencement of an action set forth in section 38-26-107 (3). (6) In the event that no action is commenced upon the corporate surety bond or undertaking within the time period called for by section 38-26-107, the corporate surety bond or undertaking shall be discharged and shall be returned to the contractor.

C.R.S. § 38-26-109 Moneys for verified claims made - trust funds - disbursements - penalty

38-26-109. Moneys for verified claims made - trust funds - disbursements - penalty. (1) All funds disbursed to any contractor or subcontractor under any contract or project subject to the provisions of this article shall be held in trust for the payment of any person that has furnished labor, materials, sustenance, or other supplies used or consumed by the contractor in or about the performance of the work contracted to be done or that supplies laborers, rental machinery, tools, or equipment to the extent used in the prosecution of the work where the person has: (a) Filed or may file a verified statement of a claim arising from the project; or (b) Asserted or may assert a claim against a principal or surety under the provisions of this article and for whom or which such disbursement was made. (2) The requirements of this section shall not be construed so as to require a contractor or subcontractor to hold in trust any funds that have been disbursed to him or her for any person that has furnished labor, materials, sustenance, or other supplies used or consumed by the contractor or his or her subcontractor in the performance of the work contracted to be done; supplied laborers, rental machinery, tools, or equipment to the extent used in the prosecution of the work; filed or may file a verified statement of a claim arising from the project; or asserted or may assert a claim against a principal or surety that has furnished a bond under the provisions of this article if: (a) The contractor or subcontractor has a good faith belief that the verified statement of a claim or bond claim is not valid; or (b) The contractor or subcontractor, in good faith, claims a setoff, to the extent of such setoff. (3) Each contractor or subcontractor shall maintain separate records of account of each project or account; except that nothing in this section shall be construed to require a contractor or subcontractor to deposit trust funds from a single project in a separate bank account solely for that project as long as the trust funds are not disbursed in a manner that conflicts with the requirements of this section. (4) Any person who violates the provisions of subsections (1) and (2) of this section commits theft within the meaning of section 18-4-401, C.R.S.

C.R.S. § 38-26-110 Excessive amounts claimed

38-26-110. Excessive amounts claimed. (1) Any person who files a verified statement of a claim or asserts a claim against a principal or surety that has furnished a bond under this article for an amount greater than the amount due without a reasonable possibility that the amount claimed is due and with the knowledge that the amount claimed is greater than the amount due, and that fact is demonstrated in any proceedings under this article, shall forfeit all rights to the amount claimed and shall be liable to the following in an amount equal to all costs and all attorney fees reasonably incurred in bonding over, contesting, or otherwise responding in any way to the excessive verified statement of claim or excessive bond claim: (a) The person to whom or which a disbursement would be made but for the verified statement of a claim or bond claim; or (b) The principal and surety on the bond.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2024-title-38.docxFetched: 10/6/2026