Federal Davis-Bacon is not the only rule that applies here. State-funded public works are covered by California's own Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) rules, using Form A-1-131. That runs on top of, not instead of, the federal WH-347 whenever the project also has federal money in it.
California at a glance
| Detail | California requirement |
|---|---|
| Governing law | California Labor Code §§ 1770–1815 |
| Enforcing agency | Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) |
| State form | Form A-1-131, filed electronically as eCPR (XML) |
| Filing cadence | Weekly |
| Contract threshold | $1,000 (state-funded), vs. $2,000 federal |
| If both apply | Higher of the state or federal rate applies |
- California Labor Code §§ 1770–1815 sets the state's own prevailing wage rules, on top of federal Davis-Bacon for federally funded work.
- State-funded public works are covered by California's own Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) rules, using Form A-1-131.
- DIR requires weekly certified payroll submitted electronically as XML (eCPR), a different format from the federal WH-347.
- California rates are frequently higher than the federal Davis-Bacon rate for the same trade and county. On a job funded by both, the higher of the two applies.
- Coverage starts at a $1,000 prime contract, well below the federal $2,000 threshold.
What this means for your paperwork
Whenever a California project has federal money in it, the WH-347 side of it still has to happen on top of the state paperwork. Certified Payroll only handles the federal side: it checks the rate against the live SAM.gov wage determination and fills out the WH-347 with its Statement of Compliance. It does not file California's own state form, so budget for that as a separate step if this project needs it.
Frequently asked
Does California have its own prevailing wage law?+
Yes. California Labor Code §§ 1770–1815 sets the state's own prevailing wage rules, on top of federal Davis-Bacon for federally funded work.
Does Certified Payroll file California's state certified payroll form?+
No. California's own requirement is a weekly electronic filing called the eCPR, submitted as XML through the state's DIR system using Form A-1-131, separate from the federal WH-347 entirely. Certified Payroll only handles the federal side: the moment a California project is also federally funded, it checks the rate against the SAM.gov determination and fills out the WH-347 with its own Statement of Compliance automatically. The eCPR filing through DIR still has to happen on its own, on whatever cadence and portal the state requires, since the two systems don't talk to each other and one report doesn't substitute for the other.
This is a general informational summary, not legal advice, and covers state-level rules only. Verify current requirements with California's labor department or a qualified compliance advisor before relying on it.