Federal Davis-Bacon is not the only rule that applies here. Applies to state public contracts over $250,000. Local (county/city) contracts are only covered if that locality has separately adopted a prevailing wage ordinance. That runs on top of, not instead of, the federal WH-347 whenever the project also has federal money in it.
Virginia at a glance
- Virginia Code § 2.2-4321.3, the state's "Little Davis-Bacon Act," has required prevailing wages on covered state contracts since May 1, 2021.
- Applies to state public contracts over $250,000. Local (county/city) contracts are only covered if that locality has separately adopted a prevailing wage ordinance.
- Rates are set by the Virginia Commissioner of Labor and Industry, based on the federal Davis-Bacon rates for that area and classification.
- A willful violation is a criminal offense (Class 1 misdemeanor), not just a civil back-pay matter, on top of contract disqualification.
Virginia DOLI: Prevailing Wage Law
What this means for your paperwork
The state filing does not replace the federal one. The moment federal funding touches a Virginia project, the WH-347 still has to go out. 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 Virginia's own state form, so budget for that as a separate step if this project needs it.
Frequently asked
Does Virginia have its own prevailing wage law?+
Yes. Virginia Code § 2.2-4321.3, the state's "Little Davis-Bacon Act," has required prevailing wages on covered state contracts since May 1, 2021.
Does Certified Payroll file Virginia's state certified payroll form?+
No. Certified Payroll files the federal WH-347 under Davis-Bacon, not Virginia's own state form. The moment a Virginia project is also federally funded, it checks the rate and fills out the WH-347 automatically. The state form is still a separate filing.
This is a general informational summary, not legal advice, and covers state-level rules only. Verify current requirements with Virginia's labor department or a qualified compliance advisor before relying on it.