What is a construction change order?

A change order is a written amendment to a construction contract that documents a modification to the scope of work, contract price, or project schedule. Change orders are required whenever the work differs from what was included in the original contract -- whether due to unforeseen site conditions, owner-requested additions, design changes, or errors in the original documents.

Without a signed change order, contractors risk performing additional work without contractual entitlement to payment. Courts and arbitrators consistently deny payment claims for extra work performed without a written, owner-approved change order unless the contract specifically provides for oral authorization.

The change order form is typically submitted by the contractor, reviewed and approved by the architect (on AIA-contract projects), and signed by the owner before work begins on the change.

Key fields

• ✓ Project name and number
• ✓ Change order number
• ✓ Description of change
• ✓ Cost adjustment (+/-)
• ✓ Schedule impact (days)
• ✓ Contractor signature
• ✓ Owner signature