Massachusetts
For Massachusetts, public project retainage cap (%) is 5%; private project retainage cap (%) is 5% (contracts ≥$3M, excluding residential 1–4 units); release deadline is not later than 14 days after substantial completion, notice submitted; retainage due per contract terms; escrow required is no; milestone reduction is none, recorded from its source on 2026-08-17.
- State
- Massachusetts
- Public project retainage cap (%)
- 5%
- Private project retainage cap (%)
- 5% (contracts ≥$3M, excluding residential 1–4 units)
- Release deadline
- not later than 14 days after substantial completion, notice submitted; retainage due per contract terms
- Escrow required
- no verified
- Milestone reduction
- none
- Statutory citation
- Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 149, § 29F our reading
Values marked our reading are our classification of what the source says — the source does not print them in those words. The quote below is the evidence for each one; judge it yourself.
What the source says
No contract for construction shall include retainage that exceeds 5 per cent of any progress payment.
— codes.findlaw.com, retrieved 2026-08-17
Source
- codes.findlaw.comhttps://codes.findlaw.com/ma/part-i-administration-of-the-government-ch-1-182/ma-gen-laws-ch-149-sect-29f/