North Carolina
For North Carolina, public project retainage cap (%) is 5%; private project retainage cap (%) is no statutory cap; release deadline is 60 days after substantial completion or beneficial occupancy; escrow required is no; milestone reduction is retainage eliminated after 50% complete with surety consent, recorded from its source on 2026-08-17.
- State
- North Carolina
- Public project retainage cap (%)
- 5% verified
- Private project retainage cap (%)
- no statutory cap
- Release deadline
- 60 days after substantial completion or beneficial occupancy
- Escrow required
- no
- Milestone reduction
- retainage eliminated after 50% complete with surety consent
- Statutory citation
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-134.1 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
The owner shall not retain more than five percent (5%) of any periodic payment due a prime contractor.
— ncleg.gov, retrieved 2026-08-17
Source
- ncleg.govhttps://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_143/GS_143-134.1.html