Under California prevailing wage law, which type of project is subject to prevailing wage requirements?
Correct Answer
B) Public works projects over $1,000
California prevailing wage law applies to public works projects over $1,000. The threshold is very low to ensure most public projects are covered.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
California Labor Code Section 1720 et seq. requires prevailing wages to be paid on public works projects. The monetary threshold is very low — currently $1,000 — to ensure that nearly all public projects are covered. This applies to contracts awarded by state, county, city, or any public agency.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option A: Private residential projects over $1 million
Private residential projects are not subject to California prevailing wage law regardless of their value. Prevailing wage requirements are tied to public funding or public agency contracts, not to the size of a private construction project.
Option C: All projects in incorporated cities
Location in an incorporated city does not trigger prevailing wage requirements. The determining factor is whether the project is a public works contract funded or directed by a public agency, not the geographical jurisdiction.
Option D: Commercial projects with public funding
Commercial projects with some public funding may be subject to prevailing wage if the public agency is the awarding body, but the answer as stated is incomplete and too narrow. The accurate trigger is 'public works project over $1,000' — a broader category than just commercially-framed projects with partial public funding.
Memory Technique
Remember: 'Public works = prevailing wage, even for $1,000.' The $1,000 floor is so low it's almost symbolic — California wanted virtually every public works dollar to carry prevailing wage protection. Think: 'If the public is paying, prevailing wage is playing — even for $1,000.'
More California Questions
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