Project Forms & Certificates · ALA Contract Documents
Certificate of Substantial Completion
The milestone document that moves the project from construction to occupancy: it fixes the date, assigns responsibility for security, utilities, and insurance, and attaches the punch list. This is the date warranties usually run from.
| Format | Editable Microsoft Word document, delivered by email after checkout |
| Price | $75 · free for ALA members |
| Drafted by | Husch Blackwell construction-law attorneys for the Association of Licensed Architects |
Who this document is for
- Architects certifying substantial completion
- Owners taking beneficial occupancy
- Projects that need the warranty clock and punch list nailed down
Frequently asked
Why does the date matter so much?
Substantial completion typically starts warranty periods, shifts insurance and utility responsibility, and triggers release of retainage terms. This certificate fixes that date in writing.
Can I edit it for my project?
Yes. It arrives as an editable Microsoft Word file, so you can adapt names, scope, fees, and project-specific terms while keeping the attorney-drafted structure intact.
Part of the ALA contract library : attorney-drafted agreements in clear language, written for the way architects actually work. Four contracts cost more than a year of ALA membership, which includes every document free.