On a home improvement contract, the start date and completion date provisions exist primarily to:
Explanation
B&P §7159(d)(10) requires an 'Approximate Start Date' heading with a statement of what counts as substantial commencement of work, and §7159(d)(11) requires an 'Approximate Completion Date'. Together they give the homeowner a timeline she can hold the contractor to, and they are how a delay becomes measurable as abandonment. The price is set by the contract's price and payment-schedule terms, not by the dates. The buyer's three business days to cancel run from receipt of a signed and dated copy of the contract, not from the start date. And retention is a payment term; the date provisions do not control when it comes due.
Law Reference: B&P Code §7159(d)(10), (d)(11)This topic, taught in full in the CSLB Law & Business guide. CSLB Law & Business — Complete Study Guide (2026) — PDF + EPUB, $24.99 · 14-day refund →
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