Generate a professional construction certificate of completion documenting project completion, inspections, punch lists, warranty commencement, lien waiver status, and final payment release. Supports both Final Completion and Substantial Completion with conditional terms.
I built this certificate of completion generator to help property owners, general contractors, architects, and engineers properly document the completion of construction projects. A certificate of completion is one of the most critical documents in the construction process, serving as the formal record that work has been finished in accordance with the contract documents, building codes, and applicable regulations. Without a proper completion certificate, disputes can arise over warranty start dates, final payment obligations, retainage release, and risk of loss transfer.
This generator produces a comprehensive certificate that covers all essential elements of construction project closeout. The document includes project identification, party information, contract dates, scope of work, completion type certification (Final or Substantial), inspection and testing certifications, code compliance confirmations, warranty commencement details, lien waiver status, as-built drawings and operations manual delivery, retainage release provisions, change order summaries, and complete signature blocks for all parties involved.
Every field updates the live preview instantly, so you can see exactly how your certificate will look before downloading. The generator includes conditional sections that appear based on whether you select Final Completion or Substantial Completion, including a detailed punch list section with item descriptions, responsible parties, and completion deadlines for substantial completion certificates.
Key features include: completion type selection with conditional terms, dynamic punch list management, warranty period calculation tied to the completion date, lien waiver tracking, change order summary, liquidated damages assessment, contractor representations, owner acknowledgment, and signature blocks for owner, contractor, architect/engineer, and building inspector.
Substantial completion is when the project is sufficiently complete for the owner to occupy or use it for its intended purpose, even though minor punch list items may remain. Final completion occurs when all work, including punch list items, has been fully completed. Substantial completion typically triggers warranty periods and shifts risk of loss to the owner.
A comprehensive certificate should include project identification, party details, contract dates, scope of work, completion certification, inspection results, code compliance certifications, warranty information, lien waiver status, as-built drawings confirmation, final payment provisions, and signature blocks for all parties.
The warranty period typically begins on the date of substantial completion, not final completion. The standard warranty is one year for general workmanship, though longer warranties may apply to roofing, HVAC, or structural elements. The warranty start date should be clearly documented in the certificate.
Retainage is a percentage of each progress payment (typically 5-10%) withheld by the owner to ensure satisfactory completion. It is typically released after final completion when all punch list items are resolved, inspections passed, and lien waivers obtained.
Lien waivers are legal documents where contractors and suppliers relinquish their right to file a mechanic's lien against the property. They protect the owner from future claims and should be obtained from all parties before releasing final payment and retainage.
At minimum, the property owner and general contractor should sign. If an architect or engineer was involved, they should also sign to certify conformance with contract documents. A building inspector may also need to sign or provide a separate certificate of occupancy.