Is an e-signed change order legally binding?

Yes. Electronic signatures are generally enforceable under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA where adopted, provided intent, consent, attribution, and retention requirements are met.

Do I need a notary or witnesses?

Most change orders do not require notarization, but some jurisdictions or contract clauses may require notarized authorizations or witnesses for certain filings; check the contract and local rules before executing.

How do I correct an executed change order?

Prepare a written amendment or replacement change order referencing the original, obtain signatures from the same authorized parties, and archive both documents to preserve the audit trail.

Who should sign the change order?

A person with contractual authority: authorized officer, project manager, or designated representative. The document should record printed name, title, company, and date to show authority.

How long should I keep signed change orders?

Retain for at least three years for tax and audit purposes; healthcare matters require six years (45 CFR §164.530(j)); longer retention may be advisable for construction disputes.

Can I use an e-signature platform for this document?

Yes. Use a platform that complies with ESIGN/UETA, provides a tamper-evident audit trail, and supports required security standards such as TLS and AES-256 for protected information.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Miscellaneous
Electrical CO Agreement

Electrical CO Agreement

This template is fully customizable. Edit the text, fill out the fields, and send it for signature. Give it a try!

ELECTRICAL CO AGREEMENT

This Electrical CO Agreement (the Agreement) is entered into by and between:

Company / Client Name: Contractor (Electrical Company) Name: Company Address: Contractor Address:

RECITALS

WHEREAS, Company desires to retain Contractor to perform electrical services at the Project Location described below; and

WHEREAS, Contractor represents that it is duly licensed, insured, and qualified to perform the electrical services described in this Agreement in accordance with applicable codes and industry standards; and

WHEREAS, the parties desire to set forth the terms and conditions under which Contractor will perform such services.

SCOPE OF WORK

Contractor shall perform the electrical work described below. The description shall include the specific tasks, materials to be supplied, workmanship standards, applicable codes, and any drawings or specifications incorporated by reference.

Detailed Scope of Work (include locations, systems, and exclusions):

PAYMENT TERMS

Company shall pay Contractor for the performance of the Scope of Work as set forth below. Payments shall be made in United States dollars and conditioned upon satisfactory performance and submission of invoices that comply with this Agreement.

Total Contract Price: Payment Schedule / Milestones: Invoice Submission and Approval:

Late payments shall accrue interest as set forth below.

Late Fee / Interest Rate (annual): Late Fee Applies After (days):

TERM AND TERMINATION

This Agreement commences on the Effective Date and continues until completion of the Scope of Work or termination as provided below.

Effective Date: .

Anticipated Completion Date: .

Notice Period for Termination Without Cause (days):

Termination for Cause: Either party may terminate this Agreement immediately upon written notice if the other party materially breaches a material obligation under this Agreement and fails to cure such breach within 10 calendar days after receipt of written notice specifying the breach; provided that breaches involving safety, unlicensed work, or material noncompliance with codes may be terminated immediately.

CONTRACTOR REPRESENTATIONS, LICENSES, AND INSURANCE

Contractor represents and warrants that it holds all required licenses and permits to perform electrical work in the jurisdiction where the work is performed and shall maintain general liability and workers' compensation insurance in commercially reasonable amounts.

Contractor License Number(s): Insurance Summary (types and limits):

CONFIDENTIALITY

"Confidential Information" means non-public technical, business, pricing, financial, or other information disclosed by one party to the other in connection with this Agreement, whether disclosed orally, in writing, or by inspection. The receiving party shall: (a) hold Confidential Information in strict confidence; (b) use Confidential Information solely to perform obligations under this Agreement; and (c) not disclose Confidential Information to any third party except to employees, agents, or subcontractors who have a need to know and who are bound by confidentiality obligations at least as restrictive as those in this Agreement. Confidential Information does not include information that is or becomes generally available to the public other than by the receiving party's breach of this Section, is lawfully received from a third party without a duty of confidentiality, or is independently developed without use of the disclosing party's Confidential Information.

INDEMNIFICATION

Contractor shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Company and its officers, directors, agents, and employees from and against any claims, liabilities, losses, damages, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or resulting from Contractor's performance of the Work, negligence, willful misconduct, or breach of this Agreement, except to the extent such claims arise from Company's negligence or willful misconduct.

GOVERNING LAW

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of , without regard to its conflict of law principles.

ENTIRE AGREEMENT

This Agreement, including any exhibits, attachments, or written change orders signed by both parties, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, proposals, representations, and understandings, whether written or oral. No amendment or modification to this Agreement shall be binding unless in writing and signed by both parties.

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Assignment: Neither party may assign or transfer its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other party, except that Contractor may assign receivables. Severability: If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect. Notices: Notices shall be provided in writing to the addresses set forth above.

SIGNATURES

The undersigned hereby acknowledge that they are authorized to bind their respective party and agree to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

Company:

By:

Date:

Contractor:

By:

Date:

What an Electrical CO Agreement Is and when it’s used

An Electrical CO Agreement (Change Order Agreement) documents a proposed modification to an existing electrical scope of work between contractor and owner. It defines the revised scope, cost adjustment, schedule impact, and acceptance terms so parties can authorize changes without reopening the original contract. Typical uses include unanticipated site conditions, design clarifications, code-driven corrections, or owner-requested additions. The document creates a binding amendment once authorized by the parties and, where required, by permit authorities or inspectors.

Why a clear Electrical CO Agreement matters

A well-drafted change order reduces disputes, clarifies cost and schedule impacts, preserves lien and payment rights, and creates an auditable record for permits and inspections.

Typical users and stakeholders for an Electrical CO Agreement

Each signer should confirm authority to bind their organization and verify permit or inspection obligations before approving.

Electrical contractors and subcontractors responsible for pricing and executing scope changes on-site or in the office.
General contractors and construction managers who coordinate multi-trade approvals and integrate schedules.
Property owners, facility managers, and developers who authorize scope changes and approve costs.

Step-by-step: completing and executing an Electrical CO Agreement

Follow these steps to prepare, approve, and record a change order consistently.

01

Draft: Prepare scope, cost, and schedule details for review.
02

Internal Review: Obtain approvals from project superintendent and estimating team.
03

Submit to Owner: Send the signed draft and attachments to the owner or rep.
04

Record: File the executed change order with project records and permits.

Recommended digital workflow settings for change orders

Configure your electronic workflow to enforce approvals, capture signer identity, and preserve an audit trail.

Field	Configuration
Auto-fill Contractor Info	Populate from company profile to reduce manual errors.
Conditional Pricing Fields	Show markup fields only when pricing over threshold applies.
Approval Order	Require sequential approvals: PM → GC → Owner.
Notifications	Send email and SMS alerts for pending approvals.

Typical routing and submission flow for an Electrical CO Agreement

A predictable route ensures timely approvals and regulatory compliance.

Prepare Package: Include drawings, cost backup, and permit references.
Create Change Order: Enter fields, attach files, and set signers.
Request Signatures: Send to parties in configured order for signatures.
Archive Record: Store executed document with inspection and permit files.

Technical considerations for e-signing and files

Ensure the platform encrypts documents in transit and at rest, captures signer IP and timestamps, and stores a tamper-evident certificate alongside the signed file for permit or audit purposes.

File formats: PDF, DOCX supported
Integrations: NetSuite, Salesforce, Procore
Authentication: Email, SMS, or advanced options

Essential elements to include in a professional change order

Include these core clauses to ensure the change order is clear, enforceable, and easy to reconcile with the original contract.

Reference to Original

Cite the original contract or purchase order number, date, and relevant clause so the change order clearly amends the correct document and avoids ambiguity.

Detailed Scope

Provide a concise, itemized description of new or changed tasks, include drawings or markups, and attach technical specifications to prevent scope disputes.

Compensation Breakdown

Show labor, material, equipment, taxes, and any contingency or markup separately to enable owner review and audit of charges.

Schedule Adjustment

State the precise number of calendar or working days added or subtracted, and update milestone dates that affect other trades or permitting deadlines.

Approvals and Signatures

List required signers and their authority, require printed name and title, and document the approval method (e-signature, in-person signing, or notarization if required).

Permits and Inspections

Note whether the change requires permit amendments or special inspections and identify the responsible party for filing and fees.

Supporting documents and export formats to attach

Attach supporting evidence and save copies in standard formats to streamline permitting and payment.

Drawings & Markups

Include annotated plans and redlines showing the changed scope, saved as high-resolution PDF to ensure legibility for inspectors.

Cost Backup

Attach supplier quotes, material lists, and labor estimates so the owner can validate price adjustments during review.

Permit Filings

Include permit amendment receipts or application drafts if the change affects code compliance or inspection schedules.

Signed Certificates

Store executed change orders as signed PDF/A with a certificate of completion for audit and record retention.

Common timeline expectations and response windows

Set clear timeframes within the change order to avoid delays and preserve contractual remedies.

Submission Window:

Submit change order within 10–14 days of identifying the change

Owner Response:

Owner typically reviews within 7–14 business days

Payment Terms:

Specify payment due within 30 days after invoice

Permit Update:

Amend permits before affected work begins where required

Dispute Notice:

File formal notice of dispute per contract within set cure period

Key processing milestones from proposal to completion

Track these milestones to monitor progress and prevent schedule slippage.

01

Change Proposed

Originator documents the change and gathers backup.

02

Estimate & Review

Contractor prices work and routes for internal approval.

03

Owner Approval

Owner reviews, negotiates, and signs or rejects.

04

Execute Work

Perform changed work and document completion for invoicing.

Common mistakes to avoid when preparing a change order

Leaving scope vague or referencing non-specific drawings, which leads to differing interpretations and disputes.
Failing to include a clear cost breakdown, causing delayed approval or denied reimbursement by the owner.
Neglecting to update permit or inspection requirements before starting changed work, which can trigger stop-work orders.
Not recording who authorized the change, risking the claim being treated as unauthorized extra work.

Security and compliance considerations for electronic execution

Encryption: TLS 1.2/1.3 in transit; AES-256 at rest

Audit Trail: Full timestamp, IP, and action log

ESIGN / UETA: Compliant for electronic signature validity

HIPAA BAA: Business Associate Agreement available when required

SOC 2: SOC 2 Type II certification

21 CFR Part 11: Support for regulated workflows where applicable

How an Electrical Change Order compares to a Certificate of Occupancy

These two documents serve different purposes; compare core attributes commonly confused on construction projects.

Criteria	Change Order	Certificate of Occupancy
Purpose	modify contract	confirm building compliance
Timing	during project	at final inspection
Required Signatures	contracting parties	building official
Filing	project records	local building department

Typical eSignature vendor comparison for managing change order approvals

Compare common plan features and starting prices across vendors most used for construction document signing; signNow is shown first per table rules.

	signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc	HelloSign
Starting Price	$8/user/mo	$15/user/mo	$14/user/mo	$19/user/mo	$15/user/mo
Free Trial	7-day free trial	No	No	Yes, limited	Yes, limited
Bulk Send	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Envelope Cap	No cap	100 envelopes/user/year	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan

Legal and commercial risks from incorrect or missing change orders

Payment Delay: Late or disputed invoices

Loss of Lien Rights: Improper paperwork can jeopardize lien claims

Permit Revocation: Unapproved changes risk inspection failures

Rework Costs: Undocumented scope leads to additional expense

Contract Breach: Work performed without approval may be non-compensable

Indemnity Exposure: Liability for third-party damages or code violations

Frequently asked questions about Electrical CO Agreements and e-signing

Answers to common questions about enforceability, notarization, corrections, storage, and using electronic signature platforms.

Need help? Contact support

Is an e-signed change order legally binding?
Yes. Electronic signatures are generally enforceable under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA where adopted, provided intent, consent, attribution, and retention requirements are met.
Do I need a notary or witnesses?
Most change orders do not require notarization, but some jurisdictions or contract clauses may require notarized authorizations or witnesses for certain filings; check the contract and local rules before executing.
How do I correct an executed change order?
Prepare a written amendment or replacement change order referencing the original, obtain signatures from the same authorized parties, and archive both documents to preserve the audit trail.
Who should sign the change order?
A person with contractual authority: authorized officer, project manager, or designated representative. The document should record printed name, title, company, and date to show authority.
How long should I keep signed change orders?
Retain for at least three years for tax and audit purposes; healthcare matters require six years (45 CFR §164.530(j)); longer retention may be advisable for construction disputes.
Can I use an e-signature platform for this document?
Yes. Use a platform that complies with ESIGN/UETA, provides a tamper-evident audit trail, and supports required security standards such as TLS and AES-256 for protected information.

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