What should a construction change order include?
Include the original agreement reference, reason for change, exact added and removed scope, cost adjustment, schedule impact, attachments, exclusions, and authorization by the correct decision-maker.
Free Contractor Template
Construction change order template for contractors
A copy-ready structure for documenting changed work, price, schedule, attachments, and approval—without pretending a generic template replaces your contract or legal advice.
What a change order should include
A useful change order explains the difference between the approved scope and the proposed revision. It should let a reader understand what triggered the change, what work is added or removed, how price was calculated, what happens to the schedule, and who approved the decision.
Reference the original agreement and current drawings. Attach photos, sketches, estimates, selection records, or field notes that explain the change. Keep allowances, taxes, markup, credits, and exclusions visible rather than hiding them inside one lump sum.
- Project and contract reference
- Change-order number and date
- Reason and source of request
- Added and removed scope
- Price and payment adjustment
- Schedule and milestone impact
- Attachments and revision references
- Client and contractor authorization
Copy-ready change order template
Copy this structure into the company’s approved document system. Replace every bracketed prompt and remove sections that do not apply. The final language must remain consistent with the signed contract.
Copy-ready template
CHANGE ORDER NO. [number] — Project: [name and address]
Original agreement: [contract/proposal reference and date]
Requested by / reason: [client, contractor, consultant, field condition, selection, or code requirement]
Scope added: [specific labor, materials, quantities, locations, standards, and deliverables]
Scope removed or credited: [specific work no longer included]
Price adjustment: [amount, taxes, allowances, credits, markup, and payment timing]
Schedule adjustment: [days added/removed, affected milestones, procurement assumptions]
Attachments: [drawing revision, photos, quotation, selection record, correspondence]
Approval: By approving, authorized parties accept the scope, price, and schedule adjustment described above, subject to the original agreement.
Signatures / written authorization: [client] [contractor] [dates]
Approval checklist and common mistakes
Confirm that the person approving the change has authority. Use one current version, state the response deadline, and do not treat a verbal conversation as the final record.
Common failures include describing only the price, forgetting removed scope, omitting schedule impact, attaching an unlabeled sketch, and performing changed work while approval remains ambiguous.
- Compare against the current approved scope
- State added and removed work
- Explain price basis and schedule effect
- Attach supporting documents
- Record authorization and date
- Update drawings, budget, and project record after approval
Related change-order and scope resources
These resources help connect change documentation to scope, drawings, approvals, and client communication.
Frequently asked questions
Does a change order need to be signed?
Requirements depend on the contract and jurisdiction. Written approval is generally stronger evidence than informal direction, but contractors should adapt the process with qualified legal advice.
Can work begin before approval?
That depends on urgency and contract terms. When practical, obtain approval first. If emergency work proceeds, document the direction, evidence, cost basis, and follow-up immediately.
How should schedule impact be written?
State the number of calendar or working days, affected milestones, procurement consequences, and assumptions. Avoid vague wording such as schedule may change.
Can email or text count as approval?
It may provide evidence, but enforceability varies. Preserve the communication and transfer the decision into the formal project record or approved change-order process.
Is this template legal advice?
No. It is a planning template. Adapt it to the signed contract and local requirements with qualified legal advice where needed.