Completion Certificates · NOC Signatures

Substantial completion, certified and signed.

Issue a Certificate of Substantial Completion and get the customer to e-sign — kicking off the warranty period, releasing retainage, and putting the punch list in writing. Every signed certificate carries a legally binding electronic signature with SHA-256 hashes, signer IP capture, and an append-only audit trail.

How it works

• Draft the completion certificate — we give you the fields, you fill them in.
• Send for signature — we email your customer a one-click signing link; no login required on their end, and they sign on any device.
• Download the signed PDF — timestamped, SHA-256 hashed, and IP-stamped, with every view, send, and signature logged to an append-only audit trail.

Legally binding e-signatures

Documents e-signed through NOC Signatures are enforceable under the federal E-SIGN Act and state UETA. Every signed completion certificate carries the signer's drawn signature, printed name, title, timestamp, and IP address for non-repudiation, plus SHA-256 hashes of the original and signed PDFs for tamper-evidence. Free for all signed-in NOC Signatures users while in beta.

Completion Certificates — frequently asked questions

What is a Certificate of Substantial Completion?

It's the milestone document confirming the work is sufficiently complete for its intended use. It (a) starts the warranty period, (b) typically triggers release of retainage less holdback for punch list items, and (c) shifts risk-of-loss back to the owner under most contracts.

When do I issue one?

When the project — or an identifiable portion — is sufficiently complete that the owner can occupy or use it. There's usually a final punch list of remaining items the contractor is still obligated to finish, but those don't block substantial completion.

What about the warranty start date?

Most construction warranties (and statutory warranties of habitability in many states) run from substantial completion, not from final completion. Capturing the exact date in a signed document is critical when a warranty claim comes up two years later.

Is the certificate legally binding once e-signed?

Yes — under the E-SIGN Act and state UETA. The signed PDF carries the customer's drawn signature, printed name, title, timestamp, and IP for non-repudiation, plus SHA-256 hashes for tamper-evidence.

This page is general information about completion certificates and electronic signatures — not legal advice. Consult a licensed construction attorney for questions about your specific project or state.