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Free Construction Change Order Template

Generate a professional change order PDF with itemized costs, contract summary, and signature lines. Fill in the form, download the PDF, and print it. Your company info and CO number are saved so the next change order takes 60 seconds. No signup. No watermark.

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This template is for documentation purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a construction attorney for your specific situation.

What goes on a change order

A change order is a written agreement to modify the original contract scope, cost, or schedule. It protects both the contractor and the owner by documenting exactly what changed, why, and how much it costs. Without a signed change order, extra work becomes a he-said-she-said dispute.

  • CO number and date. Sequential numbering prevents confusion when multiple changes happen on the same project.
  • Project and contract reference. Ties the change order to a specific contract so there is no ambiguity about which agreement is being modified.
  • Description of change. What is changing. Be specific enough that a third party can understand the scope without visiting the site.
  • Reason for change. Why the change is needed. Unforeseen conditions, owner requests, and design errors have different cost-sharing implications.
  • Itemized cost breakdown. Labor, material, equipment, and subcontractor costs listed separately. Lump-sum change orders invite disputes.
  • Contract summary. Original amount, previous changes, this change, and the new revised total. Both parties see the running total at a glance.
  • Signature lines. Both the contractor and owner have a clear place to review and approve the changed scope.

When to write a change order

Write the change order before starting the extra work. Getting approval after the fact is harder, and some contracts void unapproved extras entirely. Common triggers for change orders on excavation projects:

  • Unforeseen site conditions. Rock, unsuitable soil, high water table, or unmarked utilities that were not shown on the plans.
  • Design changes. The engineer revises grades, pipe sizes, or building locations after the contract is signed.
  • Owner requests. The owner wants additional work not in the original scope. A new retaining wall, extended driveway, or deeper foundation.
  • Regulatory requirements. An inspector requires dewatering, soil stabilization, or additional erosion control not shown in the plans.
  • Quantity overruns. Actual excavation quantities exceed the estimated amounts in the contract.
  • Credit changes. Scope is removed or simplified. The change order documents the deduction so the revised total reflects the actual work.

Frequently asked questions

What belongs on a construction change order?

A proper change order includes: CO number, date, project reference, description of the changed scope, reason for the change, itemized cost breakdown by category, revised contract total, and signature lines for both the contractor and owner. This template includes all of them.

Do I need a change order for every small change?

Yes. Even no-cost changes should be documented. A verbal agreement to move a pipe 6 inches becomes a $10,000 dispute 3 months later when the owner claims the original location was correct. Written change orders protect both parties. If the scope changed, write it down.

Can I use negative amounts for credits?

Yes. Enter a negative dollar amount for any line item that reduces the contract price. The net change and revised contract total reflect credits automatically. This is standard practice for deductive change orders.

Is this template legally binding?

This is a documentation template, not legal advice. It follows the standard AIA-style format used across the construction industry. The document becomes binding when both parties sign it, subject to the terms of your original contract. Have your attorney review your change order process.

Why does the CO number go up automatically?

Each time you download a change order, the CO number increments by one in your browser. Sequential numbering prevents duplicate CO numbers and makes it easy to reference a specific change order later. You can override the number manually if needed.

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