When is Prevailing Wage Required?

Labor Code § 1771. Except for public works projects of one thousand ($1,000) or less, not less than the general prevailing rate per diem wages for work of a similar character in locality in which the public work is performed, and not less than the general prevailing wages for holiday and overtime work fixed shall be paid to all workers employed on public works. This section is applicable only to work performed under contract, and is not applicable to work carried out by a public agency with its own forces. This section is applicable to contracts let for maintenance.

Labor Code § 1777. Any officer, agent, or representative of the State or of any political subdivision who willfully violates any provision of this article, and any contractor, or subcontractor, or agent or representative thereof, doing public work who neglects to comply with any provision of Labor Code § 1776 is guilty of a misdemeanor.