Complying with Pennsylvania construction contract law isn't easy – even for experienced contractors familiar with principles of construction law. Construction contract law for residential work in Pennsylvania requires notices and disclosures designed to alert property owners of problems that can occur in residential construction projects. Pennsylvania construction contract law is intended to inform and protect consumers when buying construction services. Pennsylvania's Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act requires that a long list of disclosures appear in the contract. Any contract which omits these disclosures is void and unenforceable. The contractor alone is responsible for drafting a contract that's legal under Pennsylvania law. Property owners have no legal exposure for a defective construction contract. Failure to comply with the Act is an unfair trade practice and gives an owner the right to recover three times actual damages plus attorney fees. Failure to comply is also a misdemeanor if the contract is for $2,000 or less. If for more than $2,000, violation is a third degree felony.

The notices and disclosures required by Pennsylvania construction contract law fill several contract pages. The shortest legal Pennsylvania home improvement contract is about eight pages long. Required disclosure topics include start and finish dates, names and addresses of subs, insurance coverage and a phone number for the Pennsylvania Bureau of Consumer Protection. These Pennsylvania disclosures are in addition to disclosures and notices required by federal law (truth-in-lending, 3-day right to cancel and insulation). Contract requirements vary with the type of construction: residential, commercial, public works or home improvement. Of these, home improvement contracts are required to have the most detailed notices and disclosures.

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