Section 13-11-5. Grounds for withholding payments

   (a) Nothing in this chapter shall prevent the owner from withholding payment to its contractor because of the following: unsatisfactory job progress; defective construction which has not been remedied; disputed work; third-party claims filed or reasonable evidence that a claim will be filed; failure of the contractor or its subcontractor to make timely payments for labor, equipment, and materials; damage caused by the contractor to the owner, other contractors, or subcontractors; or reasonable evidence that the contract cannot be completed for the unpaid balance of the contract sum. In addition to the other bases for withholding set forth in this subsection, the owner may withhold a reasonable amount for retainage, provided that the retainage withheld by the owner shall not exceed the retainage percentage set forth in the contract between the contractor and the owner.

(b) Nothing in this chapter shall prevent the contractor or a subcontractor from withholding payment to a subcontractor for: unsatisfactory job progress; defective construction which has not been remedied; disputed work; third-party claims filed or reasonable evidence that a claim will be filed; failure of the subcontractor to make timely payments for labor, equipment, and materials; damage caused by the subcontractor to the owner, the contractor, or contractors or subcontractors; or reasonable evidence that the subcontract cannot be completed for the unpaid balance of the subcontract sum. In addition to the other bases for withholding set forth in this subsection, the contractor or the subcontractor, as the case may be, may withhold a reasonable amount for retainage, provided that the retainage withheld shall not exceed the percentage retained from the contractor by the owner on account of the subcontractor's work.

Code 1981, § 13-11-5, enacted by Ga. L. 1994, p. 1398, § 1.