AIA G704 PDF: official sample and licensed form
If you are looking for an AIA G704 PDF, start with the official AIA G704-2017 partial PDF sample. The current preview is marked “Sample” and “Not for Execution”; its document page is explicitly a partial sample. It lets you inspect the document, but it is not a complete licensed form to fill in and sign.
For a usable contract document, review the license and purchase options on the official AIA G704 product page. AIA offers a one-time-use purchase and subscription access; confirm the current terms there. We do not host or reproduce the licensed form. The links and preview were checked on October 2, 2026.
Our G704 Field Guide and closeout checklist can help organize your information. It is CyanBuild reference material, not an AIA contract document, an official blank G704, or a substitute for the licensed form.
Field-by-field preparation for G704-2017
Use the licensed document together with the official AIA G704-2017 instructions. The table below paraphrases the information to prepare; it does not reproduce the form or add contract terms.
| Information to prepare | What to verify |
|---|---|
| Project and party identification | Use the project name, location, owner, architect, and contractor details from the executed documents. |
| Contract identification and date | Confirm the relevant contract and its date; distinguish it from the substantial-completion date. |
| Work or designated portion | Describe precisely what is being certified, including exclusions or a defined portion where applicable. |
| Date of substantial completion | The architect certifies the date for the described work. Do not substitute the date someone happens to sign. |
| Remaining work | Prepare the list of incomplete or corrective items, the time allowed, and the estimated completion or correction cost where called for. |
| Warranties and responsibilities | Review commencement dates and any stated exceptions. Identify the agreed responsibilities for security, maintenance, heat, utilities, damage, and insurance. |
| Signatures and acceptance | Have the architect, contractor, and owner complete their applicable signature and acceptance sections. |
AIA's instructions describe the contractor's list and the architect's verification, as well as the allocation of responsibilities. The certificate does not justify assuming that every utility or insurance cost transfers automatically to the owner. Read what the parties actually agree.
Filled preparation example: a hypothetical $5M project
This example fills a planning worksheet in ordinary language; it is not an executed certificate or a reproduction of the licensed form. Every project fact below is hypothetical.
| Worksheet entry | Hypothetical value |
|---|---|
| Project | Example Office Renovation, Building A |
| Contract background | Original sum $5,000,000; approved changes $120,000; revised sum $5,120,000. These are background payment records, not a claim that G704 has a contract-sum calculation field. |
| Work presented for certification | Building A office renovation, with the scope and any exclusions described in the project attachment |
| Proposed substantial-completion date | September 18, 2026, subject to the architect's determination |
| Remaining-work attachment | 31 hypothetical items, estimated completion or correction cost $45,000, each with a responsible party |
| Proposed completion date for those items | October 9, 2026: 21 calendar days after September 18, subject to the agreed terms |
| Responsibilities and warranty exceptions | Complete from the executed contract and the parties' actual agreement; not assumed or prefilled here |
| Certification and acceptance | Leave signatures for the authorized parties after the information has been reviewed |
The $45,000 estimate does not establish the amount of retainage to release or withhold. Do not apply a universal 50% release or a supposed 200% limit from this example. Confirm the applicable payment terms and supporting documents separately.
What the substantial-completion date controls
The date identifies a contractual milestone for the certified work or portion. AIA's instructions explain that warranty commencement and any exceptions need attention. Responsibility for maintenance, utilities, insurance, and other matters must also be assigned in the document and read with the contract.
Do not treat substantial completion as identical to final completion or final payment. Whether it affects liquidated damages, retainage, or a particular warranty depends on the executed provisions and the facts. If an obligation is unclear, resolve it with the project team and appropriate professional advice before signing.
G704-2000, G704-2017, and G734
AIA's G704-2017 summary explains the revised information layout and treatment of warranties and remaining work. Use the edition required by your project documents; do not assume an older G704-2000 reference is automatically invalid or interchangeable with the current product.
AIA's document-family list identifies G734-2019 as the Certificate of Substantial Completion, Construction Manager-Adviser Edition. It provides for certification by the architect and construction manager. Use it for the appropriate construction-manager-adviser arrangement, not as a generic design-build substitute. Match the document to the project's delivery arrangement.
A practical closeout sequence
- Identify the work or portion being presented and assemble the contractor's list of remaining items.
- Support the architect's review with current drawings, inspections, and the information required by the contract.
- Agree and record the completion date, responsibilities, remaining-work details, and any warranty exceptions.
- Complete the certificate's applicable signatures and distribute the reviewed record.
- Track the remaining work and prepare payment or final-closeout documents under the separate contract requirements.
Use the closeout checklist to organize supporting information. For payment records, see our G702 application for payment guide, G703 continuation sheet guide, and progress billing guide. These explain adjacent workflows; G704 itself is not a payment application.
You can also review the AIA billing software overview separately from this form guide. Nothing here establishes that CyanBuild generates or licenses AIA contract forms.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is AIA G704?
G704-2017 is the AIA Certificate of Substantial Completion. It records the architect-certified date when the work, or a designated portion, is sufficiently complete for the owner to occupy or use it for its intended purpose. It also addresses remaining work and the responsibilities agreed for the period following substantial completion.
When is G704 issued?
It is used when the architect determines that the work or a designated portion has reached substantial completion. Remaining items may still need completion or correction. Clearly identify any portion being certified and use the project contract to determine the required process and supporting documents.
Who signs G704?
The architect certifies substantial completion. The owner and contractor sign to accept the responsibilities assigned in the certificate. AIA instructions describe all three signatures; the parties should complete the applicable responsibility and remaining-work information before signing.
What happens to retainage when G704 is signed?
The certificate is part of the closeout record, not an automatic formula for releasing a fixed percentage of retainage. Check the executed agreement, applicable general conditions, and payment requirements. This guide does not establish a universal 50% release or a 200% cap on the value of remaining work.
Does substantial completion end liquidated damages?
Do not decide that from a generic G704 example. Check the liquidated-damages and completion provisions in the executed contract and obtain project-specific advice if they are unclear. This guide does not claim that G704-2017 contains a dedicated liquidated-damages field or that signing it resolves a damages dispute.
Is the AIA G704 free to download?
AIA provides a free official partial PDF sample, marked Sample and Not for Execution. The editable contract document is a separate licensed product. The partial sample and CyanBuild field guide are reference materials, not a free licensed form to complete and sign.