Contract modifications: Change Order, Construction Change Directive, and Minor Change compared

One-line orientation

Three mechanisms exist to modify an A201-based construction contract — Change Order, Construction Change Directive, and Minor Change — and they are tested because each differs in who signs, whether agreement is required, and what can change.

Key points

• Change Order (CO): A formal written amendment signed by owner + contractor + architect. Adjusts the contract sum and/or contract time. Used when all three parties agree on the scope, cost, and time impact before the work proceeds. Most common mechanism for scope changes.
• Construction Change Directive (CCD): Signed by owner + architect only. Directs the contractor to proceed with a change before owner and contractor have agreed on cost/time. Work does not wait for negotiation; adjustment is resolved later (by agreement → then CO, or by method in contract). The contractor is bound to proceed.
• Minor Change / Architect’s Supplemental Instruction (ASI): Issued by the architect alone. Must cause no change to contract sum or contract time. Used for clarifications, field corrections, and minor adjustments consistent with design intent.

Contract modifications: who signs decides which document

Who signs is the trap: a Change Order needs all three, a CCD needs owner and architect, a Minor Change / ASI is architect-only.

View diagram Hide diagram 3 panels

3 panels side by side — swipe to compare →

Key

• filled = signs (O owner · C contractor · A architect)
• open = does not sign (CCD omits the contractor; ASI is architect-only)

All three mechanisms live under A201 Article 7 — Changes in the Work.

Confusions / comparison

	Change Order (CO)	Construction Change Directive (CCD)	Minor Change / ASI
Who signs	Owner + Contractor + Architect	Owner + Architect (contractor NOT required)	Architect alone
Changes contract sum?	Yes (agreed amount)	Possibly — amount resolved later	No
Changes contract time?	Yes (agreed extension)	Possibly — resolved later	No
When used	All parties agree on cost/time before proceeding	Work must proceed; cost/time not yet agreed	Clarification; no cost or time impact
A201 article	Article 7	Article 7	Article 7

Related

→ pp-submittals-and-rfis (this module): how the architect handles contractor-initiated information requests during CA · pp-architect-site-observation-duties (this module): architect’s authority to reject nonconforming work, which may trigger a CCD or CO · pp-payment-certification-g702 (this module): how approved Change Orders roll into the updated contract sum on pay applications.