Deficiency list

Established

Also: Punch list, Snag list, Deficiencies

A list, prepared at or near substantial performance, of work that is incomplete or does not conform to the contract documents and must be corrected before completion.

Explanation

The contractor typically prepares an initial list from its own inspection; the consultant reviews the work and issues the deficiency list. Under the OAA/OGCA Take-Over Procedures, the consultant's list becomes the final deficiency list on acceptance of the contractor's completion application, and correction is followed by a further review. Deficiency values can affect holdback and final payment. Digital tools now link deficiency items to locations, photos and model elements, which improves close-out tracking.

Practical example

At the substantial-performance review of a seniors' residence, the consultant lists 412 deficiencies by room. The contractor's team closes them over five weeks using a tablet app that photographs each correction.

Why it matters

A clear, agreed deficiency list prevents end-of-project disputes about what is "finished" and when final payment is due.

Common confusion

Standards and references

  1. OAA/OGCA Take-Over Procedures (Document No. 100). Ontario Association of Architects and Ontario General Contractors Association, 2019.Widely accepted professional interpretation
    Supports: Consultant issues deficiency list; final deficiency list on completion application; correction and re-review · Status: Written under the former Construction Lien Act (reissued January 2019); check figures against the current Construction Act.

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VDC Stack.io. (2026). Deficiency list. In VDC Stack.io Knowledge Dictionary. Retrieved from https://vdcstack.io/dictionary/deficiency-list/