Must a contract include exact begin work dates and completion dates?

• A. Yes
• B. Only begin date
• C. No
• D. Only completion date

Answer: (C)

Timing in contracts doesn’t require locking in exact calendar dates for when work will start and when it must be finished. It’s common and usually enough to set a start window (for example, “within 10 days of signing and permit approval”) and a completion window (such as “completed within a reasonable time after start” or by a stated milestone). The important idea is that both parties know when performance should commence and when it should be finished, with room for adjustments if delays occur.

Requiring exact dates can cause disputes if schedules shift due to site conditions, permitting, material lead times, or agreed changes. Having a flexible timeframe, plus mechanisms for extensions or change orders, helps keep the contract enforceable without rigid lock-in to specific dates.