29 C.F.R. § 3.1
§ 3.1 Purpose and scope. (29 CFR Part 3)
Operative Text
This part prescribes “anti-kickback” regulations under section 2 of the Act of June 13, 1934, as amended (40 U.S.C. 3145), popularly known as the Copeland Act. This part applies to any contract which is subject to Federal wage standards and which is for the construction, prosecution, completion, or repair of public buildings, public works or buildings or works financed in whole or in part by loans or grants from the United States. The part is intended to aid in the enforcement of the minimum wage provisions of the Davis-Bacon Act and the various statutes dealing with federally assisted construction that contain similar minimum wage provisions, including those provisions which are not subject to Reorganization Plan No. 14 of 1950 (e.g., the College Housing Act of 1950, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, and the Housing Act of 1959), and in the enforcement of the overtime provisions of the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act whenever they are applicable to construction work. The part details the obligation of contractors and subcontractors relative to the weekly submission of statements regarding the wages paid on work covered thereby; sets forth the circumstances and procedures governing the making of payroll deductions from the wages of those employed on such work; and delineates the methods of payment permissible on such work.
Section 3.1 of 29 CFR Part 3 establishes the foundational purpose and reach of the federal anti-kickback rules authorized by the Copeland Act. The regulation covers contracts tied to federal wage standards for construction, repair, or completion of public buildings and works, including projects funded in whole or in part by U.S. loans or grants. It works in tandem with the Davis-Bacon Act and related statutes to protect minimum wage and overtime standards, and it governs how contractors must report wages, handle payroll deductions, and structure payments to workers on covered projects.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and developers who receive federal loans or grants for construction or rehabilitation projects should be aware that 29 CFR Part 3 § 3.1 brings those projects within the scope of Copeland Act anti-kickback requirements. Compliant operators on covered projects generally maintain accurate weekly certified payroll records, ensure that any payroll deductions meet the regulatory criteria, and use only permissible methods of payment for covered workers. Federally assisted housing projects—including those funded under programs referenced in § 3.1 such as the Housing Act of 1959—are explicitly within this regulation's reach, making familiarity with the full Part 3 requirements a standard part of project administration.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
For tenants living in housing built or rehabilitated with federal financial assistance, 29 CFR Part 3 § 3.1 signals that the workers on those projects were entitled to federal wage protections during construction. While this provision primarily governs contractor conduct rather than tenant-landlord relationships, understanding that federally assisted housing projects carry these labor obligations can be relevant context when evaluating a project's compliance history. Individuals who believe worker wage protections were violated on a covered project can consult the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division or a tenant-rights organization for information about how such concerns are typically raised.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 4, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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