29 C.F.R. § 5.13
§ 5.13 Rulings and interpretations. (29 CFR Part 5)
Operative Text
(a) All questions relating to the application and interpretation of wage determinations (including the classifications therein) issued pursuant to part 1 of this subtitle, of the rules contained in this part and in parts 1 and 3 of this subtitle, and of the labor standards provisions of any of the laws referenced in § 5.1 must be referred to the Administrator for appropriate ruling or interpretation. These rulings and interpretations are authoritative and those under the Davis-Bacon Act may be relied upon as provided for in section 10 of the Portal-to-Portal Act of 1947 (29 U.S.C. 259). Requests for such rulings and interpretations should be submitted via email to dgceinquiries@dol.gov; by mail to Administrator, Wage and Hour Division, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20210; or through other means directed by the Administrator. (b) If any such ruling or interpretation is made by an authorized representative of the Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division, any interested party may seek reconsideration of the ruling or interpretation by the Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division. The procedures and time limits set out in § 1.8 of this subtitle apply to any such request for reconsideration.
Under § 5.13, all questions about how wage determinations, labor standards rules, and related provisions under the Davis-Bacon Act framework are applied or interpreted must be directed to the Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division, whose rulings carry official authority. Rulings issued under the Davis-Bacon Act may provide a good-faith reliance defense under the Portal-to-Portal Act. If a ruling is issued by an authorized representative rather than the Administrator directly, any interested party may seek reconsideration from the Administrator, subject to the procedures and deadlines set out in § 1.8.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Because § 5.13 governs federally funded or covered construction contracts rather than residential tenancy directly, property owners working on federally assisted projects should be aware that wage classification and labor standards questions must be formally directed to the Wage and Hour Division Administrator, not resolved unilaterally. Compliant operators typically document any official rulings they receive and apply them consistently across covered work. Requests for rulings can be submitted by email to dgceinquiries@dol.gov or by mail to the Administrator at the address specified in § 5.13.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Workers and other interested parties covered by Davis-Bacon Act labor standards can look to § 5.13 as the mechanism for obtaining official guidance on how wage determinations and labor rules apply to their situation. If a ruling is issued by a representative of the Wage and Hour Division and you believe it is incorrect, § 5.13(b) preserves the right to seek reconsideration from the Administrator under the procedures in § 1.8. Tenant-rights organizations or worker advocacy groups familiar with federal prevailing-wage law can help explain how these administrative processes work.
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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