In brief
Long Beach’s city project labor agreement (PLA) covers contracts that “exceed $750,000 for non-street/right of way or $1,000,000 for street/right of way projects” and sets a goal of 40 percent of work hours by local residents. The Port-Wide PLA, 2023 to 2033, sets goals of 40, 15 and 10 percent for local, disadvantaged and veteran workers.
- State prevailing wage applies to city public work: contractors “shall pay no less than the prevailing wages set by the Director of the Department of Industrial Relations”14.
- The Port states prevailing wage is owed on public works “more than $1,000, or if federally funded, more than $2,000”3.
- The Port-Wide PLA covers 25 projects worth $769 million; “not all Port of Long Beach projects are covered by a PLA”3.
- The living wage ordinance covers concession workers at the airport, convention center and temporary amphitheater, with steps from $25.00 on October 1, 2025 to $29.50 on July 1, 20285.
Three labor rules sit between a Long Beach contractor and a signed public contract: the prevailing wage the state sets, the project labor agreements the city and the Port negotiated with the building trades, and the city’s living wage ordinance. They cover different contracts on different thresholds, and the city and Port publish them on separate pages. This page lines them up by what each covers, using the thresholds and dates the agencies state. It belongs to the pillar, Selling to the City of Long Beach and the Port, and follows How City of Long Beach Bidding Works. Everything below is as of October 2026.
The short answer
| If you are… | Do this |
|---|---|
| Bidding city public works | Pay at least the state prevailing wage; contractors and subcontractors listed on a bid must be registered with the Department of Industrial Relations, with limited exceptions for bidding1 |
| On a city contract over $750,000 (non-street) or $1,000,000 (street or right of way) | The city PLA applies, with a 40 percent local-hours goal2 |
| On a Port construction project | Check whether the project is listed in a Port PLA; “not all” are3 |
| Working federally funded public work | Davis-Bacon applies on the city side; the Port states a $2,000 federal trigger13 |
| A concessionaire at the airport, convention center or amphitheater | The living wage steps in Chapter 16.60 apply to new and amended concession contracts5 |
| Non-union and on a Port PLA project | Sign a Letter of Assent for that project3 |
Which rule covers which contract
| Rule | Covers | Threshold or goal | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| State prevailing wage | Public work under city contracts | Rates set by the state Director of Industrial Relations; Port trigger of $1,000, or $2,000 if federally funded | 13 |
| City PLA | Covered city projects | Over $750,000 (non-street) or $1,000,000 (street and right of way); 40 percent local hours; 10 percent disadvantaged or veteran workers | 2 |
| Port-Wide PLA | The projects listed in it | 40 percent local, 15 percent disadvantaged, 10 percent veteran | 3 |
| Living wage, Chapter 16.60 | Concession contracts at three city sites | $25.00 from October 1, 2025, rising by dated steps | 5 |
State prevailing wage as the city states it
The city’s contract language reads: “In the performance of public work under any Contract, Contractor shall pay no less than the prevailing wages set by the Director of the Department of Industrial Relations of the State of California (in accordance with City of Long Beach Municipal Code II Wages – 2.87.090, 2.87.120 and 2.87.130).”1 The code adds that every public-work contract must make the contractor comply with the rates and “forfeit as a penalty to the City” an amount set by Council resolution for each underpaid worker per day (section 2.87.130)4.
The city’s Compliance page adds three points1:
- Its “Labor Compliance Program” is “certified by the State of California, Department of Industrial Relations”.
- Under Senate Bill 854, no contractor or subcontractor may be listed on a bid proposal “submitted on or after March 1, 2015” unless registered with the Department of Industrial Relations under Labor Code section 1725.5, with limited exceptions for bidding, and none may be awarded work “on or after April 1, 2015”.
- “Certified payrolls shall be submitted electronically directly to the Department of Industrial Relations,” and federally funded public work is subject to the Davis-Bacon Act.
A live city solicitation shows the mechanism: a water-main RFP released June 16, 2025 listed a “Prevailing Wage Determination” among its documents, so the rates arrive attached to the solicitation6.
The Port's prevailing wage threshold
The Port states: “Prevailing wages must be paid to all workers employed on public works projects when a project is more than $1,000, or if federally funded, more than $2,000.” Where both state and federal rules apply, “contractors must adhere to the more stringent set of requirements”3.
The city PLA
The city page says: “A Citywide PLA was approved by the Long Beach City Council in 2021 … and is applicable to all covered projects with a contract value that exceed $750,000 for non-street/right of way or $1,000,000 for street/right of way projects.” The parties are the Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Council, affiliated locals and the Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters1.
The requirements the page lists12:
- “40% of total work hours to be performed by local residents”: residents of the City of Long Beach, the Gateway Cities, Los Angeles County and Orange County.
- A “10% goal for disadvantaged/veteran workers”.
- A mandated Jobs Coordinator.
- “No work stoppages or strikes.”
The city’s PLA administrator is at (562) 570-7158, and annual and monthly PLA reports are linked from the page2. A February 2, 2021 council letter recommended a new agreement “for all covered projects over $750,000, and all street-related right-of-way projects over $1,000,000, for a period of ten years, with an annual cost-escalation factor beginning after year five”; the prior PLA covered projects over $500,000 and expired May 22, 20207. The start and end dates of the current agreement are not stated on the pages read.
The Port-Wide PLA
The Port has “negotiated six (6) PLAs, of which three (3) are currently active”3:
| Active PLA | Projects | Construction value | Worker goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port-Wide PLA (2023-2033) | 25 | $769 million | 40 percent local (Los Angeles and Orange County residents), 15 percent disadvantaged, 10 percent veterans |
| Middle Harbor Redevelopment Program, Phases 2 and 3 | 8 | $478 million | 30 percent local, 10 percent disadvantaged and veterans |
| Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement | 1 | $649.5 million | 5 percent aspirational for disadvantaged and veteran workers |
Source:3. The goals are measured by project hours.
Good to know The Port answers the coverage question directly: “No, not all Port of Long Beach projects are covered by a PLA. The projects covered by a PLA are those listed in each PLA.” Non-union contractors may work on PLA projects but must “sign a Letter of Assent”, sign a union trust-fund subscription agreement for that project only, pay fringe contributions for every worker, use union hiring halls, and may use “up to five (5) Core Workers”. The Port’s labor compliance office is [email protected], (562) 283-72003.
The living wage ordinance
Chapter 16.60 is titled “Payment of Living Wage to Workers at the Long Beach Airport, Convention Center, and Temporary Amphitheater”. It applies to concessionaires with “any new Concession Contract or Concession Contract Amendment”, meaning food, beverage or retail operations at those sites5. The hourly minimums in the code:
| Effective date | Minimum per hour |
|---|---|
| October 1, 2025 | $25.00 |
| July 1, 2026 | $26.50 |
| July 1, 2027 | $28.00 |
| July 1, 2028 | $29.50 |
Source:5. The chapter provides adjustments from July 1, 2029, and was amended by ORD-25-0008 in 2025. As written, it covers concession contracts at those three sites and does not extend to the city’s other service contractors5.
Where to check The city’s Compliance page still links older annual living wage notices dated 2017 to 20231. The dated steps above are from Chapter 16.60 itself; a current rate should be confirmed with the city before it is relied on.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the City of Long Beach's PLA cover?
Are all Port projects covered by a PLA?
No; “The projects covered by a PLA are those listed in each PLA”3.
Can non-union contractors work on Port PLA projects?
Yes, with a Letter of Assent and a trust-fund subscription agreement for that project, and up to five Core Workers3.
When must prevailing wage be paid on a public works project?
The Port states: when the project is more than $1,000, or more than $2,000 if federally funded3.
Do I need to register with the Department of Industrial Relations to bid on city work?
The city’s page says no contractor or subcontractor may be listed on a bid submitted on or after March 1, 2015 unless registered under Labor Code section 1725.5, with limited exceptions for bidding1.
What is the living wage under Long Beach's ordinance?
For covered concession workers, $25.00 per hour from October 1, 2025 and $26.50 from July 1, 2026, rising to $28.00 and $29.50 on later July 1 dates5.
Related Articles
Sources
- Compliance — City of Long Beach, Purchasing Division. Accessed 2026-10-02.
- Project Labor Agreement — City of Long Beach. Accessed 2026-10-02.
- Labor Compliance / PLA Program — Port of Long Beach vendor portal. Accessed 2026-10-02.
- Long Beach Municipal Code, Chapter 2.87 Public Works Contracts and Wages — Municode. Accessed 2026-10-02.
- Long Beach Municipal Code, Chapter 16.60 Payment of Living Wage — Municode. Accessed 2026-10-02.
- Solicitation UD-25-260, CMS RFP for Water Main Improvements at Long Beach Airport South — City of Long Beach (Long Beach Buys). Accessed 2026-10-02.
- Council letter, February 2, 2021, Citywide Project Labor Agreement (PDF) — City of Long Beach. Accessed 2026-10-02.