Who has the authority to stop work without cause?

• A. Owner
• B. Contractor
• C. Architect
• D. Subcontractor

Answer: (A)

The owner has the authority to stop work without cause. In most construction contracts, the owner can suspend or stop the project for convenience, issuing a notice to the contractor and pausing activities for any reason defined by the contract, with terms about compensation for work done and costs from the suspension. The contractor cannot unilaterally stop work without cause (except for issues like nonpayment or breach when allowed by the contract), and the architect or subcontractors follow the directives of the owner or contractor—not independently stopping work without the owner’s direction.