---
title: PRISM Certified Payroll: City of San Diego and DIR
url: https://wellstanding.com/guides/prism-compliance-certified-payroll-san-diego/
description: The City of San Diego wants certified payroll in PRISM, and you also file with DIR when applicable. How the two fit, the weekly steps, and what a miss costs.
updated: 2026-10-16
type: guide
publisher: WellStanding Certified Payroll
---
# PRISM certified payroll for the City of San Diego, and whether you also file with DIR

Yes, you normally file in both places. The City of San Diego collects certified payroll in PRISM Compliance Management and, on its [certified payroll records page](https://www.sandiego.gov/labor-and-wage/certified-payroll-records), also tells contractors to submit to DIR when applicable.

Last reviewed October 16, 2026 against the sources it cites

The short answer

The City of San Diego requires certified payroll in PRISM Compliance Management, and its labor compliance packet tells prime contractors and all subcontractors to submit to both PRISM and DIR. A PRISM upload does not count as the DIR filing, so a City job normally means two filings from one payroll.

- The City of San Diego's [certified payroll records page](https://www.sandiego.gov/labor-and-wage/certified-payroll-records) names PRISM Compliance Management as the City's system of record and says contractors are also required, when applicable, to submit certified payroll to DIR.
- The City's [OLSE labor compliance packet](https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/2025-10/olse-labor-compliance-packet-davis-bacon.pdf) says prime contractors and all subcontractors must submit certified payroll records to both PRISM and DIR, and its item 6 names both the City system and DIR as weekly. [Labor Code section 1771.4(a)(3)(A)](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=LAB&sectionNum=1771.4) sets a state minimum of once every 30 days while work is performed, or more often if your contract says so, so confirm the DIR interval in your subcontract.
- [DIR's eCPR FAQ](https://www.dir.ca.gov/Public-Works/ecprfaq.html) says submitting certified payroll to other agencies does not put you in compliance with the state unless you submit eCPRs directly to DIR.
- [DIR's exemptions page](https://www.dir.ca.gov/Public-Works/eCPR_exemptions.html), dated July 2016 and introduced with the words "Until further notice", names four legacy labor compliance programs (Caltrans, the City of Los Angeles, LAUSD and the County of Sacramento) and projects under qualifying project labor agreements, and the City of San Diego is not one of the four. The exemption itself is the Labor Commissioner's decision under [Labor Code section 1771.4(b)](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=LAB&sectionNum=1771.4).
- Failing to furnish payroll records to the Labor Commissioner carries a penalty of $100 per day, capped at $5,000 per project, under [Labor Code section 1771.4(a)(3)(B)](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=LAB&sectionNum=1771.4), and it can accrue only to the contractor or subcontractor that failed to furnish the records, under section 1771.4(a)(3)(D).

## Two filings from one payroll

The City's [Office of Labor Standards and Enforcement](https://www.sandiego.gov/labor-and-wage/certified-payroll-records) (OLSE) administers certified payroll reporting. Its [labor compliance packet](https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/2025-10/olse-labor-compliance-packet-davis-bacon.pdf) says prime contractors and all subcontractors must submit certified payroll records to both PRISM and DIR. Item 6 of its labor law requirements says contractors must keep and submit weekly certified payroll reports into the City's electronic payroll reporting system and to DIR. So the packet's weekly language covers both places.

The state minimum is lower. [Labor Code 1771.4(a)(3)(A)](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=LAB&sectionNum=1771.4) requires a submission to the Labor Commissioner at least once every 30 days while work is performed, or more often if the contract with the awarding body says so. Do not read that minimum as permission to file with DIR monthly on a City job. Confirm the DIR interval in your subcontract.

A PRISM upload does not stand in for the state filing. [DIR's eCPR FAQ](https://www.dir.ca.gov/Public-Works/ecprfaq.html) says submitting to other agencies does not put you in compliance with the state unless you submit eCPRs directly to DIR. The same holds for every portal. See [LCPtracker vs DIR](https://wellstanding.com/guides/lcptracker-vs-dir/).

## What PRISM is on a City job

PRISM is a vendor platform. [PRISM's own site](https://www.prismcompliance.com/) describes a web-based portal and lists state and local governments, housing authorities and schools among its users, so another agency may run it differently. In San Diego, the City's page says PRISM is the system of record for certified payroll and labor compliance. It applies to projects subject to City labor and wage ordinances, the City's Project Labor Agreement, and state and federal prevailing wage laws.

The packet adds:

- Payrolls are required for every entity providing labor, including subcontractors, subconsultants and owner-operators.
- The City does not accept paper certified payroll.
- The prime contractor is responsible for compliance paperwork for itself and every sub, at any tier.
- You must register with DIR and stay registered for the whole project. See [DIR contractor registration](https://wellstanding.com/guides/public-works-contractor-registration-dir/).
- If federal money is in the job, the packet's Davis-Bacon section also calls for weekly certified payroll to the City. See [federal vs state certified payroll](https://wellstanding.com/guides/federal-vs-state-certified-payroll-california/).

## PRISM and DIR side by side

|  | City of San Diego (PRISM) | State (DIR eCPR) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Who requires it | The City, through OLSE and your contract | The State, under [Labor Code 1771.4(a)(3)](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=LAB&sectionNum=1771.4) |
| How often | Weekly, per item 6 of the packet | Weekly on a City job, per the same item 6. The state minimum is once every 30 days while work is performed, or more often if your contract says so, under [Labor Code 1771.4(a)(3)(A)](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=LAB&sectionNum=1771.4). Confirm the interval in your subcontract |
| How you enter it | Add each payroll in a [web wizard](https://help.prismcompliance.com/WebHelp/topics/adding-a-payroll-report.htm), or [import it from a template](https://help.prismcompliance.com/WebHelp/topics/idh-topic880.htm) | [DIR's online form, or an XML file](https://www.dir.ca.gov/Public-Works/Certified-Payroll-Reporting.html) that follows DIR's schema |
| Who certifies | A person [accepts an acknowledgment](https://help.prismcompliance.com/WebHelp/topics/certify-payroll.htm), picks a name and enters a title | A declaration under penalty of perjury, per [Labor Code 1776(a)](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=LAB&sectionNum=1776) |
| Corrections | [PRISM locks a payroll once it is certified](https://help.prismcompliance.com/WebHelp/topics/certify-payroll.htm) | Resubmit the same workweek. The amended eCPR replaces the original, and a submitted report cannot be deleted, per [DIR's eCPR FAQ](https://www.dir.ca.gov/Public-Works/ecprfaq.html) |
| What you need first | Access to PRISM. The City's page does not say how a subcontractor gets it (see step 2). The packet also requires you to be registered with DIR for the length of the project | A [PWC-100](https://www.dir.ca.gov/Public-Works/ecprfaq.html) submitted by the awarding body for the project |

The PRISM pages above are the vendor's general help. PRISM has configuration settings, including the acknowledgment shown at certification and whether a payroll that fails the wage check can still be certified, so City screens can differ.

## Run a week, step by step

1. **Confirm the project runs through PRISM.** Check your subcontract and ask the prime. The packet cover has a field for the DIR Project ID.
2. **Get your PRISM access.** The City's page does not say how a subcontractor gets a login. Ask the prime, or email OLSE at the packet's contact, PrevailingWage@sandiego.gov. The PRISM [login page](https://pro.prismcompliance.com/) has a Support link.
3. **Send the packet's forms to the right office.** The [packet](https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/2025-10/olse-labor-compliance-packet-davis-bacon.pdf) says compliance documentation goes to OLSE. Its required forms include a List of Trades and Crafts, a Fringe Benefit Statement and an Authorized Signatory Form. The packet's summary says an owner, officer or other authorized representative signs it, but the form itself says the people named must be owners or officers of the company, and that a delegate needs both names on the form, kept current. It also lists an Authorization for Payroll Deductions, which the employee signs and you submit with the first payroll that shows the deduction. Proof of training fund contributions goes to the Labor Compliance Officer. The apprenticeship forms go to the apprenticeship committees first. Before work starts, send the original DAS 140 for each apprenticeable craft to the apprenticeship committee(s), and give a copy with proof of submission to the Labor Compliance Officer. Send a DAS 142 to the apprenticeship committee at least three business days (72 hours) before the apprentice reports. See our [DAS 140 and DAS 142 guide](https://wellstanding.com/guides/das-140-142/).
4. **Get the DIR Project ID.** DIR says the awarding body must submit a PWC-100 before you can submit your eCPR. If it is not listed, see [finding a DIR Project ID](https://wellstanding.com/guides/find-dir-project-id/) and the [PWC-100 explainer](https://wellstanding.com/guides/pwc-100-explained/).
5. **Enter or import the week in PRISM, then certify.** The wizard asks for the payroll end date, payroll number, employee, classification, hours, gross pay, net pay, check number and deductions. The import route uses a PRISM template. When you [certify](https://help.prismcompliance.com/WebHelp/topics/certify-payroll.htm), PRISM compares the payroll to the prevailing wages. PRISM has a configuration setting that lets a payroll that fails that check be certified anyway, so ask OLSE how the City has it set.
6. **File the same week with DIR.** Use the online form or an XML file. To fix an error, [resubmit that workweek](https://www.dir.ca.gov/Public-Works/ecprfaq.html). Our [eCPR system guide](https://wellstanding.com/guides/dir-ecpr-system/) covers the screens.

## When you might not file with DIR

The exemption is the state's decision, not the City's. [Labor Code 1771.4(b)](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=LAB&sectionNum=1771.4) says the Labor Commissioner may exempt a public works project from the direct-to-DIR filing duty if one of two things is true. Under (b)(1), the awarding body has enforced an approved labor compliance program on all public works projects under its authority, with limited exceptions, continuously since December 31, 2011. Under (b)(2), the awarding body has entered into a collective bargaining agreement that binds all contractors performing work on the project and includes a mechanism for resolving disputes about the payment of wages.

DIR's [exemptions page](https://www.dir.ca.gov/Public-Works/eCPR_exemptions.html) lists two kinds of exempt project. One is projects monitored and enforced by four legacy labor compliance programs: Caltrans, the City of Los Angeles, LAUSD and the County of Sacramento. The other is projects covered by qualifying project labor agreements. The City of San Diego is not one of the four. The page is dated July 2016 and says the listed projects are exempt "Until further notice," so check with DIR that the list is still current.

The City's [prevailing wage page](https://www.sandiego.gov/labor-and-wage/prevailing-wage) says DIR approved its Labor Compliance Program on December 29, 2009, and that the program is required for projects financed with Proposition 84 bond money. The packet still tells you to file with DIR, so treat the packet as your instruction.

Project labor agreements are the open question. The City's [PLA page](https://www.sandiego.gov/labor-and-wage/project-labor-agreement) says certain City construction projects advertised on or after July 1, 2024 are subject to a PLA, and that Pure Water has a separate one. Neither the City nor DIR says on those pages that these agreements meet the (b)(2) test above. Do not assume a PLA job is exempt. Because the exemption is the Labor Commissioner's call, OLSE cannot grant it. Ask OLSE in writing, and also ask DIR through its [Public Works Contacts](https://www.dir.ca.gov/Public-Works/ContactUs.htm) page. Keep both answers. For the general rules, see [who is exempt from certified payroll](https://wellstanding.com/guides/who-is-exempt-from-certified-payroll-california/).

## What a missed DIR filing costs

[Labor Code 1771.4(a)(3)(A)](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=LAB&sectionNum=1771.4) requires each contractor and subcontractor to furnish payroll records directly to the Labor Commissioner, electronically, at least monthly or more often if the contract with the awarding body says so. Here "monthly" means a submission at least once every 30 days while work is being performed, and within 30 days after the last day of work on the project. Under (a)(3)(B), the penalty is $100 per day, capped at $5,000 per project. Under (a)(3)(C), the Labor Commissioner cannot levy it until 14 days after the requirement. Under (a)(3)(D), it can accrue only to the actual contractor or subcontractor that failed to furnish the records. On a sub's missed filing, that means the sub, not the prime.

There is one exception. Under (a)(4), an unregistered contractor or subcontractor on a project where registration is not required because of [Labor Code 1725.5(f)](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=LAB&sectionNum=1725.5) does not furnish the records directly to the Labor Commissioner, but must keep them for at least three years after the work is complete. Subdivision (f) says the registration section does not apply to work on a public works project of $25,000 or less when the project is for construction, alteration, demolition, installation or repair work, or to work on a project of $15,000 or less when the project is for maintenance work. The City's packet requires you to register with DIR and stay registered for the duration of the project, so do not assume this exception applies to you. Ask OLSE or DIR first.

A clean PRISM record does not answer a missed DIR filing, because the duty is to furnish records directly to the Labor Commissioner. See [certified payroll penalties in California](https://wellstanding.com/guides/certified-payroll-penalties-california/).

## The proposed City compliance system fee

The City has proposed a Compliance System User Fee. The City Attorney's [fact sheet](https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/2026-09/compliance-system-user-fee_fact-sheet.pdf) says it needs City Council approval and would start November 1, 2026 if approved. It would apply to prime contractors on covered City contracts of $15,000 or more that are referred for labor or contract compliance administration. It would be assessed once per covered contract, based on the contract value at the time of award. For job order contracts and as-needed agreements, it would be assessed for each covered task order when issued. The proposed amounts run from $144.35 for awards of $15,000 to $49,999 up to $4,853.24 for awards of $30 million or more. The fact sheet says subcontractors would not be assessed separately.

## Where WellStanding fits

WellStanding prepares the [WH-347](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/forms/wh347) and the eCPR from the payroll export you already run, and a person reviews every filing. You review the finished filing and sign the certification in one step, and nothing is filed until you have signed. The certification is always yours; we never sign for you. That follows from [Labor Code 1776(a)](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=LAB&sectionNum=1776), which requires each payroll record to contain or be verified by a written declaration under penalty of perjury, and [8 CCR 16401](https://www.dir.ca.gov/t8/16401.html), whose certification form is completed by a signer with authority to act for the business.

On a City job we take the DIR half. We file the DIR eCPR with DIR. We do not enter payrolls in PRISM, so the PRISM filing stays with you or your prime. We prepare the WH-347 and send it back to you, and we do not file it with DIR. The packet's Davis-Bacon section calls for weekly certified payroll to the City when federal money is in the job. At setup we ask for your contract and the City's packet and list the filings they call for. Pricing is $995 one time setup and $249 per month for crews up to 25 workers, or $449 for 26 to 50 workers. First filing free. If you are weighing options, see [certified payroll software vs a service](https://wellstanding.com/guides/certified-payroll-software-vs-service-california/).

## Questions

Does PRISM file my certified payroll with DIR?**

No. The City's page lists the PRISM submission and the DIR submission as separate steps, and [PRISM's homepage](https://www.prismcompliance.com/) does not mention DIR. DIR's FAQ says a submission to another agency does not put you in compliance unless you also submit eCPRs directly to DIR. File both.

Do I have to file in PRISM every week?**

The City's packet says weekly, and item 6 says the same for the DIR filing. It does not say how to report a week with no work, so ask OLSE at PrevailingWage@sandiego.gov. For the DIR side, see our guide on [no work performed weeks](https://wellstanding.com/guides/certified-payroll-no-work-performed/).

Who can certify a payroll in PRISM?**

In PRISM the person certifying [picks their name and enters a title](https://help.prismcompliance.com/WebHelp/topics/certify-payroll.htm). The City's Authorized Signatory Form is stricter than the packet's summary of it. The packet's summary says an owner, officer or other authorized representative signs under penalty of perjury. The form itself says the people named must be owners or officers of the company, and that if you delegate signatory authority, both names must appear on the form and remain current. Check that whoever certifies for you is named on your form. Labor Code 1776(a) requires the declaration under penalty of perjury, and our guide on [who signs certified payroll](https://wellstanding.com/guides/who-signs-certified-payroll-california/) covers what a filing service can and cannot do.

Is there training on PRISM?**

The City's [Training and Events page](https://www.sandiego.gov/labor-and-wage/training-events) listed no upcoming OLSE trainings when we checked on October 16, 2026. PRISM's help site documents adding, importing and certifying a payroll. The City's [PLA page](https://www.sandiego.gov/labor-and-wage/project-labor-agreement) also links a video titled "Prism Vendor Training for City of San Diego PLA." It is labeled for PLA projects, and we have not reviewed it for other jobs. For City specific questions, email OLSE.

Is a City project with a project labor agreement exempt from DIR?**

Possibly, but do not assume it. The exemption is the Labor Commissioner's decision under [Labor Code 1771.4(b)](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=LAB&sectionNum=1771.4), and the test in (b)(2) is a collective bargaining agreement that binds all contractors on the project and includes a way to resolve wage payment disputes. [DIR's exemptions page](https://www.dir.ca.gov/Public-Works/eCPR_exemptions.html) lists projects covered by qualifying project labor agreements, is dated July 2016, and says "Until further notice." Neither the City's PLA page nor DIR's page says whether the City's agreements qualify. Ask OLSE and DIR in writing.

Who pays the proposed City compliance system fee?**

The City's fact sheet says it would apply to prime contractors on covered contracts of $15,000 or more that are referred for labor or contract compliance administration, once per contract (once per task order on job order and as-needed contracts), and would not be assessed separately to subcontractors. It is a proposal that needs City Council approval, so confirm its status with the City before you rely on it.

## Sources

Every figure on this page links to its source where it first appears. The full list, in order:

1. [certified payroll records page](https://www.sandiego.gov/labor-and-wage/certified-payroll-records) sandiego.gov
2. [OLSE labor compliance packet](https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/2025-10/olse-labor-compliance-packet-davis-bacon.pdf) sandiego.gov
3. [Labor Code section 1771.4(a)(3)(A)](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=LAB&sectionNum=1771.4) leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
4. [DIR's eCPR FAQ](https://www.dir.ca.gov/Public-Works/ecprfaq.html) dir.ca.gov
5. [DIR's exemptions page](https://www.dir.ca.gov/Public-Works/eCPR_exemptions.html) dir.ca.gov
6. [PRISM's own site](https://www.prismcompliance.com/) prismcompliance.com
7. [web wizard](https://help.prismcompliance.com/WebHelp/topics/adding-a-payroll-report.htm) help.prismcompliance.com
8. [import it from a template](https://help.prismcompliance.com/WebHelp/topics/idh-topic880.htm) help.prismcompliance.com
9. [DIR's online form, or an XML file](https://www.dir.ca.gov/Public-Works/Certified-Payroll-Reporting.html) dir.ca.gov
10. [accepts an acknowledgment](https://help.prismcompliance.com/WebHelp/topics/certify-payroll.htm) help.prismcompliance.com
11. [Labor Code 1776(a)](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=LAB&sectionNum=1776) leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
12. [login page](https://pro.prismcompliance.com/) pro.prismcompliance.com
13. [prevailing wage page](https://www.sandiego.gov/labor-and-wage/prevailing-wage) sandiego.gov
14. [PLA page](https://www.sandiego.gov/labor-and-wage/project-labor-agreement) sandiego.gov
15. [Public Works Contacts](https://www.dir.ca.gov/Public-Works/ContactUs.htm) dir.ca.gov
16. [Labor Code 1725.5(f)](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=LAB&sectionNum=1725.5) leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
17. [fact sheet](https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/2026-09/compliance-system-user-fee_fact-sheet.pdf) sandiego.gov
18. [WH-347](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/forms/wh347) dol.gov
19. [8 CCR 16401](https://www.dir.ca.gov/t8/16401.html) dir.ca.gov
20. [Training and Events page](https://www.sandiego.gov/labor-and-wage/training-events) sandiego.gov

## Related

- [LCPtracker vs DIR eCPR: do you need both](https://wellstanding.com/guides/lcptracker-vs-dir/)
- [GC rejected your certified payroll: what to do](https://wellstanding.com/guides/gc-portals-and-dir/)
- [City of San Diego project requirements](https://wellstanding.com/requirements/city-of-san-diego/)
- [How to find a DIR Project ID](https://wellstanding.com/guides/find-dir-project-id/)
- [Who is exempt from certified payroll](https://wellstanding.com/guides/who-is-exempt-from-certified-payroll-california/)
- [Who signs certified payroll](https://wellstanding.com/guides/who-signs-certified-payroll-california/)