---
title: "Time Tracking Settings: Clock Settings Overview + Project & Cost Code Requirements"
url: "https://help.ontraccr.com/en/article/time-tracking-settings-clock-settings-overview-project-cost-code-requirements"
language: "en"
last_updated: "2025-05-26T22:57:05.751Z"
---

# Time Tracking Settings: Clock Settings Overview + Project & Cost Code Requirements

## 🕒 **Time Tracking Settings: Clock Settings Overview + Project & Cost Code Requirements**

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### ✅ **What This Covers**

This article explains the **Clock Settings** area in Ontraccr’s Time Tracking setup. You’ll learn how to:

-   Require users to select a **project** and/or **cost code** when tracking time
-   Understand how this ties into job costing and reporting
-   Customize the clock-in experience for your team

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### 🧭 **Where to Find These Settings**

1.  Open the **Web App** as an Admin
2.  Navigate to **Settings** (bottom left menu)
3.  Under **Time Tracking**, select **Clock Settings**

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### 🔧 **Setting #1: Require Project Selection**  
 

**What it does:**

Forces users to select a project when tracking time using any of Ontraccr’s four time entry methods.

**How it works:**

-   Found in *Clock Settings*
-   Checkbox toggle:
    -   ✅ Red check = required
    -   ⬜ White = optional
-   If enabled, **no time can be entered without selecting a project**

**Why it matters:**

Ensures every hour tracked is assigned to a real project — essential for accuracy in:

-   Job costing
-   Project-level reports
-   Budget vs actuals comparisons

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### 🔧 **Setting #2: Require Cost Code Selection**  
 

**What it does:**

Requires users to assign a **cost code** when logging time.

**How it works:**

-   Found just under the project requirement toggle
-   If enabled, users must select a **project-specific or global cost code** during time entry

**Use case:**

-   Encourages job costing discipline
-   Helps companies track hours spent on specific **tasks or phases** within a project

**Example:**

An electrical contractor might set up “Rough-in Installation” as a cost code.

If this setting is enabled, workers must pick that cost code (or another) to log time.

**Why it’s valuable:**

With cost codes tied to **budgeted line items** from estimates, you can:

-   Compare **actual labor costs vs. estimate**
-   Improve forecasting
-   Spot overruns before they escalate

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### 💡 **Pro Tips & Edge Cases**

-   ✅ You can enable one without the other (e.g., require project, but not cost code)
-   🧑‍💼 Enabling both is ideal for companies actively job costing
-   🔄 You can enable these settings at any time — helpful if you're rolling out job costing in phases