If you're asking "how long do I have to file a mechanics lien," you're asking the most important question in lien law — and the answer is: it depends entirely on your state. There is no national deadline. Texas gives subcontractors a monthly-notice system with filing by the 15th of the fourth month. Florida gives you 90 days from your last day on the job. New York gives commercial contractors 8 months but single-family-home contractors only 4. Same country, completely different clocks.
This page is the national reference: every state's filing deadline, enforcement window, and preliminary-notice rule in one table, each row stamped with its verification date. Find your state, then read the trap notes below it — because the deadline is only half the story.
The two-sentence version: your filing deadline is measured from a specific event (usually your last day furnishing labor or materials — warranty callbacks usually don't count), and in many states a preliminary notice sent weeks or months earlier is what keeps that deadline alive. Miss the prelim notice and the filing deadline may not matter, because your rights never vested.
The 50-state table
| State | Lien filing deadline | Enforcement window | Preliminary notice | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Original contractor: within 6 months after last performance; journeymen/day laborers: within 30 days; all other claimants (subs, s. | Suit within 6 months after maturity of the entire indebtedness secured by the lien. | Every person except the original (general) contractor must give written notice to the owner *before filing* th. | Ala. Code §§ 35-11-210–35-11-234 (Mechanics and Materialmen's Lien) |
| Alaska | Within 120 days after last performance; shortened to 15 days if an advance notice of completion was recorded (AS 34.35.068). | Suit within 6 months after lien is recorded (extension notice possible). | Not required. Optional "notice of right to lien" may be given to the owner of record before performance (AS 34… | Alaska Stat. §§ 34.35.050–34.35.120 |
| Arizona | Within 120 days after "completion" of the improvement; cut to 60 days after recordation if a notice of completion is recorded and . | Suit within 6 months after lien is recorded; lis pendens recorded within 5 days of filing suit. | Yes — written "preliminary 20-day notice" to owner, prime contractor, construction lender, and hiring party, n. | A.R.S. §§ 33-981–33-1008 |
| Arkansas | Verified Statement of Account and Claim of Lien filed with the circuit court clerk within 120 days after last furnishing (after th. | Suit within 15 months after filing the lien; lis pendens filed simultaneously; contractor is a necessary party. | Residential: contractor must give pre-construction notice to owner before supplying materials (§ 18-44-115(a)). | Ark. Code Ann. §§ 18-44-101–18-44-119 |
| California | Direct contractor: within 90 days after completion, or 60 days after owner records a notice of completion/cessation. | Suit within 90 days after recording the lien; extendable by recorded written agreement. | Yes — "preliminary 20-day notice" from subs/suppliers to owner, original contractor, and construction lender w. | Cal. Civ. Code §§ 8200–8494 (Mechanics Lien Law) |
| Colorado | Within 4 months after last furnishing. | Suit within 6 months after last furnishing (or after project completion, whichever is later); lis pendens reco. | Not required. | Colo. Rev. Stat. §§ 38-22-101–38-22-133 |
| Connecticut | Certificate of lien lodged with the town clerk within 90 days after last furnishing; serve attested copy on owner within 30 days a. | Foreclosure suit (like a mortgage) plus lis pendens within 1 year of recording. | A sub/supplier not in privity with the owner must give the owner written notice of intent to claim a lien afte. | Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 49-33–49-39 ("mechanic's lien" — note the spelling… |
| Delaware ⚠ | Contractors in direct contract with the owner: statement of claim filed with the Superior Court Prothonotary within 180 days after. | VERIFY — attorney review pending. Delaware enforces by writ of scire facias and the statement of claim doubles… | Not required. | 25 Del. C. §§ 2701–2727 |
| Florida | Claim of lien recorded within 90 days after final furnishing; copy served on owner before recording or within 15 days after. ) | Suit within 1 year after recording the claim of lien; owner may shorten to 60 days via recorded Notice of Cont. | Yes — "Notice to Owner" served on the owner (and everyone in the contract chain between the lienor's customer . | Fla. Stat. Ch. 713 ("Construction Lien Law" — Florida calls it a "cons… |
| Georgia | Claim of Lien recorded with the Clerk of Superior Court within 90 days after last furnishing; copy served on owner and contractor . | Action within 365 days after recording the claim of lien, plus a Notice of Commencement of Lien Action filed w. | Optional but recommended — a preliminary "Notice of Lien Rights" may be filed with the Clerk of Superior Court. | O.C.G.A. §§ 44-14-360–44-14-369 |
| Hawaii | Application for a Lien filed in circuit court not later than 45 days after the date of completion of the improvement (HRS § 507-43. | Foreclosure suit within 3 months after entry of the Order Directing Lien to Attach, or the lien expires (HRS §. | Not required. | Haw. Rev. Stat. §§ 507-41–507-49 ("mechanics and materialmen lien") |
| Idaho | Claim of lien recorded within 90 days after last furnishing (Idaho Code § 45-507); copy delivered/mailed to the owner within 5 bus. | Suit within 6 months after the lien is filed (Idaho Code § 45-510). | Not required. | Idaho Code §§ 45-501–45-525 |
| Illinois | Claim for lien recorded within 4 months after completion as against third parties/creditors/purchasers; within 2 years after compl. | Suit within 2 years after last furnishing. | Subcontractors/materialmen: written notice of lien claim to the owner within 90 days after completion (commerc. | 770 ILCS 60/0.01–60/39 (Mechanics Lien Act) |
| Indiana | Sworn statement + Notice of Intention to Hold Mechanic's Lien recorded within 90 days after last furnishing on commercial/industri. | Suit within 1 year after the notice of intention is recorded (IC 32-28-3-6); owner may serve a 30-day Notice t. | Commercial/industrial: not required. Residential (owner-occupied single/double dwelling): pre-lien notice requ… | Ind. Code §§ 32-28-3-1–32-28-3-18; § 32-28-6 (residential) |
| Iowa | Verified statement posted to the MNLR within 90 days after last furnishing (2 years 90 days is the outer limit for perfection, but. | Action within 2 years after expiration of the 90-day filing period; owner/original contractor may demand suit . | Prime contractor must give the owner a written "owner notice" in bold 10-point type (§ 572.13); failure to do . | Iowa Code Ch. 572 (mechanics' liens); Iowa uses an online registry (MN… |
| Kansas | Original contractors: lien statement filed within 4 months after last furnishing; subcontractors and all others: within 3 months a. | Foreclosure action within 1 year after the lien statement is filed (K.S.A. 60-1105). | A supplier contracting with a subcontractor (sub-tier supplier) must serve a preliminary 20-day notice on the . | K.S.A. §§ 60-1101–60-1110 |
| Kentucky ⚠ | Lien statement filed with the county clerk within 6 months after last furnishing; copy mailed to the owner within 7 days of record. | Proceedings begun within 6 months after filing the claim (KRS 376.260(1)). | Persons without a direct contract with the owner must give the owner written notice of intent to hold the prop. | KRS §§ 376.010–376.990 ("mechanics' and materialmen's liens" — note sp. |
| Louisiana ⚠ | Measured from a notice of termination of work or substantial completion/abandonment (project-wide, not the claimant's own last day. | Action against the owner within 1 year after FILING the statement of claim/privilege (amended 2012; La. R.S. | Residential: contractor must deliver a written "notice of lien rights" to the owner before entering the contra. | La. R.S. §§ 9:4801–9:4855 (Private Works Act). |
| Maine | Certificate of lien (or notice that labor/materials will be furnished) filed in the registry of deeds within 90 days after last fu. | Civil action filed within 120 days after last furnishing (10 M.R.S.A. § 3255). | Not required — the lien arises by operation of law when labor/materials are supplied. | Me. Rev. Stat. Tit. 10, §§ 3251–3269 |
| Maryland | Petition to establish the lien filed in circuit court within 180 days after last furnishing (Md. Real Prop. § 9-105). | The petition to establish IS the enforcement vehicle — must be filed within 180 days after last furnishing; en. | Claimants other than the prime contractor must serve the owner a notice of intention to claim a lien within 12. | Md. Code, Real Property §§ 9-101–9-114 |
| Massachusetts | Statement of Account recorded within 120 days after last furnishing (M.G.L. | Civil action within 90 days after recording the Statement of Account (c.254, § 11); attested copy of complaint. | Claimants without a direct contract with the owner must record a Notice of Contract with the Registry of Deeds. | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 254 ("mechanic's lien" — note spelling) |
| Michigan | Claim of Lien recorded with the register of deeds within 90 days after the claimant's last furnishing (MCL 570.1111(1)). | Foreclosure action within 1 year after the claim of lien is recorded (MCL 570.1117); notice of lis pendens rec. | Subcontractors and suppliers must serve a Notice of Furnishing on the owner/designee within 30 days after firs. | MCL §§ 570.1101–570.1128 (Construction Lien Act — Michigan calls it a . |
| Minnesota | Verified lien statement filed with the county recorder (or registrar of titles) and served on the owner within 120 days after last. | Action (or answer/intervention) within 1 year after the date of the last item of the claim as set forth in the. | On residential (1–4 units), agricultural, and commercial projects under 5,000 sq. | Minn. Stat. §§ 514.01–514.16 |
| Mississippi ⚠ | Claim of lien filed with the chancery court clerk within 90 days after last furnishing (§ 85-7-405); copy sent to owner (and contr. | Payment action filed within 180 days after filing the claim of lien, or the lien is void (§ 85-7-405(1)(c)); o. | Prime contractor: not required. On commercial projects, sub-subcontractors and suppliers to a subcontractor mu… | Miss. Code Ann. §§ 85-7-401–85-7-433 (2014 rewrite) |
| Missouri | Lien statement filed with the circuit court clerk within 6 months after last furnishing (§ 429.080). | Suit within 6 months after filing the lien (§ 429.170); not extendable by agreement. | Original contractor must send the owner a prescribed statutory notice of potential sub/supplier claims before . | Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 429.010–429.350 |
| Montana | Lien statement filed within 90 days after final furnishing, or within 90 days after the owner files a Notice of Completion. | Suit within 2 years after filing the lien. | Notice of right to claim a lien served on the owner (certified mail or personal service) within 20 days after . | Mont. Code Ann. §§ 71-3-521–71-3-563 ("construction lien") |
| Nebraska | Construction lien recorded within 120 days after final furnishing (§ 52-137). | Lien enforceable for 2 years after recording (§ 52-140); an interested party may serve a written demand requir. | Written notice of right to claim a lien required only to preserve rights against a residential owner who quali. | Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 52-125–52-159 (Nebraska Construction Lien Act — "co… |
| Nevada | Notice of lien recorded within 90 days after last furnishing, or within 40 days after a notice of completion is recorded, whicheve. | Suit within 6 months after recording the notice of lien (NRS 108.233); extendable by recorded written agreemen. | Non-prime claimants must serve a "notice of right to lien" on the owner (and original contractor) within 31 da. | Nev. Rev. Stat. §§ 108.221–108.246 |
| New Hampshire | No lien filing is required in NH. The lien is perfected by obtaining a writ of attachment and commencing suit — the lien continues… | Suit filed and writ of attachment obtained within 120 days after services are performed or materials furnished. | A subcontractor or materialman should give the owner a notice of intent to claim a lien before delivering labo. | N.H. Rev. Stat. §§ 447:2–447:14 |
| New Jersey | Non-residential: construction lien claim lodged for record no later than 90 days after last furnishing; served on owner within 10 . | Suit within 1 year after last furnishing; owner/contractor may demand the claimant commence suit within 30 day. | Non-residential: not required (claimant may optionally file a Notice of Unpaid Balance and Right to File Lien). | N.J.S.A. §§ 2A:44A-1–2A:44A-38 (Construction Lien Law — "construction … |
| New Mexico | Contractor dealing directly with the owner: claim filed within 120 days after completion of its contract. | Suit within 2 years after the lien is filed, in the county where the property is located. | Persons not dealing directly with the prime contractor on non-residential construction must give the owner or . | N.M. Stat. §§ 48-2-1–48-2-17 |
| New York | Notice of lien filed with the county clerk within 8 months after last furnishing; shortened to 4 months for single-family dwelling. | Lien is good for 1 year after filing; extendable once by filing a notice of extension (no court order needed e. | Not required — NY has no preliminary notice requirement for anyone. | NY Lien Law §§ 1–39 (private improvements); note: NY has separate publ. |
| North Carolina | Claim of lien on real property filed AND served on the owner within 120 days after last furnishing (NCGS § 44A-12). | Action to enforce within 180 days after last furnishing (NCGS § 44A-13). | If the project has a designated lien agent, potential claimants must serve the lien agent a Notice to Lien Age. | N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 44A-7–44A-24 |
| North Dakota | Lien claim recorded with the county recorder within 90 days after the last work or contribution (N.D. Cent. Code § 35-27-13). | Suit commenced and lis pendens recorded within 3 years after recording the lien; a written demand to sue accel. | Not required as a separate pre-notice. | N.D. Cent. Code §§ 35-27-01–35-27-28 ("construction lien") |
| Ohio | Affidavit for Mechanic's Lien filed with the county recorder within 75 days after last furnishing (commercial/other projects); wit. | Lien remains effective for 6 years after the affidavit is filed (R.C. | Subcontractors, sub-subcontractors, and material suppliers must serve the owner (and the prime contractor, if . | Ohio Rev. Code §§ 1311.01–1311.34 |
| Oklahoma ⚠ | Original contractor (in contract with owner): verified lien statement within 4 months after last furnishing. | Foreclosure suit within 1 year after filing the lien (42 O.S. § 149). | Claimants other than the original contractor must send a written pre-lien notice to the original contractor an. | Okla. Stat. tit. 42, §§ 141–153 |
| Oregon | Claim of lien recorded within 75 days after the claimant ceases to furnish, or 75 days after completion of construction, whichever. | Suit within 120 days after filing the claim of lien (ORS 87.055). | "Information Notice to Owner" — on residential construction/improvement contracts over $2,000, the original co. | Or. Rev. Stat. §§ 87.001–87.093 |
| Pennsylvania | Lien claim filed with the County Prothonotary within 6 months after last furnishing; served on the owner within 30 days after fili. | Suit within 2 years after filing the lien claim; judgment obtained within 5 years after filing. | First- and second-tier subcontractors/suppliers must give the owner formal written notice of intention to lien. | 49 Pa. Cons. Stat. §§ 1101–1902 (Mechanics' Lien Law of 1963) |
| Rhode Island | Same as above — the recorded Notice of Intention IS the lien filing (200 days). | Complaint to enforce filed in Superior Court within 40 days after recording the notice of intention, with a no. | The "Notice of Intention to Do Work or Furnish Materials" doubles as the pre-lien notice AND the lien itself: . | R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 34-28-1–34-28-38 ("mechanics' liens" — note spelling… |
| South Carolina | Lien served and filed within 90 days after last furnishing. | Suit served and filed within 180 days after last furnishing. | Lower-tier claimants (subs, sub-subs, suppliers) must give the owner written notice of the claim within 90 day. | S.C. Code Ann. §§ 29-5-10–29-5-440 |
| South Dakota | Lien statement filed with the register of deeds within 120 days after last furnishing (SDCL 44-9-15); a copy must be mailed to the. | Action within 6 years after filing (SDCL 44-9-24); owner/contractor may serve a written demand requiring suit . | Not required. A sworn lien account and notice of claim may optionally be served on the owner at any time. | S.D. Codified Laws §§ 44-9-1–44-9-50 |
| Tennessee | Primes and owner-direct claimants: no filing strictly required — the lien continues for 1 year after completion/abandonment (unles. | Prime contractors: suit for attachment within 1 year after completion or abandonment. | Prime contractors must give the owner notice of lien rights before beginning work or entering the contract (fa. | Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 66-11-101–66-11-145 |
| Texas | Lien affidavit filed with the county clerk: subcontractors — by the 15th day of the 4th month after the month of last furnishing (. | Suit to foreclose within 1 year after the last day the claimant could have filed the affidavit (§ 53.158(a)); . | Monthly notice system. Subcontractors/suppliers: notice of unpaid labor/materials to the owner (and original c… | Tex. Prop. Code Ch. 53 |
| Utah | Notice of lien filed with the county recorder within 180 days after final completion of the original contract if no notice of comp. | Suit within 180 days after filing the notice of lien (or within 180 days after last furnishing on a residence). | All lien claimants not in direct contract with the owner must file a preliminary notice in the State Construct. | Utah Code §§ 38-1a-101–38-1a-805 (Construction Liens) |
| Vermont | Written memorandum of lien filed with the town clerk where the property sits within 180 days after the date payment is due for the. | Civil action commenced and the property attached within 180 days after filing the memorandum (or within 180 da. | Not required by statute. | 9 V.S.A. §§ 1921–1924 ("mechanic's lien" — note spelling) |
| Virginia | Memorandum of mechanic's lien filed with the circuit court clerk within 90 days after the last day of the month in which the claim. | Suit within 6 months after filing the memorandum, or within 60 days after project completion, whichever is lat. | Not required before filing. After perfection, subs must send the owner notice of the lien; suppliers/sub-subs … | Va. Code Ann. §§ 43-1–43-23.1 ("mechanic's lien" — note spelling) |
| Washington | Claim of lien filed with the county auditor/recorder within 90 days after last furnishing (§ 60.04.091). | Suit within 8 months after recording the lien; all necessary parties served within 90 days after filing the su. | Subcontractors, suppliers, and equipment lessors should give the owner a written notice of right to claim a li. | Wash. Rev. Code §§ 60.04.011–60.04.081 ("mechanics' lien" — note spell… |
| West Virginia | Notice of lien recorded with the county clerk within 100 days after last furnishing (contractors: 100 days after completion of con. | Action commenced in circuit court within 6 months after filing the notice of lien (§ 38-2-34). | Not required as a separate pre-notice. Materialmen/equipment furnishers contracting with a contractor or subco… | W. Va. Code §§ 38-2-1–38-2-39 ("mechanic's lien" — note spelling) |
| Wisconsin | Claim for lien filed with the clerk of circuit court within 6 months after last furnishing (§ 779.06(1)). | Action (summons and complaint) within 2 years after filing the claim (§ 779.06(1)). | Prime contractors on wholly residential projects (1–4 units): statutory lien-rights notice in the contract or . | Wis. Stat. Ch. 779 ("construction lien") |
| Wyoming | Lien statement filed: contractors within 150 days after last work under the contract or substantial completion, whichever is earli. | Foreclosure action within 180 days after filing the lien statement (Wyo. Stat. § 29-2-109). ; ASA 2019) | Subcontractors and materialmen must send the owner (or agent) a preliminary notice of right to lien within 30 . | Wyo. Stat. §§ 29-2-101–29-2-109 |
Last verified: October 2026. Rows marked ⚠ are awaiting attorney confirmation in our review draft — the full sourced table with per-cell statute links ships in the $49 pack after attorney review. Statutes change: confirm your state's current deadlines with a construction attorney before acting.
The traps behind the deadlines
Texas: the monthly-notice machine
Texas doesn't have a deadline — it has a system. Subcontractors and suppliers send monthly notices (by the 15th of the 3rd month after each month of work on commercial jobs; the 2nd month on residential), plus a one-time notice of furnishing since 2022. Miss one month's notice and that month's work may be unlienable. Our full Texas filing guide walks the whole system.
California: the 20-day prelim notice
California's filing deadline (90 days after completion) looks generous — until you learn the 20-day preliminary notice rule. Subs and suppliers must notify the owner, GC, and lender within 20 days of first furnishing. Miss it and your lien rights are gone before the job is half done. Details in the California guide.
Florida: the 45-day Notice to Owner
Florida's 90-days-from-last-furnishing filing deadline is straightforward. The trap is the Notice to Owner: subs and suppliers must serve it within 45 days of first furnishing. No NTO, no lien — no matter how clean your filing is. Then a one-year enforcement window after recording. Full breakdown in the Florida deadline guide.
New York: two clocks, no prelim notice
New York is unusual both ways: no preliminary notice required, but two different filing clocks — 8 months for commercial work, 4 months for single-family homes. File on the wrong clock and you're late.
Louisiana: it's called a "privilege"
Louisiana doesn't have mechanics liens — it has privileges, measured from project-wide events (notice of termination, substantial completion) rather than your own last day. Different vocabulary, different math. ⚠ Our Louisiana row is flagged for attorney confirmation given recent amendments.
What to do with your deadline
Knowing the deadline is step one. Step two is the sequence around it: preliminary notice → notice of intent → draft the claim → record → serve → enforce-or-settle. The free notice-of-intent template covers the leverage step, and the free templates page has the kill-checklist that keeps you from blowing your own case.
For the full sourced table — every cell linked to its statute, plus the notice templates by role, the filing walkthrough, and the deadline calculator worksheet — that's the $49 pack, currently under construction-lien attorney review.
Not legal advice
Mechanics lien laws are state-specific and they change. Deadlines, notice rules, and forms differ by state and by your role on the job. This guide is general information — before you act on a deadline, confirm it with a construction attorney in your state. Missing a deadline by even one day can kill your lien rights.
Don't track 50 states of deadlines in your head
The 50-State Lien Deadline + Notice Pack ($49, one-time) puts every state's preliminary-notice, filing, and enforcement deadlines on one page — plus the notice templates, the filing walkthrough, and the deadline calculator worksheet. Currently under construction-lien attorney review; on sale here the moment it clears.
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