California Construction Lien Resources
Preliminary notice within 20 days of first furnishing. Record the lien within 90 days of completion (30 or 60 days after a recorded notice of completion). Sue within 90 days of recording. Everything a contractor, subcontractor or supplier needs to protect lien rights in California.
Start a California jobCalculate my deadlines
Serve the preliminary notice after first furnishing
Record the lien after completion of the work
Sub or supplier lien deadline after a recorded notice of completion
File suit to enforce after recording the lien
California deadline calculator
Enter your dates and see every deadline in order. Red rows are the ones that can cost you the lien.
How a California lien comes together
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Within 20 days of first furnishing
Serve the preliminary notice
Subs and suppliers serve the owner, the direct contractor and the construction lender. A late notice only covers work furnished within 20 days before service and after.
Cal. Civ. Code 8200, 8204
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On or within 15 days after completion
Owner may record a notice of completion
Recording this notice shortens the lien deadlines. The owner must send a copy within 10 days to the direct contractor and to claimants who gave preliminary notice.
Cal. Civ. Code 8182, 8190
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After work stops, within 30 days of a notice of completion
Sub or supplier records the lien
Record before the earlier of 90 days after completion or 30 days after the owner records a notice of completion or cessation.
Cal. Civ. Code 8414
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After the direct contract ends, within 60 days of a notice of completion
Direct contractor records the lien
Record before the earlier of 90 days after completion or 60 days after the owner records a notice of completion or cessation.
Cal. Civ. Code 8412
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With recording
Serve the lien on the owner
Mail a copy of the claim, with the Notice of Mechanics Lien, to the owner. Failure to serve makes the lien unenforceable.
Cal. Civ. Code 8416(c), (e)
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Within 90 days after recording
File suit to enforce
Start an action to enforce the lien within 90 days of recording. If you don’t, the lien expires.
Cal. Civ. Code 8460(a)
The California rules, abstracted
A working summary of the California Mechanics Lien Law (Works of Improvement) for notice, recording and enforcement.
Who has lien rights
California calls lien holders claimants. They include direct contractors (those with a contract with the owner), subcontractors, material suppliers, equipment lessors, design professionals and laborers who furnish work on a private work of improvement. The lien law is in Civil Code Part 6, starting at Section 8000.
Preliminary notice (the 20-day notice)
Before recording a lien, giving a stop payment notice or claiming on a payment bond, a claimant must give preliminary notice to the owner, the direct contractor and the construction lender, if any. Serve it within 20 days after you first furnish work. A late notice still works, but only for work furnished within 20 days before you served it and after. Laborers need not give it. A direct contractor gives it only to the construction lender. Notice by mail must go registered or certified mail, express mail or overnight delivery.
Notice of completion and notice of cessation
Completion happens on actual completion, owner occupation or use with labor stopped, 60 days of continuous work stoppage, or recording a notice of cessation after 30 days of stoppage. An owner may record a notice of completion on or within 15 days after completion. That notice shortens lien deadlines. The owner must send a copy within 10 days to the direct contractor and to claimants who gave preliminary notice. If the owner does not, the notice does not shorten that person’s time to record a lien.
Recording the claim of lien
Record the claim of mechanics lien with the county recorder where the property sits. A sub or supplier records after it stops work and before the earlier of 90 days after completion or 30 days after a recorded notice of completion or cessation. A direct contractor records after finishing its contract and before the earlier of 90 days after completion or 60 days after that notice.
Serving the lien
Serve a copy of the claim, including the statutory Notice of Mechanics Lien, on the owner or reputed owner. Use registered, certified or first-class mail, evidenced by a certificate of mailing. If the owner cannot be served that way, mail it to the construction lender or original contractor. Failure to serve makes the lien unenforceable as a matter of law.
Enforcement deadline
File an action to enforce the lien within 90 days after recording. If you miss it, the lien expires. If the claimant and owner agree to extend credit and record notice of it in time, suit is due within 90 days after the credit expires. It can never be later than one year after completion.
Owner protections
The preliminary notice must carry a statutory warning to the owner that a lien may be placed on the property even if the owner has paid the contractor in full. The 10-day copy rule for a notice of completion does not apply to an owner who lives in a home with four or fewer units. A notice that owner records can shorten lien deadlines even if no copy is sent.
California quirk: statutory waiver forms
California has four mandatory waiver and release forms. A waiver that is not in substantially the statutory form does not release the owner, lender or surety. Any other statement that tries to waive lien rights is void unless the claimant has been paid in full.
Where California liens go wrong
- Serving the 20-day preliminary notice late and losing coverage for earlier work.
- Using the 90-day deadline when the owner recorded a notice of completion that cut it to 30 or 60 days.
- Recording the lien but not mailing a copy with the Notice of Mechanics Lien to the owner.
- Signing an unconditional waiver before payment clears, or using a non-statutory waiver form.
What do I need to send?
- Serve the preliminary notice on the owner, direct contractor and lender within 20 days of first furnishing.
- Track whether a notice of completion or cessation is recorded.
- Record the lien before the earlier of 90 days after completion or 30 days after a recorded notice of completion.
- Serve the recorded lien and Notice of Mechanics Lien on the owner.
- File suit within 90 days of recording.
- Give preliminary notice to the construction lender, if any.
- Record the lien after finishing your contract and before the earlier of 90 days after completion or 60 days after a recorded notice of completion.
- Serve the recorded lien on the owner.
- Use only the four statutory waiver and release forms.
- File suit within 90 days of recording.
- Keep every preliminary notice you receive.
- An owner may record a notice of completion within 15 days after completion.
- Owners must send a copy of a recorded notice of completion within 10 days to the direct contractor and to claimants who gave preliminary notice.
- Statutory conditional and unconditional waiver forms are the only waivers that release lien rights.
Public projects: payment bonds
You can’t lien public property. On state and local jobs, your security is the contractor’s payment bond under the California Civil Code Title 3 (Public Works), Sections 9000 et seq..
- A direct contractor awarded a public works contract over $25,000 must give a payment bond before work starts. State entity contracts fall under the Public Contract Code instead.
- Subs and suppliers without a contract with the direct contractor must give preliminary notice to the public entity and the direct contractor to claim on the bond or give a stop payment notice.
- If no preliminary notice was given, a claimant may still give written notice to the surety and bond principal within 15 days after a notice of completion is recorded, or 75 days after completion if none is recorded.
- A stop payment notice is due within 30 days after a recorded notice of completion, acceptance or cessation, or 90 days after cessation or completion if none is recorded. A bond suit is due within six months after that stop payment notice period ends.
Cal. Civ. Code 9300, 9356, 9550, 9558, 9560
Statutory lien waivers
Yes. California has four statutory waiver and release forms: conditional and unconditional, for progress and final payments (Civil Code 8132 to 8138). A waiver only releases the owner, lender or surety if it is in substantially the statutory form and signed by the claimant. A conditional release also needs evidence of payment. Any other oral or written waiver is void unless the claimant has been paid in full. The unconditional forms are enforceable even if you have not been paid.
Cal. Civ. Code 8124, 8126, 8132-8138
Federal projects
The Miller Act governs federal jobs in every state. Second-tier claimants give written notice to the prime contractor within 90 days after last furnishing; suit within 1 year after last furnishing.
40 U.S.C. 3133
Read the California law
We link to the official statute instead of hosting a copy, so you always read the current version. Our summaries were last checked against these sources on October 6, 2026.
- Cal. Civ. Code 8414: lien deadline for subs and suppliers (public.law mirror)Open ↗
- Cal. Civ. Code 8412: lien deadline for direct contractors (Justia mirror)Open ↗
- Cal. Civ. Code 8204: preliminary notice timing (public.law mirror)Open ↗
- Cal. Civ. Code 8460: enforcement deadline (public.law mirror)Open ↗
- Miller Act, 40 U.S.C. 3133 (federal jobs)Open ↗
California services
Flat pricing per document. Premium members pay less on every filing.
Basic: free with signup. Premium: $299 per year.
Basic Membership
Create your free LienNow account to access all our services at standard pricing. No cost, no commitment. Sign up in minutes and start filing right away at our standard pricing. It’s a good fit for contractors and suppliers who file occasionally.
Premium Membership
Premium includes everything in Basic, plus discounted pricing across our service offerings. If you file notices or liens regularly, the savings can quickly cover the annual fee.
| Service | Premium | Basic |
|---|---|---|
| Preliminary 20-day notice | Starting at $55 | Starting at $90 |
| Notice of intent to lien (optional demand) | Starting at $75 | Starting at $110 |
| Mechanics lien (claim of lien): prepare, record and serve | Starting at $250 | Starting at $425 |
| Lien release / discharge | Starting at $110 | Starting at $165 |
| Public job bond notice or claim | Starting at $210 | Starting at $375 |
| Each additional bond notice | Starting at $75 | Starting at $110 |
| Miller Act bond notice or claim (federal jobs) | Starting at $195 | Starting at $350 |
| Title search and legal description | Starting at $300 | Starting at $350 |
| Rush service (within 7 business days) | Starting at $75 | Starting at $150 |
| Same-day service (24-hour turnaround) | Starting at $125 | Starting at $200 |
| Electronic recording (e-file) | Starting at $45 | Starting at $75 |
Prices are LienNow service fees per document. County recording fees, state registry or portal fees, certified mail, postage and notary fees are billed at cost. Court actions to enforce a lien are handled by an attorney and are not included.
California lien questions
What if I miss the 20-day preliminary notice deadline?
You can still serve it late. It then covers only work you furnished within 20 days before serving it and after. Earlier work is not covered. (Civ. Code 8204)
How long do I have to record a mechanics lien in California?
Generally 90 days after completion of the work. If the owner records a notice of completion or cessation, the deadline is the earlier of that 90 days or 30 days after the recording for subs and suppliers (60 days for direct contractors). (Civ. Code 8412, 8414)
Do I have to send the recorded lien to anyone?
Yes. Serve a copy, including the Notice of Mechanics Lien, on the owner or reputed owner by registered, certified or first-class mail evidenced by a certificate of mailing. Failure to serve makes the lien unenforceable. (Civ. Code 8416)
How long does a California mechanics lien last?
You must file a lawsuit to enforce it within 90 days after recording. If you do not, the lien expires, unless a recorded extension of credit applies. Even then, suit cannot come later than one year after completion. (Civ. Code 8460)
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The information on this page is general information about California law as of the review date shown. It is not legal advice, and LienNow is not a law firm. Deadlines depend on the facts of each project. Consult a licensed California attorney about your specific situation.