The deadline to file a mechanic’s lien depends on a contractor’s role and the type of project.
For Commercial Projects (Private), the following charts specify the required documents and the last date to submit them.
We have separated the charts by type of contractor. It is essential to know that the last day to file or submit a lien document is always the 15th day of every month.
FOR CLAIMS RESULTING FROM A CONTRACT SIGNED BEFORE DECEMBER 31ST, 2021
IF THE 15th OF THE MONTH FALLS ON A WEEKEND OR A HOLIDAY, THE LAST DAY TO FILE A VALID LIEN WILL BE THE EARLIEST BUSINESS DAY.
FOR CLAIMS RESULTING FROM A CONTRACT SIGNED AFTER JANUARY 1ST, 2022
IF THE 15th OF THE MONTH FALLS ON A WEEKEND OR A HOLIDAY, THE LAST DAY TO FILE A VALID LIEN WILL EXTEND TO THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY AFTER THAT WEEKEND OR HOLIDAY.
Original (General) Contractor – Constitutional – Mechanic’s Lien Requirements | |||
---|---|---|---|
Chart of Filing Deadlines | |||
Month of: a) Written Termination b) Abandonment of Project c) Settlement or: d) Completion of the Contract |
Commercial Projects (Private) 🔗 | ||
Pre-lien Notice to Property Owner is Not Required |
File the Lien Affidavit On or Before: | ||
January | None | May 15th | |
February | None | June 15th | |
March | None | July 15th | |
April | None | August 15th | |
May | None | September 15th | |
June | None | October 15th | |
July | None | November 15th | |
August | None | December 15th | |
September | None | January 15th | |
October | None | February 15th | |
November | None | March 15th | |
December | None | April 15th |
Subcontractor (1st Tier) Lien Requirements | |||
---|---|---|---|
Chart of Filing Deadlines | |||
Month of Activity | Commercial Projects (Private) 🔗 | ||
Send Invoice by: | Send Pre-lien Notice to Property Owner and Original Contractor by: |
File the lien by the following date OR within 30 days after the overall project is complete**. | |
January | March 15th | April 15th | May 15th |
February | April 15th | May 15th | June 15th |
March | May 15th | June 15th | July 15th |
April | June 15th | July 15th | August 15th |
May | July 15th | August 15th | September 15th |
June | August 15th | September 15th | October 15th |
July | September 15th | October 15th | November 15th |
August | October 15th | November 15th | December 15th |
September | November 15th | December 15th | January 15th |
October | December 15th | January 15th | February 15th |
November | January 15th | February 15th | March 15th |
December | February 15th | March 15th | April 15th |
IMPORTANT:
**You can file a lien affidavit 30 days after completing the overall project only if you sent the pre-lien notice for that specific month on time. |
Sub-subcontractor (2nd Tier) Lien Requirements | |||
---|---|---|---|
Chart of Filing Deadlines | |||
Month of Activity | Commercial Projects (Private) 🔗 | ||
Send Invoice by: | Send Pre-lien Notice to Property Owner and Original Contractor by: |
File the lien by the following date OR within 30 days after the overall project is complete**. | |
January | March 15th | April 15th | May 15th |
February | April 15th | May 15th | June 15th |
March | May 15th | June 15th | July 15th |
April | June 15th | July 15th | August 15th |
May | July 15th | August 15th | September 15th |
June | August 15th | September 15th | October 15th |
July | September 15th | October 15th | November 15th |
August | October 15th | November 15th | December 15th |
September | November 15th | December 15th | January 15th |
October | December 15th | January 15th | February 15th |
November | January 15th | February 15th | March 15th |
December | February 15th | March 15th | April 15th |
IMPORTANT:
**You can file a lien affidavit 30 days after completing the overall project only if you sent the pre-lien notice for that specific month on time. |
Related questions and answers
The project owner is who hired the general contractor and/or subcontractors to perform labor or services to a construction or repair project. If this person or company does not own the property but is only leasing or renting it, this is still the person you must list as the project owner. However, the real owner of the property should also receive copies of all documents since the lien will be attached to this person’s property.
To prepare a lien affidavit, you will need the general information of the project and your contract. Below is a list of most of the information that is most needed to file a lien. • Project Information: Owner, name of project, common address (or legal property description), county where the project is located. • For Subcontractors: Name (or company name) and mailing address of the General (Prime) Contractor. • For Sub-subcontractors: It is not required but preferred to have the name and mailing address of all Subcontractors involved in the contract chain. • Work: Invoice dates, description of the unpaid work performed and the amount owed per each individual month.
We do not recommend filing a copy of your invoices in the Property Records with your Lien Affidavit. However you must retain copies of them as you may require them in the future.
The project owner is who hired the general contractor and/or subcontractors to perform labor or services to a construction or repair project. If this person or company does not own the property but is only leasing or renting it, this is still the person you must list as the project owner. However, the real owner of the property should also receive copies of all documents since the lien will be attached to this person’s property.
We use Simplifile to e-record your documents electronically. Simplifile is a trusted site used by most companies around the nation (such as banks, title companies, attorneys, etc.).