Mechanics’ Lien California: Deadlines and How to File

Mechanics lien in California: timelines and crucial steps to avoid deadlines and secure your payment.

Key Takeaways: Mechanics’ Lien California

• The mechanics lien process begins with serving a 20-day preliminary notice to the property owner after starting work.
• You generally have 90 days from project completion to file the lien, but this window can be shortened to 60 days.
• Missing a deadline or failing to send the preliminary notice can invalidate your lien rights.
• Completing and properly recording the California mechanics lien form is essential for a valid claim.

File Your California Mechanics’ Lien Today

Quick Facts: Liens Deadline

• Statutory Deadline: 90 days post-completion (or 60/30 days with Notice of Completion)
• Preliminary Notice: 20 days from first furnishing (Cal. Civ. Code § 8200)
• Enforcement Lawsuit: 90 days from lien recording (Cal. Civ. Code § 8460)
• Who Must Serve Notice: Subcontractors, suppliers, laborers (direct contractors vary)
• Penalty for Late Filing: Loss of lien rights; lien becomes void

Table Summary: California Mechanics Liens Deadline

Meeting every deadline is critical. The California mechanic’s lien timeline has several key dates that you must not miss.

• Preliminary Notice: You must send a preliminary notice to the property owner, direct contractor, and construction lender within 20 days of first providing labor or materials. This is a prerequisite for most claimants.
• Lien Filing: If you are not paid, you must file the mechanic’s lien. You generally have 90 days to do this after the entire project is completed.
• Shortened Deadlines: If the property owner records a “Notice of Completion” or “Notice of Cessation,” the deadline shortens. Direct contractors have 60 days to file, while subcontractors and suppliers have only 30 days.
• Lien Foreclosure: After recording the lien, you have 90 days to file a lawsuit to foreclose on it. Failing to do so will cause the lien to expire.

Send Your 20-Day Notice

What are Mechanics’ Liens?

A mechanic’s lien acts as a safety net for construction professionals. It is a legal claim placed on a property to ensure you get paid for the work you performed or the materials you supplied. When a lien is filed, it can prevent the property owner from selling or refinancing the property until the debt is settled. This transforms your unpaid invoice into a powerful tool for securing payment.

Who Can File a Mechanics’ Lien in California?

The California mechanics lien statute grants the right to file a lien to a wide range of participants in a construction project.

• Direct contractors
• Subcontractors
• Material suppliers
• Equipment lessors
• Laborers
• Design professionals (architects, engineers)

What happens if you miss the California mechanics’ lien deadlines?

Filing before the deadline protects your payment rights and maintains your business’s financial health. If you miss a filing deadline, the consequences can be severe and extend beyond a single unpaid invoice.

Consequences of missing a deadline

• Forfeiture of Lien Rights: The most immediate impact is losing your legal right to file a mechanic’s lien. This removes your most powerful tool for securing payment for the work you performed.
• Financial Strain: Without a lien, collecting payment can become a longer, more difficult process, creating cash flow problems that affect your ability to pay your crew, suppliers, and other business expenses.
• Damaged Relationships: Failing to secure payment can damage trust with your team and subcontractors who rely on you. It can also strain your relationship with the client if the payment dispute escalates.

Key takeaways for contractors

• Do not file your lien too early. Recording a lien while working on a project can render it unenforceable.
• Verify Notice of Completion. Always check if Notice of Completion has been filed with the county recorder’s office, as this can significantly shorten your lien deadline.

4 Tips to Never Miss a California Lien Deadline

To hit your deadlines, use a simple system:

• Set Calendar Reminders: Use a digital calendar to create alerts for the 20-day preliminary notice deadline and the final lien filing deadline.
• Organize Your Documents: Keep all project paperwork  (contracts, change orders, invoices, and completion notices) in a single, organized, and accessible file.
• Communicate Regularly: Maintain open communication with the property owner and direct contractor about the project’s status and payment schedules to identify potential issues early.
• Seek Professional Guidance: Consider working with a legal expert or a lien specialist like Northwest Lien Service. They can manage the process, ensure compliance with the California mechanics lien statute, and provide tailored advice for your situation.

Penalty for Filing a False Mechanics’ Lien in California

Filing a false or fraudulent mechanics lien in California can backfire. You could lose the lien, face financial damages, or face criminal charges. The consequences can vary based on whether it was just an honest mistake or a deliberate scam.

How to File a Mechanics’ Lien in California: 5 Easy Steps

Here are the steps and requirements for filing a mechanics lien in California:

• STEP 1: Serve the Preliminary Notice: Ensure you serve the 20-day preliminary notice correctly at the start of your work.
• STEP 2: Prepare the Lien Form: Complete the California mechanics lien form. You can often find a mechanics lien California PDF template online, but it must contain all statutorily required information to be valid. (We can help with that!)
• STEP 3: Record the Lien: File the completed lien form with the County Recorder’s office in the county where the property is located. You must also pay the recording fee.
• STEP 4: Serve the Lien: Serve a copy of the recorded lien on the property owner.
• STEP 5: File a Lawsuit: If you are still not paid, file a foreclosure action within 90 days of recording the lien.

How much does it cost to file a mechanics lien in CA?

Filing a mechanics lien in California doesn’t have a set cost. It varies by county and whether you hire a service or an attorney.

Here is a breakdown of potential costs:

• County recording fees: The primary cost for filing a mechanics lien is the recording fee charged by the county recorder’s office in the county where the property is located. These fees can change, but generally consist of:
• Base fee: A base charge for recording the first page of the document. As an example, the County of Orange’s standard first-page fee is increasing to $12 in 2025.
• Per-page fee: An additional charge for each page of the document after the first.
• Statutory fees: Special charges levied by the state. For example, a $75 Building Homes and Jobs Act fee was enacted in 2018.
• In Los Angeles County, the recording fee for a one-page mechanics lien is usually about $100. Just to be safe, it’s a good idea to check with the county recorder’s office for the latest fee info.

How Northwest Lien Can Help You Meet Deadlines and Secure Payments

Partnering with a lien specialist removes the guesswork and ensures the process is handled correctly.

Why Trust Us

We’ve been helping contractors and subcontractors file a lien since 1999. We manage the entire process for you, ensuring all requirements are met. This includes:

• Tracking Deadlines: Monitoring all critical dates for preliminary notices and lien filings.
• Managing Documents: Organizing and preparing all necessary paperwork, including the correct California mechanics lien form.
• Ensuring Compliance: Verifying that all notices are sent and filed according to the California mechanics lien statute.
• Securing Your Rights: Handling the details from start to finish to prevent costly errors or rejections.

A smooth, dependable payment process allows you to maintain healthy business operations and focus on the work that matters most.

If you need help filing a mechanics lien in California, we’ll handle the details to protect your projects and your peace of mind.

Glossary/Definition

• Completion: Occurs when the work of improvement is finished, or when the owner begins using or occupying the property (Cal. Civ. Code § 8180).​
• Notice of Completion: A document recorded by the property owner that formally declares the project complete, which shortens lien filing deadlines (Cal. Civ. Code § 8180–8182).​
• Notice of Cessation: Recorded when work stops for 30 days, triggering the same shortened deadlines as a Notice of Completion (Cal. Civ. Code § 8180).

FAQs: California Mechanics Lien Deadlines

Filing Deadlines & Time Limits

How long do I have to file a mechanics lien in California after finishing work?

You have 90 days after project completion unless the owner records a Notice of Completion, which reduces the deadline to 60 days for direct contractors and 30 days for subcontractors (Cal. Civ. Code § 8412).

Can you file a mechanics lien after 90 days in California?

No. The deadlines are strict. If you miss the statutory deadline to file your lien (whether it is 30, 60, or 90 days), you lose your right to do so.

What happens if I miss the 90-day deadline to enforce a lien?

The lien becomes unenforceable and is automatically extinguished; you lose your security interest in the property (Cal. Civ. Code § 8460).

Penalty & Consequences of Missing Lien Deadlines

Preliminary Notice Requirements

Can you file a mechanics lien without a preliminary notice in California?

Generally, no. With few exceptions (like a direct contractor on a small project or a laborer), failing to send a 20-day preliminary notice will prevent you from enforcing a mechanic’s lien.

Is a 20-day preliminary notice required for all California mechanics liens?

In California, most parties (subcontractors and suppliers) must serve a 20-day preliminary notice to secure their mechanics lien rights. However, there are key exceptions: laborers (those providing only physical labor) are not required to send a notice, and direct contractors (those with a direct contract with the owner) are only required to send the notice to the construction lender, if one exists.

Lien Validity, Priority & Verification

How to check mechanics lien status in California?

You can check for liens by searching the official property records at the County Recorder’s office for the county where the property is located. Many counties offer online access to these records.

What makes a mechanic’s lien invalid in California?

A lien can become invalid for several reasons. For example, parties may miss deadlines, fail to serve a preliminary notice, provide incorrect information on the lien form, or file the lien without a required license if the contractor is unlicensed.

What is the California mechanics lien priority?

In California, mechanics liens follow the “first in time, first in right” rule, but here’s the twist: their priority date goes back to when the construction project started, not when the lien was filed. This means mechanics’ liens often have priority over other liens, which is great for construction workers and suppliers.

Can someone put a lien on my house without me knowing in California?

Yes, a claimant can record a lien with the county recorder without your prior consent. However, they are legally required to serve you with a copy of the recorded lien, so you should be notified shortly after it is filed.

What California Contractors Ask About Lien Deadlines

When is the deadline to file a mechanics lien in California?

The deadline is 90 days after completion, or 60/30 days if a Notice of Completion is filed, depending on your role.

Can I still file a lien if I missed the 20-day preliminary notice?

You can file, but the lien only covers work performed in the 20 days before serving the notice, not earlier work (Cal. Civ. Code § 8200).

• If the notice is served on time (within 20 days of first furnishing labor/materials), the lien covers all work performed from day one.
• If the notice is served late, the lien rights are only preserved for the labor and materials furnished in the 20 days immediately preceding the date the notice was served, and all work performed afterward. Work done prior to that 20-day window is not covered by the lien.

How long after recording a lien do I have to sue?

You must file a foreclosure lawsuit within 90 days of recording the lien (Cal. Civ. Code § 8460).

Other Sources

• Find out: What Happens When Multiple Liens Are Filed On Your California Property
• Step-by-Step Guide: How to File a Mechanics Lien in California
• Everything You Need to Know: California Liens

Got More Questions

Northwest Lien Service Team has been a Mechanics Lien Specialist since 1999. Not sure where to start? Talk to us.

Reviewed for Accuracy by Mechanics Lien Specialists, Updated: February 2026