California Mechanics Lien Law: Notices and Deadlines

A mechanics lien is a contractor's most powerful payment tool — a legal claim against the real property you improved, for unpaid labor or materials. But it's all about deadlines: miss one and you lose the right.

1. Preliminary notice — the 20-day rule (§8200)

To preserve lien rights, a subcontractor or supplier must serve a preliminary notice within 20 days of first furnishing labor or materials, on the owner, the direct (prime) contractor, and the construction lender (if any). (Civil Code §8200) Serve it late, and your lien is limited to work in the 20 days before you served it.

2. Recording the lien (§8412 / §8414)

Claimant	No Notice of Completion	After a Notice of Completion is recorded
Direct (prime) contractor	90 days from completion	60 days
Subcontractor / supplier	90 days from completion	30 days