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.
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, but 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, but only if you sent the pre-lien notice for that specific month on time. |
|||
| Residential Projects | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month of Activity | Subcontractor - deadlines | |||
| Pre-lien Notice to Owner and Original Contractor | Last Day to File the Lien Affidavit | |||
| January | March 15th | April 15th | ||
| February | April 15th | May 15th | ||
| March | May 15th | June 15th | ||
| April | June 15th | July 15th | ||
| May | July 15th | August 15th | ||
| June | August 15th | September 15th | ||
| July | September 15th | October 15th | ||
| August | October 15th | November 15th | ||
| September | November 15th | December 15th | ||
| October | December 15th | January 15th | ||
| November | January 15th | February 15th | ||
| December | February 15th | March 15th | ||
| Residential Projects | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month of: a) Written Termination b) Completion c) Abandonment |
Original contractor - deadlines | |||
| Pre-lien Notice to Owner | Last Day to File the Lien Affidavit | |||
| January | None | April 15th | ||
| February | None | May 15th | ||
| March | None | June 15th | ||
| April | None | July 15th | ||
| May | None | August 15th | ||
| June | None | September 15th | ||
| July | None | October 15th | ||
| August | None | November 15th | ||
| September | None | December 15th | ||
| October | None | January 15th | ||
| November | None | February 15th | ||
| December | None | March 15th | ||