The short version
Lien deadlines are set by each state and are short. This page lists the notice, filing and enforcement deadlines for nine states, taken from the statute text and linked row by row, as checked 3 November 2026. Deadlines depend on whether the project is residential or commercial, public or private, and on whether you are a direct contractor, a subcontractor or a supplier. For any state not in the table, check your state's law. This is general information, not legal advice.
Lien deadlines in nine states
Each row was read from the statute on the date above. A figure that is not in a cell was not read, so it is left as "check your state's law" rather than guessed.
| State | Preliminary notice | Record or file the lien | Enforce the lien | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | Within 20 days of first furnishing work. Not required of a laborer; a claimant under contract with the owner notifies only the construction lender. | Direct contractor: before the earlier of 90 days after completion or 60 days after the owner records a notice of completion or cessation. Others: the earlier of 90 days after completion or 30 days after such a notice. | Within 90 days after the claim of lien is recorded. | Civ. Code 8200, 8204, 8412, 8414, 8460 |
| Texas | Original contractor: no notice in section 53.056. Others: notice of claim by the 15th day of the 3rd month (2nd month if residential) after the month the labor or materials were provided. | Original contractor: the 15th day of the 4th month (3rd month if residential) after the month the work was completed, terminated or abandoned. Others: the 15th day of the 4th month (3rd if residential) after the last month of labor or materials. | Suit within 1 year after the last day to file the affidavit. A recorded written agreement can extend that to 2 years after filing. | Prop. Code 53.052, 53.056, 53.158 (as amended effective 1 January 2022) |
| Florida | Not in privity with the owner (laborers excepted): notice to the owner before commencing or within 45 days after commencing. | Within 90 days after the final furnishing of labor, services or materials. | The lien ends 1 year after recording unless suit is filed. The owner can shorten that to 60 days with a notice of contest. | Fla. Stat. 713.06, 713.08, 713.22 |
| New York | None found in the sections read. | Within 8 months after completion of the contract; 4 months for a single family dwelling; 90 days after the retainage was due for a retainage lien. | The lien ends 1 year after filing unless a foreclosure action and notice of pendency are filed or it is extended (no extension for single family dwellings). | Lien Law 10, 17 |
| Pennsylvania | Subcontractor: written notice to the owner at least 30 days before filing. Projects costing $1,500,000 or more: Notice of Furnishing within 45 days of first work, where a notice of commencement was filed. | Within 6 months after completing the work. Notice of filing goes to the owner within 1 month of filing. | Action within 2 years of filing. | Mechanics' Lien Law of 1963, sections 501, 501.3, 502, 701 |
| Illinois | Subcontractor: written notice to the owner within 90 days after completing its work. | Contractor: within 4 months after completion against other creditors and purchasers; within 2 years after completion against the owner. | Suit within 2 years after completion of the contract. The lien is forfeited if suit is not brought within 30 days after a written demand. | 770 ILCS 60/7, 9, 24, 34 |
| Ohio | Subcontractor or supplier: notice of furnishing within 21 days after first work, when a notice of commencement was recorded. | Affidavit within 60 days of the last work or materials (one or two family dwelling), 75 days (other), or 120 days in a case under section 1311.021. | The lien is void if suit is not filed within 60 days after service of a notice to commence suit. | ORC 1311.05, 1311.06, 1311.11 |
| North Carolina | Lien agent and related notices are covered in sections 44A-11.1 and 44A-11.2 (timing not covered here). | Within 120 days after the last furnishing at the site, with the claim served on the record owner. | Within 180 days after the last furnishing. | G.S. 44A-11, 44A-12, 44A-13 |
| Michigan | Subcontractor or supplier: notice of furnishing within 20 days after the first labor or material. A contractor in direct contract with the owner does not need one. | Within 90 days after the last furnishing, with a copy served on the designee within 15 days after recording. | Foreclosure within 1 year after the claim of lien is recorded. | MCL 570.1109, 570.1111, 570.1117 |
| Georgia | Check your state's law | Check your state's law | Check your state's law | O.C.G.A. 44-14-361.1 (official text not checked) |
| Other states | Check your state's law | Check your state's law | Check your state's law | Not covered yet |
How to use the table
- Find your role first. Direct contractors, subcontractors and suppliers often have different notice and filing deadlines in the same state.
- Write down the date you first worked on site and the date you last worked or delivered. Most deadlines count from one of those two.
- Send the invoice the day the work finishes and put the site address, the contract sum and the dates on it. A lien claim leans on those facts.
- Do not wait for a client who keeps promising to pay. Our guide to an unpaid invoice puts the lien step on a timeline, and the lien waiver page explains what you give up when you sign one.
- On staged work, remember that held-back money has its own rules. See retainage and progress billing.
What this table does not cover
Georgia and every other state not listed. Public projects, which use bond claims and stop notices instead of liens. Some sections within the states above that were not read, for example the Illinois subcontractor filing period, the Ohio general suit deadline and the North Carolina notice timing. Later amendments to any statute. If your job touches one of these, speak to a construction lawyer or your state licensing board.
Related: statute of limitations on unpaid invoices by state, late fee laws and what to do about a late payment.
Common questions
How long do I have to file a mechanic's lien?
It depends on the state, your role and the type of project. In the nine states in the table the filing window runs from 90 days after the last furnishing in Florida, Michigan and California (direct contractors, from completion) to 8 months after completion in New York, and the notice and enforcement steps differ again. Read the row for your state and then the statute it links to.
Do I need to send a notice before I file a lien?
In several states a subcontractor or supplier must send a notice early, for example within 20 days in California and Michigan or 21 days in Ohio. Direct contractors are exempt from some of those notices. The table shows what each statute says for the states covered. For any other state, check your state's law.
What starts the lien clock?
Most of these statutes count from a defined event, such as completion of the work, the last furnishing of labor or materials, or the date an owner records a notice of completion. Which date applies to your job is a legal question, so keep the dates of your first and last day on site and have a lawyer check them.
Is there a limit on the deposit for a home improvement job?
In California the contractor licensing board says a down payment on a home improvement contract cannot be more than $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less, with an exception for a contractor with a blanket performance and payment bond. See the California Contractors State License Board. Other states have their own rules, so check your state's law.
Does an invoice give me lien rights?
No. A lien comes from the state's statute and the steps you take under it, not from the invoice. A clear invoice with dates, the site address and the amount owed is still the record you will rely on if you do file.
What this is. A reference written by InvoiceTools. It is general information, not legal advice, and it is not a substitute for a lawyer who knows your facts. Each figure was read from the linked official source on 3 November 2026, and laws change, so confirm the current text before you rely on it.
Last reviewed by InvoiceTools, Houston, Texas, on 3 November 2026.