How long does a contractor have to file a lien?
It depends on your state, your role on the job and the kind of project. Enter them below to see your preliminary notice, lien recording, enforcement and bond-claim deadlines, counted to the calendar day, with the statute cited.
- Choose the state where the property is (skip it for a federal job).
- Pick your role and the project type.
- Enter your first and last day of work or materials, and the recording date if you already recorded.
- Press Show my deadlines. Copy the link to share it.
Not legal advice. These dates use the general rule LienWarden tracks; verify with the statute or a construction attorney.
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How lien deadlines are counted
Most lien clocks start on your last furnishing date: the last day you did contract work or delivered materials. In the rules LienWarden tracks, the window to record a mechanics lien runs from 45 days (Hawaii) to 240 days (New York) after that day. The preliminary notice clock starts on your first furnishing date, and the enforcement (foreclosure) suit clock starts when the lien is recorded.
Your role matters. Subcontractors and suppliers are usually the parties who owe a preliminary notice, because the owner does not know they are on the job. A general contractor with a direct contract with the owner often does not, though some states require it.
The project type matters most. Public property cannot be liened, so on state and local jobs you claim against the contractor’s payment bond. On federal jobs the Miller Act gives second-tier subcontractors and suppliers 90 days from their last work to send written notice to the prime contractor, and everyone covered one year to sue on the bond.
Want the full rule table for one state? See mechanics lien deadlines by state. For every notice on one project, use the mechanics lien deadline calculator.
Questions
How long does a contractor have to file a lien?
It depends on the state and is counted from your last day of work or materials. In the rules LienWarden tracks, the window to record a mechanics lien runs from 45 days in Hawaii to 240 days in New York. For example, California is 90 days and Florida is 90 days. Use the calculator above for your exact date.
How long does a subcontractor have to file a lien?
Usually the same recording window as the general contractor, counted from the subcontractor’s own last day of work. Subcontractors and suppliers often also owe a preliminary notice early in the job, and missing it can cut off the lien. Choose Subcontractor in the calculator to see both dates.
Can I file a lien on a public or federal project?
Generally no. Public property cannot be liened. On state and local jobs you claim against the contractor’s payment bond under the state’s public-works bond law. On federal jobs the Miller Act applies: a 90-day written notice for those without a direct contract with the prime (40 U.S.C. § 3133(b)(2)) and a lawsuit within 1 year of your last work (40 U.S.C. § 3133(b)(4)).
What if I already recorded the lien?
Enter the recording date and the calculator counts the enforcement deadline from it. A recorded lien expires if you do not file the foreclosure suit in time, so that date matters as much as the recording deadline.
Is this legal advice?
No. These dates use the general rule LienWarden tracks for each state. Your contract, the property type, the notice method and recent law changes can move them, so verify with the statute or a construction attorney before you rely on a date.
More free lien tools
Updated October 23, 2026. LienWarden is built by 9GG LLC. It is not a law firm and is not affiliated with any government agency.