No — you cannot lien public property (courthouses, schools, highways). The law substitutes a different remedy: on public jobs above a threshold, the GC must post a payment bond, and unpaid subs and suppliers claim against that bond instead. Federal projects run under the Miller Act (claims 90 days after last furnishing, suit within a year); states have "Little Miller Acts" with their own windows.
Bond claims have notice deadlines just like liens — often tighter — so treat a public job's dates with the same discipline. Track the bond-claim window in the calculator like any other deadline.
General education, not legal advice — lien law is state-specific and changes. For your state's exact windows, use the free deadline calculator; for anything contested, talk to a construction attorney.
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