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HomeCivil CodeDiv. 4Pt. 6Ch. 2§ 8202 Preliminary Notice Requirements

§ 8202 Preliminary Notice Requirements

Civil Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 8202 Preliminary Notice Requirements

Key Takeaways

  • •If you hire someone to work on your property, they must give you a notice with details about the work and cost.
  • •This notice warns you that if the worker isn't paid, they can put a lien on your property, meaning you might lose part of it.
  • •You can protect yourself by getting a signed release from the worker before paying your contractor.
  • •If you finish the project, you must send a copy of the completion notice to the contractor and worker within 10 days, or the worker gets more time to put a lien on your property.

Example

You hire a contractor to build a new deck in your backyard.

The contractor must give you a notice with details about the deck and the cost. If the contractor doesn't pay the workers who built the deck, those workers can put a lien on your house. To avoid this, you can ask the contractor to get a signed release from the workers before you pay the contractor. When the deck is done, you must send a copy of the completion notice to the contractor and workers within 10 days, or the workers get more time to put a lien on your house.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 8202 Preliminary Notice Requirements

(a) The preliminary notice shall comply with the requirements of Section 8102, and shall also include: (1) A general description of the work to be provided. (2) An estimate of the total price of the work provided and to be provided. (3) The following statement in boldface type: NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNER EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE PAID YOUR CONTRACTOR IN FULL, if the person or firm that has given you this notice is not paid in full for labor, service, equipment, or material provided or to be provided to your construction project, a lien may be placed on your property. Foreclosure of the lien may lead to loss of all or part of your property. You may wish to protect yourself against this by (1) requiring your contractor to provide a signed release by the person or firm that has given you this notice before making payment to your contractor, or (2) any other method that is appropriate under the circumstances. This notice is required by law to be served by the undersigned as a statement of your legal rights. This notice is not intended to reflect upon the financial condition of the contractor or the person employed by you on the construction project. If you record a notice of cessation or completion of your construction project, you must within 10 days after recording, send a copy of the notice of completion to your contractor and the person or firm that has given you this notice. The notice must be sent by registered or certified mail. Failure to send the notice will extend the deadline to record a claim of lien. You are not required to send the notice if you are a residential homeowner of a dwelling containing four or fewer units. (b) If preliminary notice is given by a subcontractor that has not paid all compensation due to a laborer, the notice shall include the name and address of the laborer and any person or entity described in subdivision (b) of Section 8024 to which payments are due. (c) If an invoice for material or certified payroll contains the information required by this section and Section 8102, a copy of the invoice or payroll, given in compliance with the requirements of Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 8100) of Title 1, is sufficient. (Added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 697, Sec. 20. (SB 189) Effective January 1, 2011. Operative July 1, 2012, by Sec. 105 of Ch. 697 and by Section 8052.)

Last verified: January 21, 2026

Key Terms

preliminary noticeliensubcontractorSection 8102

Related Statutes

  • § 8204 Preliminary Notice Requirements
  • § 8206 Preliminary Notice Requirements
  • § 8214 Preliminary Notice Filing
  • § 1689.10 Home Solicitation Contract Refunds
  • § 1689.22 Seminar Sales Contract Refunds

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Civil Code. Section 8202.
View Official Source