§ 8412 Contractor Lien Filing Deadlines

• •If you're a contractor, you can't force a lien (a legal claim on a property for unpaid work) unless you file a claim after finishing the job.
• •You have to file this claim within 90 days after finishing the work.
• •If the property owner files a notice saying the work is done, you only have 60 days to file your claim.
• •If you don't file on time, you can't make the owner pay you through a lien.

You hire a contractor to build a new deck for your house. The contractor finishes the deck on June 1st.

The contractor has until August 30th (90 days later) to file a lien if you don't pay. But if you file a notice on June 15th saying the deck is done, the contractor only has until July 15th (60 days) to file the lien. If they don't file in time, they can't use a lien to make you pay.