Mechanics lien laws by state: lien deadlines, preliminary notice and prompt pay rules for commercial subcontractors

Mechanic's lien and prompt payment rules by state

Checked quarterly. Last checked 2026-10-06. Entries are neutral records of public data; each links to its source record.

Mechanics lien laws by state: how long subcontractors have to file

Most states give a subcontractor about three months. 26 of 51 jurisdictions fall between 60 and 90 days, and the median is 90 days. The long tail (Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont, Wisconsin, Rhode Island and New York) runs from 6 months to 8 months.

We read the lien statute of each state and DC on 2026-10-06 and recorded the deadline for a first-tier subcontractor (hired by the prime contractor) on a private, non-residential project. Deadlines written in months were converted at 30 days a month so they can be compared. The shortest is 45 days (Hawaii), the median is 90 days, the mean is 113.5 days and the longest is 240 days (New York's 8 months).

23 jurisdictions use exactly 90 days. The 91 to 120 day group (15 jurisdictions) includes states written as 4 months (Alabama, Colorado, Illinois) and Texas, whose 2022 rule sets the 15th day of the 4th month after the month of last work, which is about 105 days at its shortest.

Mechanic's lien: A claim recorded against real property by someone who improved it and was not paid. If it is enforced in court in time, the property can be sold to pay the debt.

Day-equivalent: Our conversion of each statutory deadline into days (months x 30) so states can be compared. The statute wording, not the day count, controls.

For licensing rules that sit alongside these lien rights, see our commercial contractor licensing registry, which records the state licence rules that apply before any of these lien rights matter.

Shortest and longest lien deadlines

Hawaii, Louisiana, Ohio and Oregon give subcontractors the least time. New York, Rhode Island and seven states at 6 months give the most, but a long filing window can come with a short window to sue.

Hawaii requires the application and notice within 45 days after the date of completion of the improvement, and the lien expires 3 months after the court's order directing it to attach unless suit is filed. Louisiana's private works rule is 60 days after a notice of termination or substantial completion. Ohio allows 75 days after last work on commercial projects, and Oregon 75 days after the claimant stops work or the project is completed, whichever is earlier.

At the long end, New York allows 8 months after completion on commercial work (4 months for a single-family dwelling). Rhode Island allows 200 days for a notice of intention but then requires a complaint and lis pendens within 40 days of recording it. Utah allows 180 days after final completion unless the owner files a notice of completion, which cuts it to 90 days.

States that require preliminary notice

15 of 51 jurisdictions require early notice from a first-tier subcontractor: 11 on every private commercial job and 4 only when a notice of commencement or lien agent exists. Missing the notice usually limits or defeats the lien.

The 11 always-required jurisdictions are Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Wyoming. The windows are short: 20 days after first furnishing in Arizona, California, Michigan and Utah, 30 days in Wyoming, 45 days in Florida, and monthly notices in Texas and Tennessee. Arkansas requires a notice of nonpayment within 75 days after work is supplied on commercial projects.

Georgia (30 days), Ohio (21 days) and Pennsylvania (45 days, projects of $1,500,000 or more) tie notice to a recorded notice of commencement, and North Carolina to a designated lien agent (15 days). Several states that exempt first-tier subcontractors still require notice from sub-subcontractors and suppliers, including Iowa, Mississippi, New Mexico and South Dakota.

Preliminary notice: A notice sent early in a job (or monthly) telling the owner and prime contractor that the sender may claim a lien if unpaid. It is different from a notice of intent sent shortly before filing.

Private prompt payment acts, deadlines and interest rates

35 jurisdictions set payment timing for private construction. Seven days after the prime contractor is paid is the most common flow-down rule, and interest on late payment is usually 1% to 1.5% per month.

17 jurisdictions require the prime contractor to pay subcontractors within 7 days of receiving payment, 8 within 10 days, 5 within 14 or 15 days (Kentucky counts business days), and Connecticut within 25 days. Florida, Massachusetts, Missouri and Tennessee regulate payment without a single flow-down day count.

25 jurisdictions also set an owner-to-prime deadline, with a median of 30 days. Triggers differ: Texas and Louisiana count 35 days from the owner's receipt of a payment request, Virginia 60 days from an invoice, and Arizona and Montana 7 days after a request is certified or approved.

Payment terms are one reason to read bid documents closely; our guide on how to compare construction bids covers payment and retainage clauses, and slow payment is one of the pressures discussed in our analysis of the construction business failure rate.

Retainage caps on private work

13 jurisdictions cap retainage on private projects by statute. 10 set 5% and 3 allow 10%, two of them stepping down to 5% once the work is half done.

California's cap is the newest: Civil Code 8811 limits retention to 5% of each payment and of the contract price for private works contracts entered on or after 2026-01-01, unless payment and performance bonds are required. Massachusetts applies its 5% cap to projects of $3,000,000 or more and New York to projects of $150,000 or more.

Retainage: A share of each progress payment held back until the work is complete, used as security for performance.

Counts and distributions

Download the calculations (CSV)

Key findings

1. Across 50 states and DC, the median subcontractor lien deadline on private commercial work is 90 days and the mean is 113.5 days (statutes checked 2026-10-06).^{[31][109][38]}
2. 26 jurisdictions (51.0%) set a deadline of 60 to 90 days, 15 set 91 to 120 days, 9 set more than 120 days, and 1 (Hawaii) sets under 60 days.^{[38][55][109]}
3. Hawaii requires the application for a lien within 45 days after the date of completion of the improvement (HRS 507-43).^[38]
4. New York allows a notice of lien within 8 months after completion on commercial work, versus 4 months for a single-family dwelling (Lien Law 10).^[109]
5. Rhode Island gives 200 days for a notice of intention, but the claimant must then file suit within 40 days of recording it (R.I. Gen. Laws 34-28-4, 34-28-10).^[128][129]
6. Utah allows 180 days after final completion if no notice of completion is filed, and 90 days after one is filed (Utah Code 38-1a-502).^[142]
7. 11 jurisdictions require early preliminary notice on every private commercial job: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Wyoming.^{[6][14][30][72][139][141][156]}
8. 4 jurisdictions require notice only in set circumstances: Georgia and Ohio when a notice of commencement is filed, North Carolina when a lien agent is designated, and Pennsylvania on projects of $1,500,000 or more with a posted notice of commencement.^{[35][118][114][126]}
9. Montana, Minnesota (over 5,000 square feet), Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin expressly exempt commercial work or first-tier subcontractors from their notice rules.^{[89][75][124][151][154]}
10. 35 of 51 jurisdictions (68.6%) have a private prompt payment statute; 17 of them require payment to subcontractors within 7 days of the prime contractor's receipt.^{[140][18][115][10]}
11. Where a statute sets an owner-to-prime payment deadline (25 jurisdictions), the median is 30 days; Virginia's 60 days is the longest and Arizona and Montana (7 days after approval or certification) the shortest.^[150][9][92]
12. Late-payment interest is usually 1% per month (Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina) or 1.5% per month (Arizona, Texas, Tennessee and others); California sets 2% per month, and Kansas and Ohio 18% per year.^{[37][115][127][17][49][121]}
13. 13 jurisdictions cap private retainage by statute: California, Connecticut, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New York, Tennessee, Utah at 5%, and Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska at 10%.^{[19][22][78][112][88][97][43]}
14. Excluding the 7 jurisdictions read from unofficial statute copies, the median lien deadline moves from 90 to 102.5 days, because six of those seven use 90 days; the count of jurisdictions at 60 to 90 days stays the largest group.^{[11][34][134]}

Executive summary

• The median deadline for a first-tier subcontractor to file a mechanic's lien on private commercial work is 90 days across the 50 states and DC (statutes checked 2026-10-06).
• 23 jurisdictions use exactly 90 days, and 26 of 51 (51.0%) fall between 60 and 90 days.
• Hawaii is shortest at 45 days after completion; Louisiana allows 60 days, and Ohio and Oregon 75 days.
• New York is longest at 8 months after completion (a 240-day equivalent), followed by Rhode Island at 200 days.
• 11 jurisdictions require preliminary notice from a first-tier subcontractor on every private commercial job, and 4 more require it when the owner records a notice of commencement or names a lien agent.
• 35 jurisdictions have a private prompt payment statute; the most common flow-down deadline is 7 days after the prime contractor is paid (17 jurisdictions).
• 13 jurisdictions cap retainage on private work by statute: 10 at 5% and 3 at 10%.
• California's 5% cap on private retention took effect for contracts entered on or after 2026-01-01 (Civ. Code 8811).

Frequently asked questions

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Methodology

Selection: we read the mechanic's lien statute of each of the 50 states and DC, plus the state's private construction prompt payment statute where one exists, on 2026-10-06. Official government sites were used for 44 jurisdictions. For Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, New Mexico and Tennessee the official code sits on an interactive portal that scripts cannot open, so we read the statute text from FindLaw's copy and marked those entries 'unofficial copy'. Oklahoma lien sections come from the state Construction Industries Board's March 2024 copy and its payment section from the Senate's 2019 compilation. Colorado comes from the official CRS 2024 printout.

Scope and definitions: every entry describes a first-tier subcontractor (hired by the prime contractor) on a private, non-residential project. 'Preliminary notice' counts only a notice due early in the job or monthly as a condition of full lien rights; notices of intent due shortly before filing are not counted. Deadlines written in months are converted at 30 days a month; Texas's '15th day of the 4th month' rule is entered at its shortest interval (about 105 days). Where a statute gives different deadlines for residential work, we note it but use the commercial rule.

Verification: a copy of every statute page was saved in raw/, and scripts/check_quotes.py asserts that 235 verbatim phrases supporting the values appear in those copies. Tier 2 and Tier 3 guides (Husch Blackwell, Fullerton & Knowles, Levelset) were used only to compare coverage, never as a source of a deadline.

Conflicts and limits: where a statute sets a default that applies only if the contract is silent (Alabama, Delaware, Oklahoma and others), we report the default. 'None located' for prompt payment means no private payment-timing statute was found in the sections reviewed, not proof that none exists. Courts interpret these deadlines, and case law can change how a deadline is counted.

Derived metrics (counts, medians, shares) are calculated in scripts/build_report.py from the fact sheet and stored in derived_metrics.csv. The registry is checked quarterly; last checked 2026-10-06.

This registry summarises statute text as posted on 2026-10-06. It is not legal advice. Lien and payment deadlines have exceptions (notices of completion, owner demands, residential rules, bonded projects) and courts read them strictly. Check the statute linked for your state and speak with a construction lawyer licensed there before relying on any deadline.

This report presents published data with its limitations. It is not legal, financial or investment advice.

Sources, ranked by quality

Tier 1: primary and official sources (156)

• [1] Alabama Legislature (ALISON). Code of Alabama 35-11-215 (verified statement, time for filing). Current code as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [2] Alabama Legislature (ALISON). Code of Alabama 35-11-221 (limitation of actions). Current code as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [3] Alabama Legislature (ALISON). Code of Alabama 35-11-218 (notice by persons other than original contractor). Current code as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [4] Alabama Legislature (ALISON). Code of Alabama 8-29-3 (timely payments to contractors and subcontractors). Current code as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [5] Alaska State Legislature. Alaska Statutes 34.35.050 to 34.35.125 (mechanics' liens). Current statutes as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [6] Arizona State Legislature. A.R.S. 33-992.01 (preliminary twenty day notice). Current statutes as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [7] Arizona State Legislature. A.R.S. 33-993 (procedure to perfect lien). Current statutes as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [8] Arizona State Legislature. A.R.S. 33-998 (limitation of action to foreclose lien). Current statutes as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [9] Arizona State Legislature. A.R.S. 32-1182 (progress payments by owner). Current statutes as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [10] Arizona State Legislature. A.R.S. 32-1183 (payment by contractor and subcontractor). Current statutes as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [11] FindLaw (Thomson Reuters) copy of the Arkansas Code. Ark. Code 18-44-117 (filing of lien), FindLaw copy. Copy current as of 2024-03-28. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [12] FindLaw (Thomson Reuters) copy of the Arkansas Code. Ark. Code 18-44-115 (notice requirements), FindLaw copy. Copy as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [13] FindLaw (Thomson Reuters) copy of the Arkansas Code. Ark. Code 18-44-119 (limitation of actions), FindLaw copy. Copy current as of 2024-03-28. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [14] California Legislative Information. Cal. Civil Code 8204 (preliminary notice timing). Current code as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [15] California Legislative Information. Cal. Civil Code 8414 (claimant other than direct contractor: time to record). Current code as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [16] California Legislative Information. Cal. Civil Code 8460 (action to enforce lien). Current code as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [17] California Legislative Information. Cal. Civil Code 8800 (progress payments by owner). Current code as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [18] California Legislative Information. Cal. Business and Professions Code 7108.5 (payment to subcontractors). Current code as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [19] California Legislative Information. Cal. Civil Code 8811 (retention on private works, SB 61). Added by Stats. 2025, Ch. 49; effective 2026-01-01. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [20] Colorado General Assembly, Office of Legislative Legal Services. Colorado Revised Statutes 2024, Title 38 (38-22-109 and 38-22-110). CRS 2024 printout (latest edition at this path; 2025 path returned 404). Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [21] Connecticut General Assembly. Conn. Gen. Stat. chapter 847 (49-34, 49-35, 49-39). Current statutes as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [22] Connecticut General Assembly. Conn. Gen. Stat. chapter 742b (42-158i to 42-158o, construction contracts). Current statutes as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [23] Delaware Code Online. 25 Del. C. chapter 27, subchapter II (2711, time for filing). Current code as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [24] Delaware Code Online. 6 Del. C. chapter 35 (Building Construction Payments). Current code as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [25] Council of the District of Columbia, D.C. Law Library. D.C. Code 40-301.02 (notice of intent). Current code as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [26] Council of the District of Columbia, D.C. Law Library. D.C. Code 40-303.13 (when suit to be commenced). Current code as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [27] Council of the District of Columbia, D.C. Law Library. D.C. Code 27A-102 (prompt payments to contractors). Current code as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [28] Council of the District of Columbia, D.C. Law Library. D.C. Code 27A-104 (prompt payments to subcontractors). Current code as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [29] Council of the District of Columbia, D.C. Law Library. D.C. Code 27A-103 (failure to make prompt payments). Current code as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [30] The Florida Legislature, Online Sunshine. Fla. Stat. 713.06 (notice to owner). 2026 Florida Statutes. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [31] The Florida Legislature, Online Sunshine. Fla. Stat. 713.08 (claim of lien). 2026 Florida Statutes. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [32] The Florida Legislature, Online Sunshine. Fla. Stat. 713.22 (duration of lien). 2026 Florida Statutes. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [33] The Florida Legislature, Online Sunshine. Fla. Stat. 715.12 (Construction Contract Prompt Payment Law). 2026 Florida Statutes. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [34] FindLaw (Thomson Reuters) copy of the Official Code of Georgia. O.C.G.A. 44-14-361.1 (creation and declaration of liens), FindLaw copy. Copy as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [35] FindLaw (Thomson Reuters) copy of the Official Code of Georgia. O.C.G.A. 44-14-361.5 (notice to contractor), FindLaw copy. Copy as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [36] FindLaw (Thomson Reuters) copy of the Official Code of Georgia. O.C.G.A. 13-11-4 (time limits for payments), FindLaw copy. Copy current as of 2024-03-28. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [37] FindLaw (Thomson Reuters) copy of the Official Code of Georgia. O.C.G.A. 13-11-7 (interest), FindLaw copy. Copy current as of 2024-03-28. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [38] Hawaii State Legislature. HRS 507-43 (notice of lien; time for filing; duration). Current HRS as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [39] Hawaii State Legislature. HRS 444-25 (payment for goods and services). Current HRS as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [40] Idaho Legislature. Idaho Code 45-507 (claim of lien). Current statutes as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [41] Idaho Legislature. Idaho Code 45-510 (duration of lien). Current statutes as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [42] Illinois General Assembly. 770 ILCS 60 (Mechanics Lien Act), printer version. Current ILCS as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [43] Illinois General Assembly. 815 ILCS 603 (Contractor Prompt Payment Act), printer version. Current ILCS as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [44] FindLaw (Thomson Reuters) copy of the Indiana Code. Indiana Code 32-28-3-3 (notice of intention to hold lien), FindLaw copy. Copy as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [45] FindLaw (Thomson Reuters) copy of the Indiana Code. Indiana Code 32-28-3-6 (enforcement), FindLaw copy. Copy current as of 2026-01-01. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [46] Iowa Legislature. Iowa Code 2026, chapter 572 (mechanic's lien). Iowa Code 2026. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [47] Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes. K.S.A. 60-1103 (subcontractors and suppliers lien). Current statutes as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [48] Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes. K.S.A. 60-1105 (limitations). Current statutes as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [49] Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes. K.S.A. 16-1803 (private construction contracts; payment). Current statutes as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [50] Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes. K.S.A. 16-1804 (retainage). Current statutes as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [51] Kentucky General Assembly. KRS 376.010 (mechanics' and materialman's liens). Effective 2023-06-29. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [52] Kentucky General Assembly. KRS 376.080 (statement filed within six months). Effective 1990-07-13. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [53] Kentucky General Assembly. KRS 376.090 (limitation on action to enforce lien). Current statutes as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [54] Kentucky General Assembly. KRS 371.405 (Fairness in Construction Act payment terms). Effective 2025-06-27. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [55] Louisiana State Legislature. La. R.S. 9:4822 (preservation of claims and privileges). Current statutes as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [56] Louisiana State Legislature. La. R.S. 9:4823 (extinguishment of claims and privileges). Current statutes as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [57] Louisiana State Legislature. La. R.S. 9:2784 (prompt payment by owners and to subcontractors). Current statutes as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [58] Maine Legislature, Revisor's Office. 10 M.R.S. 3253 (dissolution unless claim filed). Current statutes as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [59] Maine Legislature, Revisor's Office. 10 M.R.S. 3255 (liens preserved and enforced by action). Current statutes as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [60] Maine Legislature, Revisor's Office. 10 M.R.S. 1113 (owner's payment obligations). Current statutes as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [61] Maine Legislature, Revisor's Office. 10 M.R.S. 1114 (contractor's and subcontractor's payment obligations). Current statutes as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [62] Maine Legislature, Revisor's Office. 10 M.R.S. 1118 (disputes; penalties). Current statutes as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [63] Maryland General Assembly. Md. Code, Real Property 9-104 (subcontractor notice). Current statutes as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [64] Maryland General Assembly. Md. Code, Real Property 9-105 (petition to establish lien). Current statutes as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [65] Maryland General Assembly. Md. Code, Real Property 9-109 (right to enforce expires). Current statutes as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [66] Maryland General Assembly. Md. Code, Real Property 9-302 (prompt payment). Current statutes as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [67] The 194th General Court of Massachusetts. M.G.L. c. 254, s. 4 (notice of subcontract). Current General Laws as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [68] The 194th General Court of Massachusetts. M.G.L. c. 254, s. 8 (statement of account). Current General Laws as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [69] The 194th General Court of Massachusetts. M.G.L. c. 254, s. 11 (action to enforce lien). Current General Laws as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [70] The 194th General Court of Massachusetts. M.G.L. c. 149, s. 29E (private construction prompt pay, $3,000,000 or more). Current General Laws as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [71] The 194th General Court of Massachusetts. M.G.L. c. 149, s. 29F (retainage in private construction). Current General Laws as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [72] Michigan Legislature. MCL 570.1109 (notice of furnishing). Current MCL as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [73] Michigan Legislature. MCL 570.1111 (claim of lien, 90 days). Current MCL as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [74] Michigan Legislature. MCL 570.1117 (enforcement, 1 year). Current MCL as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [75] Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minn. Stat. 514.011 (prelien notice and exceptions). Current statutes as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [76] Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minn. Stat. 514.08 (lien statement, 120 days). Current statutes as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [77] Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minn. Stat. 514.12 (one-year limitation). Current statutes as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [78] Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minn. Stat. 337.10 (prompt payment; retainage). Current statutes as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [79] FindLaw (Thomson Reuters) copy of the Mississippi Code. Miss. Code 85-7-405 (construction lien), FindLaw copy. Copy as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [80] FindLaw (Thomson Reuters) copy of the Mississippi Code. Miss. Code 85-7-407 (notice by persons without privity), FindLaw copy. Copy as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [81] FindLaw (Thomson Reuters) copy of the Mississippi Code. Miss. Code 87-7-5 (payment of subcontractors), FindLaw copy. Copy current as of 2025-01-01. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [82] FindLaw (Thomson Reuters) copy of the Mississippi Code. Miss. Code 87-7-3 (payments to contractors; interest), FindLaw copy. Copy current as of 2025-01-01. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [83] FindLaw (Thomson Reuters) copy of the Mississippi Code. Miss. Code 87-9-3 (retainage maximum), FindLaw copy. Copy as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [84] Missouri Revisor of Statutes. RSMo 429.080 (lien filed within six months). Current RSMo as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [85] Missouri Revisor of Statutes. RSMo 429.100 (ten days' notice before filing). Current RSMo as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [86] Missouri Revisor of Statutes. RSMo 429.170 (actions commenced in six months). Current RSMo as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [87] Missouri Revisor of Statutes. RSMo 431.180 (private design or construction work; interest). Effective 1999-08-28. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [88] Missouri Revisor of Statutes. RSMo 436.303 (private construction retainage). Effective 2002-08-28. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [89] Montana Legislature. MCA 71-3-531 (notice of right to claim lien; exceptions). MCA 2025. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [90] Montana Legislature. MCA 71-3-535 (attachment of lien; filing). MCA 2025. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [91] Montana Legislature. MCA 71-3-562 (limitation on actions). MCA 2025. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [92] Montana Legislature. MCA 28-2-2103 (payment by owner and contractor). MCA 2025. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [93] Montana Legislature. MCA 28-2-2104 (interest on delayed payments). MCA 2025. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [94] Nebraska Legislature. Neb. Rev. Stat. 52-137 (attachment and enforcement of lien). Current statutes as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [95] Nebraska Legislature. Neb. Rev. Stat. 52-140 (duration of lien). Current statutes as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [96] Nebraska Legislature. Neb. Rev. Stat. 45-1203 (Construction Prompt Pay Act payment). Current statutes as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [97] Nebraska Legislature. Neb. Rev. Stat. 45-1204 (withholdings; retainage). Current statutes as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [98] Nebraska Legislature. Neb. Rev. Stat. 45-1205 (interest on delayed payment). Current statutes as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [99] Nevada Legislature. NRS chapter 108 (108.226, 108.233, 108.245). Current NRS as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [100] Nevada Legislature. NRS chapter 624 (624.609, 624.624). Current NRS as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [101] New Hampshire General Court. RSA chapter 447 (liens for labor and materials). Current RSA as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [102] FindLaw (Thomson Reuters) copy of the New Jersey Statutes. N.J.S.A. 2A:44A-6 (lien claim lodged within 90 days), FindLaw copy. Copy as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [103] FindLaw (Thomson Reuters) copy of the New Jersey Statutes. N.J.S.A. 2A:44A-14 (action to enforce within one year), FindLaw copy. Copy current as of 2024-01-01. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [104] FindLaw (Thomson Reuters) copy of the New Jersey Statutes. N.J.S.A. 2A:30A-2 (Prompt Payment Act), FindLaw copy. Copy as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [105] FindLaw (Thomson Reuters) copy of the New Mexico Statutes. NMSA 48-2-6 (time for filing lien claim), FindLaw copy. Copy current as of 2024-01-01. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [106] FindLaw (Thomson Reuters) copy of the New Mexico Statutes. NMSA 48-2-2.1 (notice for claims over $5,000), FindLaw copy. Copy as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [107] FindLaw (Thomson Reuters) copy of the New Mexico Statutes. NMSA 48-2-10 (duration of lien), FindLaw copy. Copy current as of 2024-01-01. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [108] FindLaw (Thomson Reuters) copy of the New Mexico Statutes. NMSA 57-28-5 (Retainage Act payments), FindLaw copy. Copy as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [109] New York State Senate, Open Legislation. N.Y. Lien Law 10 (filing of notice of lien). Page published 2026-10-02. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [110] New York State Senate, Open Legislation. N.Y. Lien Law 17 (duration of lien). Page published 2026-10-02. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [111] New York State Senate, Open Legislation. N.Y. General Business Law 756-a (prompt payment obligations). Current law as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [112] New York State Senate, Open Legislation. N.Y. General Business Law 756-c (retention). Current law as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [113] New York State Senate, Open Legislation. N.Y. General Business Law 756 (definitions; $150,000 threshold). Current law as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [114] North Carolina General Assembly. N.C. Gen. Stat. chapter 44A, article 2 (44A-11.2, 44A-12, 44A-13). Current statutes as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [115] North Carolina General Assembly. N.C. Gen. Stat. chapter 22C (payment to subcontractors). Current statutes as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [116] North Dakota Legislative Branch. N.D.C.C. chapter 35-27 (construction liens). Current century code as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [117] Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Rev. Code 1311.06 (affidavit filing periods). Current code as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [118] Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Rev. Code 1311.05 (notice of furnishing). Current code as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [119] Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Rev. Code 1311.13 (duration of liens). Effective 2007-03-30. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [120] Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Rev. Code 1311.11 (notice to commence suit). Current code as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [121] Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Rev. Code 4113.61 (payment of subcontractors). Current code as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [122] Oklahoma Construction Industries Board (state agency copy). Oklahoma Statutes Title 42 (sections of interest, incl. 142.6, 143, 172). Agency copy dated March 2024. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [123] Oklahoma State Senate. Oklahoma Statutes Title 15 (15-820, payments on private bid projects). Senate compilation dated December 2019. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [124] Oregon State Legislature. ORS chapter 87 (87.021, 87.035, 87.055). Current ORS as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [125] Oregon State Legislature. ORS 701.620 to 701.640 (prompt payment, private construction). Current ORS as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [126] Pennsylvania General Assembly. Mechanics' Lien Law of 1963 (Act 497 of 1963), consolidated PDF. Unconsolidated statute as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [127] Pennsylvania General Assembly. Contractor and Subcontractor Payment Act (Act 7 of 1994), PDF. As amended through Act 27 of 2018. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [128] State of Rhode Island General Assembly. R.I. Gen. Laws 34-28-4 (notice of intention). Current laws as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [129] State of Rhode Island General Assembly. R.I. Gen. Laws 34-28-10 (complaint and lis pendens within 40 days). Current laws as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [130] South Carolina Legislature. S.C. Code Title 29, chapter 5 (mechanics' liens). Current code as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [131] South Carolina Legislature. S.C. Code Title 29, chapter 6 (payments to contractors). Current code as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [132] South Dakota Legislature. SDCL 44-9-15 (lien statement within 120 days). Current codified law as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [133] South Dakota Legislature. SDCL Title 44 (44-9-24, 44-9-53). Current codified law as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [134] FindLaw (Thomson Reuters) copy of the Tennessee Code. Tenn. Code 66-11-112 (recording of lien), FindLaw copy. Copy as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [135] FindLaw (Thomson Reuters) copy of the Tennessee Code. Tenn. Code 66-11-145 (remote contractor notice of nonpayment), FindLaw copy. Copy as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [136] FindLaw (Thomson Reuters) copy of the Tennessee Code. Tenn. Code 66-11-115 (liens by remote contractors), FindLaw copy. Copy current as of 2024-01-02. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [137] FindLaw (Thomson Reuters) copy of the Tennessee Code. Tenn. Code 66-34-103 (retainage), FindLaw copy. Copy as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [138] FindLaw (Thomson Reuters) copy of the Tennessee Code. Tenn. Code 66-34-601 (interest), FindLaw copy. Copy current as of 2024-01-02. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [139] Texas Legislature, Texas Constitution and Statutes. Tex. Prop. Code chapter 53 (mechanic's liens). HB 2237 (2021) changes effective 2022-01-01. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [140] Texas Legislature, Texas Constitution and Statutes. Tex. Prop. Code chapter 28 (prompt pay). Current statutes as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [141] Utah State Legislature. Utah Code 38-1a-501 (preliminary notice). Effective 2014-05-13. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [142] Utah State Legislature. Utah Code 38-1a-502 (notice of construction lien). Current code as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [143] Utah State Legislature. Utah Code 38-1a-701 (action to enforce lien). Current code as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [144] Utah State Legislature. Utah Code 13-8-5 (limitation on retention proceeds). Effective 2023-02-27; superseded 2027-01-01. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [145] Vermont General Assembly. 9 V.S.A. chapter 51 (mechanics' liens). Current statutes as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [146] Vermont General Assembly. 9 V.S.A. chapter 102 (prompt payment). Current statutes as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [147] Virginia General Assembly, Legislative Information System. Va. Code 43-4 (memorandum of lien). Current code as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [148] Virginia General Assembly, Legislative Information System. Va. Code 43-7 (perfection of lien by subcontractor). Current code as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [149] Virginia General Assembly, Legislative Information System. Va. Code 43-17 (limitation on suit). Current code as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [150] Virginia General Assembly, Legislative Information System. Va. Code 11-4.6 (payment clauses in construction contracts). Current code as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [151] Washington State Legislature. RCW chapter 60.04 (mechanics' and materialmen's liens). Current RCW as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [152] West Virginia Legislature. W. Va. Code 38-2-9 (notice and recordation of subcontractor's lien). Current code as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [153] West Virginia Legislature. W. Va. Code 38-2-34 (time to bring suit). Current code as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [154] Wisconsin State Legislature. Wis. Stat. 779.02 (notice requirements and exceptions). Current statutes as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [155] Wisconsin State Legislature. Wis. Stat. 779.06 (claim for lien; action within 2 years). Current statutes as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [156] Wyoming Legislature. Wyo. Stat. Title 29, chapter 2 (29-2-106, 29-2-109, 29-2-112). Current title PDF as posted. Accessed 2026-10-06.

Tier 2: trade bodies, market research, company data (1)

• [159] Levelset (a Procore company). Mechanics Lien Guide and FAQs. Last updated 2025-11-12. Accessed 2026-10-06.

Tier 3: journalism and expert commentary (2)

• [157] Fullerton & Knowles, P.C.. 50 State Summary of Mechanic's Lien Law (reprint of NACM Manual of Credit and Commercial Laws, 2019 edition). States 'current through July 1, 2019'. Accessed 2026-10-06.
• [158] Husch Blackwell LLP. 50-State Construction Law Map. Undated landing page. Accessed 2026-10-06.