Record your California mechanics lien
Notice Harbor prepares your recordable claim, serves the owner, and records it at the county — no notary needed.
Start My LienCalifornia deadline calculator
Enter your project dates to estimate your preliminary notice and mechanics lien deadlines.
This is a general estimate, not legal advice. “Completion” under California law can be triggered in more than one way — actual completion of the work, the owner’s occupancy or use of the project, or a 60-day cessation of labor — so your true deadline may differ. Deadlines that fall on a weekend or holiday and other fact-specific rules are not accounted for here. Confirm critical dates with a California construction attorney.
The basic deadline: 90 days
If no Notice of Completion is recorded, you have 90 days from completion of the entire project to record your mechanics lien (Cal. Civ. Code § 8412). This is the default and applies to most jobs.
If a Notice of Completion is recorded: 30 or 60 days
Once the owner records a Notice of Completion, the clock gets much shorter:
- Subcontractors and suppliers — 30 days from the recording date.
- Direct (general) contractor — 60 days from the recording date.
These come from Cal. Civ. Code §§ 8412 and 8414. Owners sometimes record a Notice of Completion precisely to cut off lien rights — which is why preliminary notices sent through Notice Harbor route the owner’s required Notice of Completion mailing back to us, so you get an alert with your recalculated deadline instead of finding out too late.
What “completion” actually means
“Completion” isn’t always the obvious date. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 8180 it can be triggered by actual completion, the owner’s acceptance or occupancy and use, or a 60-day cessation of labor. Because the date can be argued, use the earliest plausible one as your starting point and don’t cut it close.
Don’t forget the foreclosure deadline
Recording the lien is only half the job. You then have 90 days from the recording date to file a lawsuit to foreclose, or the lien expires (Cal. Civ. Code § 8460).
Frequently asked questions
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Record your California mechanics lien
Notice Harbor prepares your recordable claim, serves the owner, and records it at the county — no notary needed.
Start My LienThis page is general information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney–client relationship. California lien and notice deadlines are strict and fact-specific — “completion” alone can be triggered by actual completion, the owner’s occupancy or use, or a 60-day cessation of labor. Notice Harbor is not a law firm. Confirm any deadline that matters to your claim with a licensed California construction attorney.