What is a California preliminary notice?

A written notice, served near the start of a job under Cal. Civ. Code §§ 8200–8204, that preserves your right to record a mechanics lien or make a bond claim if you don't get paid. It is informational only — it is not a lien and does not encumber the property.

Will sending a preliminary notice upset the GC or owner?

No. Preliminary notices are routine on California jobs — experienced owners and general contractors expect them, and many GCs require their subs to send one. It signals that you run your business professionally.

Serving within 20 calendar days of first furnishing labor or materials protects everything you supply to the project. Serve later and the notice still works, but it only covers what you furnish from 20 days before service onward — so the sooner it's out, the more of your contract is protected.

What does Notice Harbor do that I can't do myself?

You can serve your own notice — but you'd need to research the owner of record, the construction lender, and the correct mailing addresses, then serve everyone by certified mail and keep proof of service. We pull the parties from county records, have a person double-check them, mail everyone certified, and store court-ready proof, all from one two-minute form.

California preliminary notices, filed in minutes

Pre-filled from public records, double-checked by a person, and mailed by USPS Certified Mail with a signed Proof of Service.

File First Notice Free Call us(213) 761-4931

The 20-day notice that protects every job

If you don't hold the contract with the owner, a preliminary notice is what keeps your mechanics lien rights alive.

It preserves your lien rights

Subcontractors and suppliers who skip the preliminary notice generally lose the ability to record a mechanics lien if the job goes unpaid. The notice is the foundation everything else rests on.

The clock starts on day one

Serving within 20 calendar days of first furnishing protects your whole contract. Every day past that trims what a future lien can cover — so file the week you mobilize.

Three parties, served correctly

The owner, the general contractor, and any construction lender each get a copy by certified mail. We find them in public records so you don't chase paperwork.

How it works

From address to court-ready proof — checked twice before anything mails.

1
Type the job-site address
Owner, general contractor, and construction lender auto-fill from county property records and CSLB license data.
2
Confirm the details
A real person cross-checks every party and verifies each mailing address against USPS data before anything goes out.
3
We mail it certified
Every required recipient is served by USPS Certified Mail, with live tracking on your dashboard.
4
Proof lands in your dashboard
The served notice, tracking history, and a signed Proof of Service — ready if you ever need to enforce.

Preliminary notice form with auto-filled owner and lender

Pricing

Unlimited filings for a flat fee, or pay as you go.

Your first preliminary notice is on us — no credit card required.

Preliminary notices by county

We serve every California county. Start with yours for local details, or file directly from the app.

Los Angeles CountyLos Angeles, Long Beach, and Glendale San Diego CountySan Diego, Chula Vista, and Oceanside Orange CountyAnaheim, Santa Ana, and Irvine Riverside CountyRiverside, Moreno Valley, and Corona San Bernardino CountySan Bernardino, Fontana, and Rancho Cucamonga Santa Clara CountySan Jose, Sunnyvale, and Santa Clara Alameda CountyOakland, Fremont, and Hayward Sacramento CountySacramento, Elk Grove, and Citrus Heights Contra Costa CountyConcord, Richmond, and Antioch Fresno CountyFresno, Clovis, and Sanger Kern CountyBakersfield, Delano, and Ridgecrest Ventura CountyOxnard, Thousand Oaks, and Ventura San Joaquin CountyStockton, Tracy, and Lodi

Frequently asked questions

Related guides

Protect your payment rights in minutes

Notice Harbor prepares and mails your California preliminary notice by Certified Mail, then tracks every deadline. Your first notice is free.

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This 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.