What to do when a GC won't pay you in California

Chasing a non-paying general contractor is exhausting — but in California you have leverage most subs don’t realize they have. The key is to act before your deadlines close. Here’s a practical playbook.

1. Don’t wait — your lien clock is running

The most important thing to understand is that your mechanics lien deadline is short: 90 days from completion, and as little as 30 days if the owner records a Notice of Completion (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 8412, 8414). Every day you wait is leverage lost.

2. Document the debt

Gather your contract, invoices, change orders, and delivery or daily records. A clean record makes every later step stronger, from a demand letter to a lien foreclosure suit.

3. Send a notice of intent to lien

A notice of intent to lien is usually the fastest path to payment. It tells the owner and GC you’ll record a lien unless paid by a set date — and a lien on the owner’s property is exactly what they want to avoid.

4. Record a mechanics lien (and consider a stop payment notice)

If you’re still unpaid, record a mechanics lien before your deadline. If the job still has undisbursed construction-loan funds, a stop payment notice can freeze that money too. Both generally require that you served a preliminary notice at the start of the job.

5. Claim your prompt-payment penalties

California’s prompt payment lawscan add a 2% per month penalty and attorney’s fees on top of what you’re owed when a GC withholds payment without a good-faith dispute.

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.