Every notice, deadline, and recording requirement for a California construction lien, drawn from Cal. Civ. Code §§ 8204, 8182, 8412, 8414, 8416, 8460, 8422 and the same rule engine that calculates deadlines for our filing customers.
Lien rights depend on where you sit in the contracting chain. Tenant-ordered improvements can support a lien in California.
| Claimant | Lien rights in California |
|---|---|
| General contractor (direct contract with the owner) | Yes |
| Subcontractor (hired by the general contractor) | Yes |
| Sub-subcontractor (hired by a subcontractor) | Yes |
| Material supplier to the owner | Yes |
| Material supplier to the general contractor | Yes |
| Material supplier to a subcontractor | Yes |
Required for subcontractors, sub-subcontractors, and suppliers. Preliminary notices go to the property owner, the general contractor, and the construction lender by certified mail.
Enter your role and project dates to turn the rules below into calendar dates. For other states, use the mechanics lien deadline calculator.
Choose your role to see which dates you need.
Your deadlines
| Document | Who | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Passed |
liens are filed through the courts by an attorney. Get matched with a lien attorney.
We can prepare and record the lien for you before the deadline. Start your lien.
These dates come from the same rules our lien filing service uses. They are not moved for weekends or holidays. Deadlines turn on facts specific to your project. Confirm with counsel before relying on them.
The notice that preserves lien rights before any payment problem exists.
| Who | Project type | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| All claimants | All projects | Within 20 days after first furnishing labor or materials |
The last day the lien can be recorded against the property.
| Who | Project type | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| All claimants | All projects | Within 90 days after completion of the project |
California does not require a notice of intent before recording a lien, but sending one is often what gets the invoice paid.
The steps in order, each with the statute behind it. Some steps apply only to certain claimants, and each says so.
Before you can record a lien, give a preliminary notice to the owner, the direct contractor and the construction lender, if any. Serve it no later than 20 days after you first furnish work. A late notice still works, but only for work furnished in the 20 days before it was served and afterward. Use the statutory form wording, including the boldface NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNER, and serve it by personal delivery or by registered, certified or express mail or overnight delivery. Laborers are exempt, and a contractor that contracted directly with the owner only has to notify the construction lender.
Cal. Civ. Code §§ 8200, 8202, 8204, 8106, 8110
Your recording deadline runs from completion of the whole work of improvement, but a recorded notice of completion or cessation shortens it: to 60 days after the notice for a direct contractor, and to 30 days after the notice for everyone else. Check the county records before you count on the full 90 days.
Cal. Civ. Code §§ 8412, 8414
Write a claim of mechanics lien with the statutory contents: your demand after credits and offsets, the owner's name if known, a general description of the work, who hired you, a description of the site, your address, a proof of service affidavit, and the statutory NOTICE OF MECHANICS LIEN text addressed to the owner.
Cal. Civ. Code § 8416(a)
The claimant signs and verifies the claim (a statement under penalty of perjury that its contents are true). A properly verified claim is accepted for recording without a notary acknowledgment.
Cal. Civ. Code § 8416(a), (b)
Mail a copy of the claim and the statutory notice to the owner or reputed owner by registered, certified or first-class mail, to the owner's residence or place of business or the address on the building permit. If the owner cannot be found at those addresses, mail it to the construction lender or the direct contractor. Service is complete when mailed. The person who mails it signs the proof of service affidavit that goes in the claim. Without this service the lien is unenforceable as a matter of law.
Cal. Civ. Code § 8416(a)(7), (c), (d), (e)
Record the claim in the office of the county recorder of the county where the work of improvement, or part of it, is located. A direct contractor records after completing its contract and before the earlier of 90 days after completion of the work of improvement or 60 days after a recorded notice of completion or cessation. Everyone else records after they stop furnishing work and before the earlier of 90 days after completion or 30 days after such a notice.
Cal. Civ. Code §§ 8060(b), 8412, 8414
Commence an action to enforce the lien within 90 days after recording, or the lien expires and is unenforceable. If you and the owner agree to extend credit and record notice of that within the 90 days, the deadline becomes 90 days after the credit expires, but never later than one year after completion.
Cal. Civ. Code § 8460
If you do not sue within the 90 days, the owner may demand that you record a release and, after at least 10 days' notice, petition the court for a release order. The prevailing party on that petition recovers reasonable attorney fees.
Cal. Civ. Code §§ 8480, 8482, 8488(c)
California law requires the claim of mechanics lien to include the following (Cal. Civ. Code § 8416(a), (b)).
The statute prescribes the wording of the owner notice that must be included in the claim, but no official state form for the whole claim was found. A properly verified claim is recorded without acknowledgment (§ 8416(b)). Willfully including work not furnished forfeits the lien (§ 8422).
The Claim of Mechanics Lien our filing service prepares, with every field left blank. PDF, free, no sign-up. Fill in your own facts and check them against the list above before you sign.
Record with the county recorder where the property sits. Whether electronic recording is accepted varies by county, so confirm with the recording office and build mailing time into the deadline. No notary is required on the lien itself. The lien claim must be verified by the claimant.
A copy of the recorded lien must be served on the property owner and the general contractor promptly after recording. To keep the lien alive it must be enforced by lawsuit within 90 days after the lien is recorded.
In California, a wrongful lien claimant can be ordered to pay the owner's attorney fees and costs. A claimant who willfully includes labor, services, equipment or materials not furnished for the property forfeits the lien, and errors about the demand invalidate the lien if made with intent to defraud. On an owner's petition to release a lien, the prevailing party gets reasonable attorney fees. The statute text read does not impose damages for an exaggerated lien.
In California, most subcontractors and suppliers must serve a preliminary notice no later than 20 days after first furnishing work (Cal. Civ. Code § 8204). A late notice still counts, but only for work furnished in the 20 days before it was served and afterward. The recording deadline depends on whether you contracted with the owner. A direct contractor must record a claim of lien after completing its contract and before the earlier of 90 days after completion of the project or 60 days after the owner records a notice of completion or cessation (Cal. Civ. Code § 8412). Everyone else must record after they stop work and before the earlier of 90 days after completion or 30 days after such a notice is recorded (Cal. Civ. Code § 8414). Watch for a recorded notice, because it can cut your time sharply. The claim must be signed and verified by the claimant, and a copy with the statutory notice must be mailed to the owner as the statute directs. If it is not served, the lien is "unenforceable as a matter of law" (Cal. Civ. Code § 8416). You must file suit to enforce the lien within 90 days after recording it, or it expires. A recorded extension of credit can push that out, but never past one year after completion (Cal. Civ. Code § 8460). Be accurate. Willfully including work not furnished for the property forfeits the lien (Cal. Civ. Code § 8422). An owner can petition to release an invalid lien, and the winner recovers attorney fees (Cal. Civ. Code § 8488).
These notes summarize the statute as we read it.
Statutory sources: Cal. Civ. Code §§ 8204, 8182, 8412, 8414, 8416, 8460, 8422. Read the California lien statute. Deadlines turn on facts specific to your project. Confirm with counsel before relying on them.
California claims of mechanics lien are recorded with the county recorder. E-recording runs through the state-certified systems SECURE and CERTNA and is open only to authorized submitters. On top of the page fees, most counties add state charges such as the $75 SB 2 fee, a real estate fraud fee and a lien notice fee. Los Angeles County puts a one-page mechanics lien at $106 in total.
The 10 most populous California counties, the office that takes liens in each, whether it accepts e-recording, and the fee it publishes. Liens on property in any other county go to that county's office.
| County | Office | E-recording | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles |
Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk
Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, 12400 Imperial Highway, Norwalk, CA 90650
|
Yes
Through SECURE (multi-county ERDS; authorized submitters only)
|
Base fee $15 first page, $3 each additional page. A mechanic's lien also pays a $9 involuntary lien notice fee ($2 for each additional notice), a $5 district attorney fraud fee, the $75 SB 2 fee and a $2 AB 1466 fee. The county's own example: a one-page mechanic's lien costs $106 in total. Fee schedule |
| San Diego |
San Diego County Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk, Recording
San Diego Recorder/County Clerk, P.O. Box 121750, San Diego, CA 92112-1750 (overnight: 590 3rd Avenue, Suite 204, Chula Vista, CA 91910)
|
Yes
Through SECURE (multi-county ERDS; authorized submitters only)
|
Fee not published online; ask the office. |
| Orange |
Orange County Clerk-Recorder
Orange County Clerk-Recorder Department, County Administration South, 601 N. Ross Street, Santa Ana, CA 92701
|
Yes
Through SECURE (lead county; authorized submitters only)
|
$12 standard first page per title, $3 each additional page, plus a $10 district attorney fraud fee on certain documents and the $75 SB 2 fee per title unless exempt. The county's involuntary lien notification fee is marked 'not applicable to Mechanic Liens'. Fee schedule effective 01/01/2026. Fee schedule |
| Riverside |
Riverside County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder
Riverside County Recorder, P.O. Box 751, Riverside, CA 92502-0751 (overnight: 2724 Gateway Drive, Riverside, CA 92507)
|
Yes
Through SECURE (multi-county ERDS; authorized submitters only)
|
$14 first page, $3 each additional page. Mechanic's liens are listed for the $10 Real Estate Fraud Prosecution fee; add the $75 SB 2 fee per title, the $2 AB 1466 fee and $13 involuntary lien notification per debtor address (fee schedule ACR 156, Rev. 01/2026). Fee schedule |
| San Bernardino |
San Bernardino County Assessor-Recorder-Clerk, Document Recording
San Bernardino County Recorder, 222 W. Hospitality Lane, 1st Floor, San Bernardino, CA 92415-0022
|
Yes
Through SECURE (multi-county ERDS; authorized submitters only)
|
$14 first page of title ($24 with the real estate fraud fee), $3 each additional page; 3.5% surcharge on card payments. Fee schedule |
| Santa Clara |
Santa Clara County Clerk-Recorder's Office
Clerk-Recorder's Office, ATTN: Recording, 110 West Tasman Drive, San Jose, CA 95134
|
Yes
Through SECURE (multi-county ERDS; authorized submitters only)
|
$102 for the first page of a standard document, which includes the $10 real estate fraud fee and the $75 SB 2 fee, $3 each additional page, plus a $4 lien notice fee for each named lienee. Fee schedule |
| Alameda |
Alameda County Clerk-Recorder's Office (Auditor-Controller/Clerk-Recorder)
Alameda County Clerk-Recorder's Office, 1106 Madison Street, 1st Floor, Oakland, CA 94607
|
Yes
Through CERTNA (multi-county ERDS; authorized submitters only)
|
$89 first page per title (includes the SB 2 fee), $3 each additional page; mechanic's liens also pay the $10 real estate fraud prosecution fee and $7 involuntary lien notification per debtor (fee schedule effective January 1, 2024). Fee schedule |
| Sacramento |
Sacramento County Clerk/Recorder
Sacramento County Clerk/Recorder, 3636 American River Drive, Suite 110, Sacramento, CA 95864
|
Yes
Through SECURE (multi-county ERDS; authorized submitters only)
|
$20 first page/title, $3 each additional page; documents subject to the SB 2 fee are $95 for the first page. Mechanic's liens pay a $13 involuntary lien notification fee per owner. Fee schedule |
| Contra Costa | Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder, Recorder Division |
Yes
Through SECURE (multi-county ERDS; authorized submitters only)
|
Fee not published online; ask the office. |
| Fresno | Fresno County Assessor-Recorder, Recorder |
Yes
Through SECURE (multi-county ERDS; authorized submitters only)
|
$19 first page, $3 each additional page, plus the $75 SB 2 fee per document and $6 involuntary lien notice per debtor name and address. Fee schedule |
Collected from each office's website on October 2, 2026. Fees and filing methods change. Confirm them with the office before you record.
Changes since 2022 that affect lien deadlines, notices, forms or filing.
Effective April 1, 2022
Adds a $2 fee per title to most recorded documents, including mechanic's liens, unless exempt. Counties began charging on different dates (Los Angeles April 1, 2022; Riverside July 14, 2023).
Gov. Code § 27388.2; Los Angeles and Riverside county fee schedules
Effective January 1, 2026
For private-works contracts entered into on or after January 1, 2026, retention withheld at any tier is capped at 5% of each payment and of the contract price, with exceptions including residential projects under four stories. Affects how much retention a subcontractor may later need to lien for.
Cal. Civ. Code § 8811 (added by SB 61, Stats. 2025)
Effective January 1, 2026
For most private projects other than residential under four stories, owners must review contractor claims within 30 days and pay undisputed amounts within 60 days; unpaid undisputed amounts accrue interest at 2% per month, and contractors gain a right to stop work after notice.
Cal. Civ. Code § 8850 (added by SB 440, Stats. 2025)
We calculate the California deadlines from your project dates, prepare the lien on the correct form, and handle recording. Self-serve from $99, or full service with recording and notices handled for you from $299.
This page summarizes California lien law for general information and is not legal advice. Deadlines depend on your role, project type, and dates; confirm them against the statute or with counsel before relying on them.