Colorado Mechanics Lien
Deadlines & Filing Rules

Every notice, deadline, and recording requirement for a Colorado construction lien, drawn from C.R.S. §§ 38-22-109, 38-22-110; C.R.S. § 38-35-204 and the same rule engine that calculates deadlines for our filing customers.

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Colorado lien rules at a glance

Preliminary notice: Not required to preserve lien rights
Lien filing deadline: within 4 months after last furnishing labor or materials
Notarization: Required; The lien claim must be sworn to under oath
Where to record: County recorder where the property sits
E-recording: Not generally available; plan on paper recording
Enforcement deadline: Within 6 months after last furnishing labor or materials

Who can file a mechanics lien in Colorado

Lien rights depend on where you sit in the contracting chain. Tenant-ordered improvements can support a lien in Colorado.

Claimant	Lien rights in Colorado
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

Colorado mechanics lien deadlines

Not required to preserve lien rights. Colorado requires a notice of intent to lien before the lien itself is recorded, served at least 10 days ahead of filing.

Notice of intent to lien

The final warning before a lien is recorded.

Who	Project type	Deadline
All claimants	All projects	At least 10 days before filing the lien

Mechanics lien filing deadline

The last day the lien can be recorded against the property.

Who	Project type	Deadline
All claimants	All projects	Within 4 months after last furnishing labor or materials

Recording and enforcing a Colorado lien

Recording the lien

Record with the county recorder where the property sits. Electronic recording is not generally available, so build mailing time into the deadline. The lien must be notarized. The lien claim must be sworn to under oath.

After recording

Colorado does not require a separate notice after the lien is recorded, though most claimants send one anyway to prompt payment. To keep the lien alive it must be enforced by lawsuit within 6 months after last furnishing labor or materials.

Wrongful lien exposure

In Colorado, a wrongful lien claimant can be ordered to pay the owner's attorney fees and costs. C.R.S. §38-35-204: expedited procedure for spurious liens; prevailing party awarded costs incl. reasonable attorney fees.

Practitioner notes for Colorado

NOI required: serve Notice of Intent to File Lien Statement on owner and principal contractor at least 10 days before filing; serve by personal service or registered/certified mail and record affidavit with lien (C.R.S. §38-22-109(3)). Lien filing deadline: most claimants must record lien statement within 4 months after last labor/materials furnished (C.R.S. §38-22-109(5)); labor-only (day/piece, no materials) has different deadline (C.R.S. §38-22-109(4)) not modeled here. Enforcement: lien holds property no longer than 6 months after last work/materials or completion unless foreclosure action commenced AND notice of action recorded (C.R.S. §38-22-110). Spurious lien remedy includes attorney fees to prevailing party (C.R.S. §38-35-204).

Statutory sources: C.R.S. §§ 38-22-109, 38-22-110; C.R.S. § 38-35-204. Read the Colorado lien statute.

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We calculate the Colorado 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.

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Colorado mechanics lien FAQ

How long do I have to file a mechanics lien in Colorado?

The Colorado lien must be recorded within 4 months after last furnishing labor or materials. The same deadline applies to every claimant.

Do I need to send a preliminary notice in Colorado?

No. Colorado does not require a preliminary notice to preserve lien rights, although sending one is still an effective way to get paid before a lien becomes necessary.

Does a Colorado mechanics lien need to be notarized?

Yes. The lien must be notarized before it is recorded. The lien claim must be sworn to under oath.

Where is a mechanics lien filed in Colorado?

With the county recorder where the property sits. Paper filing is the norm, so allow time for mailing and the recorder's processing queue when working back from your deadline.

How long is a Colorado mechanics lien valid?

A Colorado lien must be enforced through a foreclosure lawsuit within 6 months after last furnishing labor or materials. If no suit is filed by then, the lien expires and can no longer be used to force payment.

Is a notice of intent to lien required in Colorado?

Colorado requires a notice of intent to lien before the lien itself is recorded, served at least 10 days ahead of filing.

Can a subcontractor file a mechanics lien in Colorado?

Yes. Subcontractors have lien rights in Colorado, and so do sub-subcontractors.

More Colorado lien tools

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This page summarizes Colorado 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.

Colorado Mechanics Lien Deadlines & Filing Rules