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.
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
- Varies by county
- Ask the recording office whether it accepts electronic recording before you rely on it.
- 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.
Calculate your Colorado deadlines
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.
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. Whether electronic recording is accepted varies by county, so confirm with the recording office and 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. Knowingly filing a lien for more than is due, without a reasonable possibility that the amount is due, forfeits the lien and makes the claimant liable for the owner's costs and attorney fees (§ 38-22-128). In a spurious lien proceeding the prevailing party recovers costs and reasonable attorney fees (§ 38-35-204).
Practitioner notes for Colorado
Colorado requires a notice of intent before any lien. At least ten days before filing, serve a notice of intent to file a lien statement on the owner and the principal contractor, by personal service or registered or certified mail. Record an affidavit of that service along with the lien (C.R.S. § 38-22-109(3)). Most claimants must record the lien statement with the county clerk and recorder within four months after the day they last performed labor or furnished materials (C.R.S. § 38-22-109(5)). Workers paid by the day or piece for labor only have a shorter window, ending two months after the project is completed (C.R.S. § 38-22-109(4)). The statement must be signed and sworn to by the claimant. The lien lasts six months. To keep it, start a suit to enforce it and record a notice that the action was filed within six months after the last work or materials were furnished or the project was completed (C.R.S. § 38-22-110). The statute does not say which of those dates controls, so confirm with counsel and plan around the earlier one. Do not overstate the amount. A claimant who knowingly liens for more than is due forfeits the lien and owes the owner's costs and attorney fees (C.R.S. § 38-22-128). An owner can also bring a fast-track action against a spurious lien, where the winner recovers fees (C.R.S. § 38-35-204).
These notes summarize the statute as we read it.
Statutory sources: C.R.S. §§ 38-22-109, 38-22-110; C.R.S. § 38-35-204. Read the Colorado lien statute. Deadlines turn on facts specific to your project. Confirm with counsel before relying on them.
File your Colorado mechanics lien
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.
Colorado mechanics lien FAQ
How long do I have to file a mechanics lien in Colorado?
Do I need to send a preliminary notice in Colorado?
Does a Colorado mechanics lien need to be notarized?
Where is a mechanics lien filed in Colorado?
How long is a Colorado mechanics lien valid?
Is a notice of intent to lien required in Colorado?
Can a subcontractor file a mechanics lien in Colorado?
More Colorado lien tools
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.