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Connecticut Mechanics Lien
Deadlines & Filing Rules

Every notice, deadline, and recording requirement for a Connecticut construction lien, drawn from Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 49-34, 49-35, 49-39 and the same rule engine that calculates deadlines for our filing customers.

File a Connecticut lien from $99 See the deadlines

Connecticut lien rules at a glance

Preliminary notice
Required for every claimant, including the general contractor
Lien filing deadline
within 90 days after last furnishing labor or materials
Notarization
Required
The lien claim must be sworn to under oath
Where to record
Town or city clerk
E-recording
Varies by county
Ask the recording office whether it accepts electronic recording before you rely on it.
Enforcement deadline
Within 1 year after the lien is recorded

Who can file a mechanics lien in Connecticut

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

Claimant Lien rights in Connecticut
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

Connecticut mechanics lien deadlines

Required for every claimant, including the general contractor. Preliminary notices go to the property owner and the general contractor by registered mail.

Calculate your Connecticut deadlines

Enter your role and project dates to turn the rules below into calendar dates. For other states, use the mechanics lien deadline calculator.

Project type

Choose your role to see which dates you need.

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.

Preliminary notice deadline

The notice that preserves lien rights before any payment problem exists.

Who Project type Deadline
General contractors All projects Within 15 days after first furnishing labor or materials
Subcontractors, sub-subcontractors, suppliers to the owner, suppliers to the general contractor, and suppliers to a subcontractor All projects Within 90 days after last furnishing labor or materials

Mechanics lien filing deadline

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

Who Project type Deadline
All claimants All projects Within 90 days after last furnishing labor or materials

Connecticut does not require a notice of intent before recording a lien, but sending one is often what gets the invoice paid.

Recording and enforcing a Connecticut lien

Recording the lien

Record with the town or city clerk. 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

A copy of the recorded lien must be served on the property owner within 30 days of recording. To keep the lien alive it must be enforced by lawsuit within 1 year after the lien is recorded.

Wrongful lien exposure

Connecticut exposes claimants who file an exaggerated or baseless lien to damages. If a lienor does not discharge an invalid lien within 30 days after written notice, the owner can sue and the court may award damages of $100 per week after the 30 days, up to $5,000, or the loss sustained, which may include a reasonable attorney fee.

Practitioner notes for Connecticut

Connecticut lien rights turn on a few firm deadlines. If you are not the original contractor, you must give written notice to the owner and to the original contractor that you have furnished or begun furnishing and intend to claim a lien. Give it after you start, and no later than 90 days after you stop (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 49-35(a)). A subcontractor whose written subcontract was approved in writing by the owner does not need it. Service follows the statute: by a marshal or other proper person, or by registered or certified mail when the owner lives out of town. An original contractor may lodge an affidavit with the town clerk within 15 days after starting work. It does not affect the contractor's own lien, but without it the contractor is not entitled to the subcontractors' notices. The lien certificate must be lodged with the town clerk where the property sits within 90 days after you stop furnishing. It must describe the property, state the amount justly due and the start date, and be "subscribed and sworn to by the claimant." A true and attested copy must then be served on the owner within 30 days (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 49-34). The lien expires one year after recording unless you start a foreclosure action and record a lis pendens on the town land records within that year. A court challenge under § 49-35a can extend that (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 49-39). If you are asked in writing to release an invalid lien and do not do so within 30 days, you can owe $100 a week up to $5,000, or the owner's loss including attorney fees (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 49-51).

These notes summarize the statute as we read it.

Statutory sources: Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 49-34, 49-35, 49-39. Read the Connecticut lien statute. Deadlines turn on facts specific to your project. Confirm with counsel before relying on them.

File your Connecticut mechanics lien

We calculate the Connecticut 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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Connecticut mechanics lien FAQ

How long do I have to file a mechanics lien in Connecticut?
The Connecticut lien must be recorded within 90 days after last furnishing labor or materials. The same deadline applies to every claimant.
Do I need to send a preliminary notice in Connecticut?
Required for every claimant, including the general contractor. Serve it on the property owner and the general contractor by registered mail. Missing it usually forfeits lien rights for the unnoticed work.
Does a Connecticut 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 Connecticut?
With the town or city clerk. Whether electronic recording is accepted varies by county, so check with the recording office and allow time for mailing and processing when working back from your deadline.
How long is a Connecticut mechanics lien valid?
A Connecticut lien must be enforced through a foreclosure lawsuit within 1 year after the lien is recorded. If no suit is filed by then, the lien expires and can no longer be used to force payment.
Can a subcontractor file a mechanics lien in Connecticut?
Yes. Subcontractors have lien rights in Connecticut, and so do sub-subcontractors. They must follow the preliminary notice rules to keep those rights.

More Connecticut lien tools

Bordering states

This page summarizes Connecticut 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.