Kentucky Mechanics Lien
Deadlines & Filing Rules
Every notice, deadline, and recording requirement for a Kentucky construction lien, drawn from KRS §§ 376.010, 376.080, 376.090, 376.220 and the same rule engine that calculates deadlines for our filing customers.
Kentucky lien rules at a glance
- Preliminary notice
- Not required to preserve lien rights
- Lien filing deadline
- within 6 months after last furnishing labor or materials
- Notarization
- Required
- The lien claim must be sworn to under oath
- Where to record
- County clerk where the property sits
- E-recording
- Available in participating counties
- Enforcement deadline
- Within 1 year after the lien is recorded
Who can file a mechanics lien in Kentucky
Lien rights depend on where you sit in the contracting chain. Tenant-ordered work can reach the owner's interest in Kentucky only where the owner consented to or required the improvements. Owner-occupied residential projects carry extra notice requirements in Kentucky; missing them can cost the lien entirely.
| Claimant | Lien rights in Kentucky |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Kentucky mechanics lien deadlines
Not required to preserve lien rights. Kentucky requires a notice of intent to lien before the lien itself is recorded, served at least 120 days ahead of filing.
Calculate your Kentucky 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 120 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 6 months after last furnishing labor or materials |
Recording and enforcing a Kentucky lien
Recording the lien
Record with the county clerk where the property sits. Electronic recording is available in participating counties. 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 7 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
Filing a knowingly false lien in Kentucky can carry criminal penalties as well as civil liability. Filing a lien the filer knows or should have known is forged, groundless, materially misstated or false is a Class D felony for a first offense (KRS 434.155); an unintentional misstatement is an affirmative defense. Separately, a lienholder who fails to release a satisfied lien within 30 days faces per-day damages and fees after written notice (KRS 382.365).
Practitioner notes for Kentucky
In Kentucky, a subcontractor or supplier who did not contract directly with the owner must send the owner written notice of its intention to hold the property liable, with the amount it will claim. The deadline runs from the last day it furnished labor or materials: within 120 days on claims over $1,000 and within 75 days on smaller claims (KRS 376.010(4)). On an owner-occupied single or double family home, the notice is due within 75 days, and the lien does not cover amounts the owner paid before receiving it (KRS 376.010(5)). Every claimant must file a sworn lien statement with the county clerk where the property is located within 6 months after last furnishing. A copy must be mailed to the owner within 7 days after filing, or the lien is dissolved (KRS 376.080). A suit to enforce must be filed within 12 months after the statement is filed (KRS 376.090). For leases signed after June 29, 2023, when a tenant orders work under an agreement with the landlord, the lien also reaches the landlord's interest unless the lease expressly excludes it (KRS 376.010(3)). Knowingly filing a groundless or false lien is a felony (KRS 434.155). A paid lien must be released within 30 days, and an owner can recover daily damages and fees if it is not (KRS 382.365). The overcharge damages rule in KRS 376.220 applies to liens on public project funds. Lease situations vary, so confirm with counsel when the work is for a tenant.
These notes summarize the statute as we read it.
Statutory sources: KRS §§ 376.010, 376.080, 376.090, 376.220. Read the Kentucky lien statute. Deadlines turn on facts specific to your project. Confirm with counsel before relying on them.
File your Kentucky mechanics lien
We calculate the Kentucky 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.
Kentucky mechanics lien FAQ
How long do I have to file a mechanics lien in Kentucky?
Do I need to send a preliminary notice in Kentucky?
Does a Kentucky mechanics lien need to be notarized?
Where is a mechanics lien filed in Kentucky?
How long is a Kentucky mechanics lien valid?
Is a notice of intent to lien required in Kentucky?
Can a subcontractor file a mechanics lien in Kentucky?
More Kentucky lien tools
This page summarizes Kentucky 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.