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New York Mechanics Lien
Deadlines & Filing Rules

Every notice, deadline, and recording requirement for a New York construction lien, drawn from NY Lien Law §§ 10, 11, 17, 39, 39-a and the same rule engine that calculates deadlines for our filing customers.

File a New York lien from $99 See the deadlines

New York 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 (varies by project type)
Notarization
Required
The lien claim must be sworn to under oath
Where to record
County clerk 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 1 year after the lien is recorded

Who can file a mechanics lien in New York

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

Claimant Lien rights in New York
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

New York mechanics lien deadlines

Not required to preserve lien rights.

Calculate your New York 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.

Mechanics lien filing deadline

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

Who Project type Deadline
All claimants Residential projects Within 4 months after last furnishing labor or materials
All claimants Commercial projects Within 8 months after last furnishing labor or materials

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

How to file a New York mechanics lien

The steps in order, each with the statute behind it. Some steps apply only to certain claimants, and each says so.

  1. 1

    Confirm you are inside the filing window

    New York requires no preliminary notice on private projects. The notice of lien can be filed at any time during the work and up to 8 months after completion of the contract or the last work or materials furnished. A retainage-only lien can be filed within 90 days after the retainage was due to be released.

    N.Y. Lien Law § 10(1)

  2. 2

    Prepare the notice of lien

    Draft a notice of lien with the contents § 9 requires: your name and residence (business address for a company), your attorney if any, the owner, who hired you, the work or materials and the agreed price or value, the amount unpaid, the dates of first and last work, a description of the property, and whether it is a single-family dwelling. County clerks in New York City also require the block and lot.

    N.Y. Lien Law § 9

  3. 3

    Verify the notice

    The lienor or its agent must verify the notice, stating that its contents are true to the signer's knowledge. Clerks expect the verification to be sworn before a notary.

    N.Y. Lien Law § 9

  4. 4

    File with the county clerk

    File the notice in the county clerk's office of the county where the property is located. If the property lies in more than one county, file in each. The clerk enters it in the lien docket. Pay the filing fee (by statute $30 in New York City counties and $15 elsewhere, though some counties add verification fees).

    N.Y. Lien Law § 10; CPLR 8021(b)(4)

  5. 5

    Serve the owner

    Between 5 days before and 30 days after filing, serve a copy of the notice on the owner: personally (or on an agent or attorney), by leaving it at the owner's residence with a suitable person, by registered or certified mail to the last known residence, or, if none of that is possible, by affixing it to the property between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Corporations are served through an officer or by mail to the business address.

    N.Y. Lien Law § 11

  6. 6

    Serve the party who hired you

    In the same window, mail a copy by certified mail to the contractor or subcontractor you worked for (or, if you are a contractor, to whoever you contracted with). If you contracted with a subcontractor but not the contractor, also mail a copy to the contractor.

    N.Y. Lien Law § 11-b

  7. 7

    File proof of service within 35 days

    File affidavits proving both services with the county clerk within 35 days after the notice of lien was filed. Missing this deadline terminates the notice as a lien.

    N.Y. Lien Law §§ 11, 11-b

  8. 8

    Foreclose or extend within one year

    The lien lasts one year from filing. Before it runs out, start a foreclosure action and file a notice of pendency, or file an extension with the county clerk, which adds up to one more year. After that only a court order can continue the lien.

    N.Y. Lien Law § 17

What the notice of lien must contain

New York law requires the notice of lien (notice of mechanic's lien) to include the following (N.Y. Lien Law § 9).

  • The name and residence of the lienor; for a partnership or corporation, its business address
  • The name and address of the lienor's attorney, if any
  • The name of the owner of the real property against whose interest the lien is claimed
  • The name of the person by whom the lienor was employed or to whom the lienor furnished materials
  • The labor performed or materials furnished and the agreed price or value
  • The amount unpaid to the lienor
  • The time when the first and last items of work were performed and materials furnished
  • A description of the property subject to the lien
  • A statement whether the property is improved or to be improved with a single-family dwelling
  • Verification by the lienor or agent that the statements are true to the signer's knowledge

No official state form; clerks accept commercially printed or custom notices that meet §§ 9 and 10. New York City county clerks require the block and lot. A willfully exaggerated lien is void (§ 39).

Download a blank New York lien claim form

The Notice of Mechanic's 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.

Recording and enforcing a New York lien

Recording the lien

Record with the county clerk 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

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

New York exposes claimants who file an exaggerated or baseless lien to damages. A lien willfully exaggerated is void (§ 39). The lienor is then liable to the owner or contractor for the bond premium or interest on money deposited to discharge the lien, reasonable attorney fees to secure the discharge, and the amount by which the lien exceeded what was actually owed (§ 39-a).

Practitioner notes for New York

New York does not require a preliminary notice before filing a mechanic's lien on a private improvement. The notice of lien must be filed in the county clerk's office where the property is located, and in each county if the property crosses county lines (N.Y. Lien Law § 10). It must be verified by the lienor or an agent. The filing deadline runs from completion of the contract or the last work or materials furnished. It is 4 months for a single-family dwelling and 8 months for other private improvements (§ 10). A separate 90-day period applies to retainage claims. A copy of the notice must be served on the owner from 5 days before to 30 days after filing, by personal delivery, certified or registered mail, or the other methods § 11 allows. Proof of service must be filed with the county clerk within 35 days after the lien is filed, or the lien ends (§ 11). The lien lasts 1 year after filing. To keep it, the lienor must start a foreclosure action and file a notice of pendency within that year, or extend the lien (§ 17). On most projects one extension can be filed with the clerk; liens on single-family dwellings can be extended only by court order. Extension rules are technical, so confirm with counsel before relying on one. A lien that is willfully exaggerated is void (§ 39). The lienor can then owe the owner or contractor the cost of discharging the lien, reasonable attorney fees, and the amount of the exaggeration (§ 39-a).

These notes summarize the statute as we read it.

Statutory sources: NY Lien Law §§ 10, 11, 17, 39, 39-a. Read the New York lien statute. Deadlines turn on facts specific to your project. Confirm with counsel before relying on them.

Where to file in New York

New York notices of lien are filed with the county clerk. In New York City that is the County Clerk, not the City Register. The statutory fee is $30 in New York City and $15 elsewhere, plus $5 for each affidavit of service (CPLR 8021(b)(4)). Nassau and Suffolk charge more. We did not confirm that any of these clerks take mechanic's liens electronically.

The 10 most populous New York counties, the office that takes liens in each, whether it accepts e-filing, and the fee it publishes. Liens on property in any other county go to that county's office.

County Office E-filing Fee
Kings Kings County Clerk's Office (liens on block and lot, Room 189, Window 11)
Kings County Clerk's Office, 360 Adams Street, Room 189, Brooklyn, NY 11201
 Not stated
Ask the office
 $30 to file a notice of mechanic's lien and $5 to file each affidavit of service. Payable by money order, certified check or NYS attorney's check; no personal checks. Fee schedule
Queens Queens County Clerk's Office, Block and Lot Property Lien
Queens County Clerk's Office, 88-11 Sutphin Blvd., Room 106, Jamaica, NY 11435
 Not stated
Ask the office
 $30 to file a notice of mechanic's lien and $5 to file each affidavit of service. Fee schedule
New York New York County Clerk, Judgment Docket and Lien Section Not stated
Ask the office
 $30 to file a notice of mechanic's lien and $5 to file the required affidavit of service. The clerk accepts only liens for private improvements. Fee schedule
Suffolk Suffolk County Clerk's Office
Suffolk County Clerk's Office, Attn: UCC Dept., 310 Center Drive, Riverhead, NY 11901
 Not stated
Ask the office
 $215 to file a mechanic's lien, which includes the county's real property verification fee for the first lot; $200 for each additional lot. $5 per affidavit of service. No fee for satisfactions. Fee schedule
Bronx Bronx County Clerk's Office, Dockets Department
Bronx County Clerk's Office, Dockets Department, 851 Grand Concourse, Room 118, Bronx, NY 10451
 Not stated
Ask the office
 $30 to file a notice of mechanic's lien and $5 to file an affidavit of service. Fee schedule
Nassau Nassau County Clerk, Legal Division Not stated
Ask the office
 $315 to file a mechanic's lien, plus $300 for each block after the first; $5 per affidavit of service; amendments and satisfactions $300 and up. Fee schedule
Westchester Westchester County Clerk, Legal Division
Westchester County Clerk, 110 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., White Plains, NY 10601
 Not stated
Ask the office
 $15 to file a mechanic's lien, $5 per affidavit of service, no fee for a satisfaction. Fee schedule
Erie Erie County Clerk's Office
Erie County Clerk's Office, 92 Franklin Street, Buffalo, NY 14202
 Not stated
Ask the office
 $15 to file a notice of lien, $5 to file an affidavit of service, $5 to file an assignment, no fee for a notice or order continuing, amending or cancelling the lien, $8 to discharge by deposit with the clerk. Fee schedule
Monroe Monroe County Clerk's Office
Monroe County Clerk's Office, 101 County Office Building, 39 West Main Street, Rochester, NY 14614
 Not stated
Ask the office
 Fee not published online; ask the office.
Richmond Richmond County Clerk's Office Not stated
Ask the office
 Fee not published online; ask the office.

Collected from each office's website on October 2, 2026. Fees and filing methods change. Confirm them with the office before you file.

Recent changes to New York lien law

Changes since 2022 that affect lien deadlines, notices, forms or filing. Items marked pending are not law yet.

S3539: 5% retainage cap on private construction (Prompt Payment Act)

Effective November 17, 2023

For private construction contracts of $150,000 or more entered into on or after November 17, 2023, retainage withheld from contractors and subcontractors is capped at 5%, and the owner must release it to the contractor within 30 days after final approval of the work. Smaller retainage means smaller retainage-only liens, which have their own 90-day filing window under Lien Law § 10.

N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law §§ 756-a, 756-c (S3539, signed Nov. 17, 2023)

S5655: retainage cap cannot be contracted around

Effective December 19, 2025

Makes any contract term that does not comply with the 5% retainage requirements unenforceable, closing the route of overriding the cap by contract under § 756-a.

N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law §§ 756-a, 756-c (S5655, signed Dec. 19, 2025)

Pending, not law: A10348 (longer filing periods) and S10033/A10682 (bonded liens)

Pending, not law

A10348 (introduced Feb. 26, 2026, in Assembly Judiciary) would lengthen the § 10 filing period from 8 to 18 months, and from 4 to 12 months for single-family dwellings. S10033/A10682 would keep a lien discharged by bond alive for three years from the start of a foreclosure action. Neither has passed both houses.

N.Y. Lien Law §§ 10, 17 (proposed)

Sources for this page (25)

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New York mechanics lien FAQ

How long do I have to file a mechanics lien in New York?
The New York lien must be recorded within 4 months after last furnishing labor or materials. That is the residential deadline; commercial projects follow the schedule in the table above.
Do I need to send a preliminary notice in New York?
No. New York 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 New York 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 New York?
With the county clerk where the property sits. 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 New York mechanics lien valid?
A New York 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 New York?
Yes. Subcontractors have lien rights in New York, and so do sub-subcontractors.
Can I file a mechanic's lien on a New York public project?
Not with the county clerk. On a public improvement you file a notice of lien with the head of the department or bureau in charge of the work and with the comptroller or financial officer, before completion and acceptance or within 30 days after. You can also claim on the payment bond: if you had no contract with the prime contractor, give it written notice within 120 days after your last work or delivery. Source: N.Y. Lien Law § 12; N.Y. State Finance Law § 137(3).
Can a supplier to a supplier file a New York mechanic's lien?
No. A materialman under the Lien Law is someone who furnishes materials or equipment to an owner, a contractor or a subcontractor. A company that sells only to another material supplier does not fit that definition, so it has no lien on the property. Source: N.Y. Lien Law § 2(12).
What if the work was ordered by a tenant?
The Lien Law treats a lessee for a term of years as an 'owner', so work ordered by a tenant can support a lien on the tenant's leasehold. A lien reaches the landlord's own interest only if the work was done with the landlord's consent or at its request. Source: N.Y. Lien Law §§ 2(3), 3.
Can the owner force me to sue or remove the lien?
Yes. The owner can serve a notice demanding that you start a foreclosure action within the time stated, at least 30 days. If you do not, a court can vacate and cancel the lien. The owner or contractor can also discharge the lien by posting a bond or deposit, which moves your claim to that security. Source: N.Y. Lien Law §§ 19, 59.
How do I release a New York lien after I am paid?
File a certificate of the lienor, acknowledged or proved, in the same county clerk's office where the notice of lien was filed, stating that the lien is satisfied or released in whole or in part. Most counties charge nothing to file it, though some, such as Nassau, charge a fee. Source: N.Y. Lien Law § 19(1).
What does it cost to file a mechanic's lien in New York?
The statutory filing fee is $30 in the five New York City counties and $15 elsewhere, plus about $5 for each affidavit of service. Some counties add their own verification fees: Suffolk charges $215 and Nassau $315 for the first lot or block. Check the county clerk's fee schedule before filing. Source: CPLR 8021(b)(4); Suffolk and Nassau County Clerk fee schedules.

More New York lien tools

Bordering states

This page summarizes New York 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.