Ohio Mechanics Lien
Deadlines & Filing Rules
Every notice, deadline, and recording requirement for an Ohio construction lien, drawn from Ohio Rev. Code §§ 1311.05, 1311.06, 1311.13, 1311.04 and the same rule engine that calculates deadlines for our filing customers.
Ohio lien rules at a glance
- Preliminary notice
- Required for subcontractors, sub-subcontractors, and suppliers
- Lien filing deadline
- within 60 days 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 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 years after the lien is recorded
Who can file a mechanics lien in Ohio
Lien rights depend on where you sit in the contracting chain. Tenant-ordered work can reach the owner's interest in Ohio only where the owner consented to or required the improvements.
| Claimant | Lien rights in Ohio |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Ohio mechanics lien deadlines
Required for subcontractors, sub-subcontractors, and suppliers. Preliminary notices go to the property owner, the general contractor, and the construction lender by certified mail.
Calculate your Ohio 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.
Preliminary notice deadline
The notice that preserves lien rights before any payment problem exists.
| Who | Project type | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| All claimants | All projects | Within 21 days after first 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 | Residential projects | Within 60 days after last furnishing labor or materials |
| All claimants | Commercial projects | Within 75 days after last furnishing labor or materials |
Ohio does not require a notice of intent before recording a lien, but sending one is often what gets the invoice paid.
Recording and enforcing an Ohio 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
Ohio 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 years after the lien is recorded.
Wrongful lien exposure
We found no dedicated wrongful-lien penalty in Ohio's lien statute. An owner can still ask a court to remove an inflated or baseless lien, so claim only what you are owed.
Practitioner notes for Ohio
Ohio mechanics liens are governed by Chapter 1311 of the Revised Code. When the owner records a notice of commencement, subcontractors and suppliers who are not hired directly by the owner must serve a notice of furnishing within 21 days after they first furnish labor or materials (R.C. 1311.05). Late notice protects only work furnished in the 21 days before service and afterward. The notice is not required on improvements made under a home construction contract, and some one- and two-family projects with multiple original contractors are also exempt; confirm with counsel on residential jobs. The lien affidavit is filed with the county recorder where the property is located. The deadline runs from the last day labor or materials were furnished: 60 days for a one- or two-family dwelling or a residential condominium unit, 75 days for most other projects, and 120 days for oil and gas well work (R.C. 1311.06). The affidavit is sworn before a notary or other officer who can give oaths. Within 30 days after filing, the claimant must serve a copy on the owner; if that cannot be done, the copy may be posted on the property within the next 10 days (R.C. 1311.07). A lien lasts 6 years after the affidavit is filed, and longer if a suit to enforce it is pending (R.C. 1311.13). An owner can shorten this by serving a notice to commence suit; the lienholder then has 60 days to sue or the lien is void (R.C. 1311.11). Chapter 1311 has no general penalty for an inflated lien, but owners may bring common-law claims. On home construction work, failing to release a paid lien within 30 days after written notice can make the lienholder liable for damages and attorney fees.
These notes summarize the statute as we read it.
Statutory sources: Ohio Rev. Code §§ 1311.05, 1311.06, 1311.13, 1311.04. Read the Ohio lien statute. Deadlines turn on facts specific to your project. Confirm with counsel before relying on them.
File your Ohio mechanics lien
We calculate the Ohio 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.
Ohio mechanics lien FAQ
How long do I have to file a mechanics lien in Ohio?
Do I need to send a preliminary notice in Ohio?
Does an Ohio mechanics lien need to be notarized?
Where is a mechanics lien filed in Ohio?
How long is an Ohio mechanics lien valid?
Can a subcontractor file a mechanics lien in Ohio?
More Ohio lien tools
This page summarizes Ohio 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.