Rhode Island Mechanics Lien
Deadlines & Filing Rules
Every notice, deadline, and recording requirement for a Rhode Island construction lien, drawn from R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 34-28-4, 34-28-10, 34-28-16 and the same rule engine that calculates deadlines for our filing customers.
Rhode Island lien rules at a glance
- Preliminary notice
- Not required to preserve lien rights
- Lien filing deadline
- within 200 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 40 days after the notice of intention is filed
Who can file a mechanics lien in Rhode Island
Lien rights depend on where you sit in the contracting chain. Tenant-ordered improvements can support a lien in Rhode Island.
| Claimant | Lien rights in Rhode Island |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Rhode Island mechanics lien deadlines
Not required to preserve lien rights.
Calculate your Rhode Island 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.
Mechanics lien filing deadline
The last day the lien can be recorded against the property.
| Who | Project type | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| All claimants | All projects | Within 200 days after last furnishing labor or materials |
Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island 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
Rhode Island 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 40 days after the notice of intention is filed.
Wrongful lien exposure
In Rhode Island, a wrongful lien claimant can be ordered to pay the owner's attorney fees and costs. An owner or contractor can ask the superior court to show cause why a claimed lien is invalid and have it dismissed (§ 34-28-17.1). The court may award attorney fees to the prevailing party and decides costs in its discretion (§ 34-28-19). No statutory damages or criminal penalty for a wrongful lien was found in the chapter.
Practitioner notes for Rhode Island
Rhode Island's mechanics lien law is Chapter 34-28 of the General Laws. A contractor who deals directly with the owner, other than a material supplier, must give the owner a written "Notice of Possible Mechanic's Lien" before starting work, either in the contract or by certified mail (R.I. Gen. Laws 34-28-4.1). Without it, that contractor cannot claim a lien. To perfect a lien, the claimant mails a sworn, notarized notice of intention to the owner of record by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, and records a copy in the land evidence records of the city or town where the land is located (34-28-4, 34-28-5). Both steps must happen within 200 days after the work or materials. The lien covers only work done in the 200 days before the notice is recorded, plus earned retainage (34-28-9), so do not wait until the last day if the job ran long; confirm with counsel. If the mailed notice comes back undelivered, special refiling rules apply. The deadline to enforce is short. Within 40 days after recording the notice of intention, the claimant must record a notice of lis pendens in the same land evidence records and file a complaint to enforce in the superior court for the county. The complaint goes in the same day as the lis pendens or within 7 days after (34-28-10). Missing this step voids the lien. An owner or contractor can ask the court for a show-cause hearing to dismiss a lien that is invalid or unlikely to succeed (34-28-17.1). The court may award attorney fees to the prevailing party (34-28-19).
These notes summarize the statute as we read it.
Statutory sources: R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 34-28-4, 34-28-10, 34-28-16. Read the Rhode Island lien statute. Deadlines turn on facts specific to your project. Confirm with counsel before relying on them.
File your Rhode Island mechanics lien
We calculate the Rhode Island 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.
Rhode Island mechanics lien FAQ
How long do I have to file a mechanics lien in Rhode Island?
Do I need to send a preliminary notice in Rhode Island?
Does a Rhode Island mechanics lien need to be notarized?
Where is a mechanics lien filed in Rhode Island?
How long is a Rhode Island mechanics lien valid?
Can a subcontractor file a mechanics lien in Rhode Island?
More Rhode Island lien tools
This page summarizes Rhode Island 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.