Vermont Mechanics Lien
Deadlines & Filing Rules
Every notice, deadline, and recording requirement for a Vermont construction lien, drawn from 9 V.S.A. §§ 1921, 1923, 1924, 1925 and the same rule engine that calculates deadlines for our filing customers.
Vermont lien rules at a glance
- Preliminary notice
- Not required to preserve lien rights
- Lien filing deadline
- within 120 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 180 days after the lien is recorded
Who can file a mechanics lien in Vermont
Lien rights depend on where you sit in the contracting chain. Tenant-ordered improvements can support a lien in Vermont.
| Claimant | Lien rights in Vermont |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Vermont mechanics lien deadlines
Not required to preserve lien rights.
Calculate your Vermont 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 120 days after last furnishing labor or materials |
Vermont 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 Vermont 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 5 days of recording. To keep the lien alive it must be enforced by lawsuit within 180 days after the lien is recorded.
Wrongful lien exposure
We found no dedicated wrongful-lien penalty in Vermont'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 Vermont
Vermont's mechanics lien law is short and sits in 9 V.S.A. §§ 1921-1925. A contractor who works under an agreement with the owner, written or oral, has a lien on the improvements and the land (§ 1921(a)). A subcontractor or supplier hired by someone else gets a lien only by giving the owner written notice that it will claim one, including the payment due date if known. That lien reaches only the part of the contract price the owner still owes when the notice arrives, so send it early (§ 1921(b)). The lien lapses unless a written memorandum of lien is filed with the town clerk where the property is located within 180 days after payment became due for the last labor or materials (§§ 1921(c), 1923). Notice that the clock runs from the payment due date, not from your last day on site. To enforce, start a lawsuit and have the real estate attached within 180 days after filing the memorandum. If payment was not yet due when you filed, the 180 days run from when it becomes due (§ 1924). After you win, record a certified copy of the judgment with the town clerk within five months to foreclose like a mortgage (§ 1925). A lien cannot be waived before the work is done or the materials are delivered (§ 1921(f)). The statute asks only for a signed memorandum, but town clerks and practitioners commonly expect it notarized; confirm with counsel.
These notes summarize the statute as we read it.
Statutory sources: 9 V.S.A. §§ 1921, 1923, 1924, 1925. Read the Vermont lien statute. Deadlines turn on facts specific to your project. Confirm with counsel before relying on them.
File your Vermont mechanics lien
We calculate the Vermont 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.
Vermont mechanics lien FAQ
How long do I have to file a mechanics lien in Vermont?
Do I need to send a preliminary notice in Vermont?
Does a Vermont mechanics lien need to be notarized?
Where is a mechanics lien filed in Vermont?
How long is a Vermont mechanics lien valid?
Can a subcontractor file a mechanics lien in Vermont?
More Vermont lien tools
This page summarizes Vermont 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.