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Section 4 of 7 · about 12% of the exam

California Mechanics Lien Deadlines: Every Date You Need for the CSLB Exam

Updated

On a private job in California, give the preliminary notice within 20 days of first furnishing work. Record the lien within 90 days after completion, or sooner if the owner records a notice of completion or cessation: 60 days for a direct contractor, 30 days for everyone else. Then sue to enforce it within 90 days after recording.

Each rule below links to its California Civil Code section. CSLB's Law and Business study guide lists "Liens and other remedies" under section 4, Insurance and Liens, which CSLB lists as about 12% of the exam (CSLB says its percentages are approximate). CSLB does not say how many questions on the exam are about liens.

Deadline cheat sheet (private works)

Step Who Deadline Statute
Preliminary notice Every claimant except laborers (a direct contractor sends it only to the construction lender) Not later than 20 days after first furnishing work Civ. Code 8200, 8204
Notice of completion Owner Optional; if recorded, on or within 15 days after completion Civ. Code 8182
Copy of notice of completion or cessation Owner, to the direct contractor and to claimants who gave preliminary notice Within 10 days of recording Civ. Code 8190
Record the lien Direct contractor After finishing its contract, and before the earlier of 90 days after completion or 60 days after a notice of completion or cessation is recorded Civ. Code 8412
Record the lien Everyone else After it stops providing work, and before the earlier of 90 days after completion or 30 days after a notice of completion or cessation is recorded Civ. Code 8414
Sue to enforce the lien Lien claimant Within 90 days after recording the lien Civ. Code 8460
Record notice of pending action Lien claimant On or before 20 days after filing the suit Civ. Code 8461

The 20-day preliminary notice

Who gives it, and to whom. Before recording a lien, giving a stop payment notice, or claiming against a payment bond, a claimant must give preliminary notice to the owner, the direct contractor, and the construction lender, if any (Civ. Code 8200). There are two exceptions in the same section:

  • A laborer does not have to give it.
  • A contractor with a direct contract with the owner gives it only to the construction lender, if there is one.

A "direct contractor" has a direct contract with the owner; a "subcontractor" does not (Civ. Code 8018, 8046). The direct contractor must give anyone who wants to send a preliminary notice the names and addresses of the owner and any construction lender (Civ. Code 8208).

When. Not later than 20 days after the claimant first furnishes work. A late notice is still allowed, but the claimant can then lien only for work done within 20 days before the notice was served, and after (Civ. Code 8204).

How. By personal delivery, by mail, or by leaving it and mailing a copy (Civ. Code 8106). "Mail" means registered or certified mail, express mail, or overnight delivery by an express carrier (Civ. Code 8110). Mailed notice counts as given when it is deposited in the mail (Civ. Code 8116).

License consequence. If a licensed subcontractor's contract pays more than $400 and it fails to give the notice, that is grounds for CSLB discipline (Civ. Code 8216).

What counts as "completion"

Most lien clocks run from completion. Under Civ. Code 8180, completion happens on any of these:

  1. Actual completion of the work.
  2. Occupation or use by the owner, together with cessation of labor.
  3. Cessation of labor for a continuous 60 days.
  4. Recording a notice of cessation after labor has stopped for a continuous 30 days.

An owner may record a notice of cessation once labor has stopped for at least 30 days in a row and is still stopped (Civ. Code 8188).

Recording the lien: 90, 60 or 30 days

No notice of completion or cessation recorded: everyone has until 90 days after completion.

Notice of completion or cessation recorded: the window shrinks. A direct contractor must record before the earlier of 90 days after completion or 60 days after the notice is recorded (Civ. Code 8412). Every other claimant gets the earlier of 90 days after completion or 30 days after the notice is recorded (Civ. Code 8414).

There is also a start point: a direct contractor records after finishing its own contract, and others after they stop providing work.

The owner's 10-day duty. An owner who records a notice of completion or cessation must send a copy within 10 days to the direct contractor and to each claimant who gave it preliminary notice. If the owner skips someone, the notice does not shorten that person's lien deadline. This duty does not apply to an owner who lives in the property as a personal residence with four or fewer units (Civ. Code 8190).

Serving the lien on the owner

The claim of lien must include a Notice of Mechanics Lien and a proof of service affidavit. A copy goes to the owner or reputed owner by registered, certified, or first-class mail with a certificate of mailing. If the owner can't be served that way, it may go to the construction lender or the original contractor. If it is not served as the statute requires, the lien is unenforceable (Civ. Code 8416).

Section 8416 does not set a separate number of days for service. Because the recorded claim must already contain the proof of service affidavit, service is part of preparing the claim, not a later step.

Enforcing the lien: 90 days after recording

The claimant must file a suit to enforce the lien within 90 days after recording it, or the lien expires (Civ. Code 8460). The one exception: the owner and claimant agree to extend credit, and notice of it is recorded. The suit is then due within 90 days after the credit ends, but never later than one year after completion. After filing, the claimant records a notice of pending action on or before 20 days later (Civ. Code 8461).

Worked timeline

A private office remodel (the owner does not live there). We count calendar days from the trigger date. This is an example for study, not legal advice for a real claim.

Date Event What it sets
March 2 Electrical sub first furnishes work Sub gives preliminary notice to the owner, the direct contractor and any construction lender by March 22 (20 days)
July 15 Work actually completed Outside limit to record any lien: October 13 (90 days)
July 25 Owner records a notice of completion and sends copies the same week Within the 15-day window to record it
August 24 30 days after the notice Last day for the sub to record its lien
September 23 60 days after the notice Last day for the direct contractor to record its lien

If the sub records on August 20, it must file suit by November 18 (90 days). Because the sub gave the owner preliminary notice, the owner had to send it a copy of the notice of completion. If the owner had not, the sub's deadline would stay at October 13 (Civ. Code 8190).

Public projects: no lien, use other remedies

The private works title that holds the mechanics lien rules says it applies only to work not governed by Title 3 (Civ. Code 8160), and Title 3 applies to work contracted for by a public entity (Civ. Code 9000). On a public job, an unpaid claimant instead gives a stop payment notice to the public entity or makes a claim against the payment bond. A direct contractor can do neither (Civ. Code 9100).

Public works rule Statute
Preliminary notice goes to the public entity and the direct contractor. Laborers, and claimants with a direct contract with the direct contractor, are exempt. Civ. Code 9300
Stop payment notice: within 30 days after a notice of completion, acceptance, or cessation is recorded; if none is recorded, 90 days after cessation or completion Civ. Code 9356
Payment bond required on contracts over $25,000, before work starts (this section does not cover contracts with a state entity) Civ. Code 9550
Bond amount: at least 100% of the contract Civ. Code 9554
Suit on the bond: no later than six months after the stop payment notice period ends Civ. Code 9558

Private jobs have stop payment notices too, but one is valid only if given before the lien recording deadline runs out (Civ. Code 8508).

Common exam traps

  • 60 vs 30 days. 60 days after a notice of completion or cessation is for the direct contractor only. Subs and suppliers get 30.
  • 90 days twice. 90 days after completion is the recording limit. 90 days after recording is the suit limit. Read which event the question names.
  • 15 vs 10 days. An owner may record a notice of completion; if it does, it must record it on or within 15 days after completion (Civ. Code 8182), then send copies within 10 days of recording (Civ. Code 8190).
  • Late preliminary notice. It is not fatal. It limits the lien to work from 20 days before service onward.
  • Laborers. They have lien rights (Civ. Code 8400) but do not give preliminary notice.
  • Public work. No mechanics lien. Think stop payment notice and payment bond.
  • Lien release bond. An owner or affected contractor who disputes a lien can free the property by recording a bond of 125% of the claim (Civ. Code 8424).

Sources

Every statute link above goes to the Civil Code text on the official California Legislative Information site. We checked the text of each section between October 25 and October 28, 2026. Exam outline: CSLB Law and Business study guide.

This page is a study aid, not legal advice. CalContractorPrep is not affiliated with the Contractors State License Board.

Read the Section 4 study notes: Insurance and Liens

Practice questions

Think of your answer first, then open the explanation.

  1. Insurance and Liens

    1. A material supplier first delivered materials to a job on March 1. It did not give a preliminary notice until April 10. Under Civil Code section 8204, for which materials may it record a lien?

    • A. All materials it delivered, starting on March 1
    • B. Materials delivered on or after March 21 only
    • C. Materials delivered on or after April 10 only
    • D. No materials, because its notice was given late
    Show answer

    Correct answer: B

    • A. All materials it delivered, starting on March 1

      Wrong: because the notice was late, the supplier may record a lien only for work provided within 20 days before the notice and after, so deliveries before March 21 are not covered.

    • B. Materials delivered on or after March 21 only

      Correct answer

      Right: a late preliminary notice still allows a lien for work provided within 20 days before the notice was served and any time after. Twenty days before April 10 is March 21.

    • C. Materials delivered on or after April 10 only

      Wrong: the lien is not limited to work after the notice date; it also covers work within 20 days before the notice, back to March 21.

    • D. No materials, because its notice was given late

      Wrong: a late notice does not wipe out all lien rights; section 8204 lets the claimant give notice at any time afterward and lien work from 20 days before the notice onward.

    Explanation

    Civil Code section 8204 says a claimant who gives a late preliminary notice may still give it, but may record a lien only for work provided within 20 days before the notice was served, and after that. Twenty days before April 10 is March 21. So the supplier keeps lien rights for materials delivered on or after March 21, but loses them for earlier deliveries. A late notice does not wipe out all lien rights, and it does not limit the lien to work after the notice date.

    Sources

  2. Insurance and Liens

    2. A direct contractor finished its contract. The whole work of improvement was completed on May 25. The owner records a notice of completion on June 1. Under Civil Code section 8412, what is the deadline for the direct contractor to record a claim of lien?

    • A. 30 days after June 1
    • B. 60 days after June 1
    • C. 90 days after June 1
    • D. 120 days after June 1
    Show answer

    Correct answer: B

    • A. 30 days after June 1

      The 30-day period applies to claimants other than the direct contractor, such as subcontractors. A direct contractor gets 60 days after the owner records a notice of completion.

    • B. 60 days after June 1

      Correct answer

      A direct contractor must record before the earlier of 90 days after completion or 60 days after the owner records a notice of completion. Sixty days after June 1 comes before 90 days after the May 25 completion, so the deadline is 60 days after June 1.

    • C. 90 days after June 1

      The 90-day period runs from completion of the work of improvement (May 25), not from the June 1 notice. Also, the deadline is the earlier of the two times, and 60 days after June 1 comes first.

    • D. 120 days after June 1

      120 days after June 1 is not one of the two times in section 8412, and it is later than both of them. The deadline is the earlier of 90 days after completion or 60 days after the notice of completion.

    Explanation

    Civil Code section 8412 says a direct contractor must record its claim of lien before the earlier of 90 days after completion of the work of improvement, or 60 days after the owner records a notice of completion. Here, 60 days after the June 1 notice comes before 90 days after the May 25 completion. So the deadline is 60 days after June 1. The 30-day period applies to claimants other than the direct contractor, such as subcontractors. Neither 90 nor 120 days after June 1 is the earlier of the two deadlines.

    Sources

  3. Insurance and Liens

    3. A subcontractor stopped work on a job. The owner records a notice of completion on June 1. Under Civil Code section 8414, what is the deadline for the subcontractor to record a claim of lien?

    • A. 20 days after June 1
    • B. 30 days after June 1
    • C. 60 days after June 1
    • D. 90 days after June 1
    Show answer

    Correct answer: B

    • A. 20 days after June 1

      Twenty days is the preliminary notice deadline, not the deadline for recording a claim of lien.

    • B. 30 days after June 1

      Correct answer

      A claimant other than a direct contractor must record its claim of lien before the earlier of 90 days after completion or 30 days after the owner records a notice of completion. Because a notice was recorded on June 1, the subcontractor's deadline is 30 days after June 1.

    • C. 60 days after June 1

      Sixty days is the deadline for a direct contractor, not a subcontractor. A subcontractor gets 30 days after the owner records a notice of completion.

    • D. 90 days after June 1

      The 90-day period runs from completion of the work of improvement, not from the June 1 notice. Because a notice of completion was recorded, the subcontractor's deadline is 30 days after June 1.

    Explanation

    Civil Code section 8414 says a claimant other than a direct contractor must record its claim of lien after it stops providing work and before the earlier of 90 days after completion, or 30 days after the owner records a notice of completion. Because a notice of completion was recorded, the subcontractor's deadline is 30 days after June 1. Sixty days is the deadline for a direct contractor. Twenty days is the preliminary notice deadline.

    Sources

  4. Insurance and Liens

    4. A subcontractor records a claim of lien. The owner and the subcontractor have not agreed to any extension of credit. Under Civil Code section 8460, when must the subcontractor file a court action to enforce (foreclose) the lien?

    • A. Within 30 days after recording the claim of lien
    • B. Within 60 days after recording the claim of lien
    • C. Within 90 days after recording the claim of lien
    • D. Within 1 year after recording the claim of lien
    Show answer

    Correct answer: C

    • A. Within 30 days after recording the claim of lien

      Thirty days is a deadline for recording a claim of lien after a notice of completion, not for filing suit. Section 8460 gives 90 days after the claim of lien is recorded.

    • B. Within 60 days after recording the claim of lien

      Sixty days is a deadline for recording a claim of lien after a notice of completion, not for filing suit. Section 8460 gives 90 days after the claim of lien is recorded.

    • C. Within 90 days after recording the claim of lien

      Correct answer

      Section 8460 says the claimant shall commence an action to enforce a lien within 90 days after the claim of lien is recorded. If it does not, the claim of lien expires and is unenforceable.

    • D. Within 1 year after recording the claim of lien

      Section 8460 sets 90 days, not 1 year, after recording. A longer time is possible only if the claimant and owner agree to extend credit and record notice of it, which did not happen here.

    Explanation

    Civil Code section 8460 says the claimant shall commence an action to enforce a lien within 90 days after the claim of lien is recorded. If it does not, the claim of lien expires and cannot be enforced. A longer time is possible only if the claimant and the owner agree to extend credit and record notice of it, which did not happen here. The 30-day and 60-day periods are deadlines for recording a claim of lien after a notice of completion, not for filing suit.

    Source

  5. Insurance and Liens

    5. A subcontractor on a public works job has not been paid. The public entity recorded a notice of completion on September 10. Under Civil Code section 9356, by when must the subcontractor give its stop payment notice?

    • A. Within 10 days after September 10
    • B. Within 20 days after September 10
    • C. Within 30 days after September 10
    • D. Within 90 days after September 10
    Show answer

    Correct answer: C

    • A. Within 10 days after September 10

      Ten days is not a deadline in section 9356. When a notice of completion is recorded, the stop payment notice must be given within 30 days after recording.

    • B. Within 20 days after September 10

      Twenty days is the preliminary notice period on a private job under section 8204, not a stop payment notice deadline. Section 9356 allows 30 days after the notice of completion is recorded.

    • C. Within 30 days after September 10

      Correct answer

      Section 9356 says a stop payment notice is not effective unless given within 30 days after a notice of completion, acceptance, or cessation is recorded. The notice was recorded September 10, so the deadline is 30 days after that.

    • D. Within 90 days after September 10

      The 90-day period applies only when no notice of completion, acceptance, or cessation is recorded, and then it runs from completion or cessation. Here a notice of completion was recorded.

    Explanation

    Civil Code section 9356 says a stop payment notice on a public works job is not effective unless it is given within 30 days after a notice of completion, acceptance, or cessation is recorded. The 90-day period applies only when no such notice is recorded, and then it runs from completion or cessation. Twenty days is the preliminary notice period on a private job under section 8204, not a stop payment notice deadline. Ten days is not a deadline in section 9356.

    Sources