This article on preliminary notices was originally published on Nov. 30, 2010. It was updated on Sep. 21, 2015.
Preliminary notices
Some states require that contractors and material suppliers send preliminary notice in order to preserve their ability to file a mechanics lien.
Preliminary notices come in all shapes and sizes, and they have different names, including pre lien notice, notice to owner, notice to contractor, notice of furnishing, 20 day notice, and more. We provide more information about preliminary notices, including forms, frequently asked questions, and state-by-state requirement maps, on our preliminary notice homepage.
Different from a notice of intent to lien.
(Click here to learn more about notices of intent to lien.) Preliminary notices are most often sent relative to the time that you begin work. For example, you may be required to send your notice within 10 days after first providing labor or materials. The deadline to send preliminary notices ranges from the day that you first begin work to 120 days after last providing labor or materials.
The first step in protecting your lien rights is identifying if you are required to send a notice.
Below, we’ve listed the states that require preliminary notices, broken down for prime contractors, subcontractors, and material suppliers. For a more in-depth view of notice requirements, visit Levelset’s Construction Payment Resources page and select the state in which you’ve performed work.
Send a Preliminary Notice
We’re the Preliminary Notice experts. With us it’s fast, easy, and done right.
States That Require Preliminary Notice from Prime Contractors
* = Notice is only required for certain project types or contract amounts
*** = Notice is only required if it is requested, or when other people on the job file certain documents
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Florida
- Idaho*
- Iowa*
- Louisiana*
- Minnesota
- Mississippi***
- Missouri
- Montana
- New Hampshire (monthly)
- North Carolina
- Oklahoma*
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas* ***
- Virginia*
- Washington*
- Wisconsin*
- Wyoming
States That Require Preliminary Notice from Subcontractors
* = Notice is only required for certain project types or contract amounts
*** = Notice is only required if it is requested, or when other people on the job file certain documents
- Alabama*
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Florida
- Georgia***
- Illinois*
- Indiana*
- Iowa*
- Kentucky
- Maryland
- Massachusetts (sub-subcontractors only)
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri (written consent from residential owner required before work)
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Hampshire (monthly notice)
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oklahoma*
- Oregon
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee (monthly notice)
- Texas (monthly notice)
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
States That Require Preliminary Notice from Material Suppliers
* = Notice is only required for certain project types or contract amounts
*** = Notice is only required if it is requested, or when other people on the job file certain documents
- Alabama*
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Florida
- Georgia***
- Illinois*
- Indiana*
- Iowa*
- Kentucky
- Louisiana (including monthly notice)
- Maryland
- Massachusetts (sub-subcontractors only)
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri (written consent from residential owner required before work)
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Hampshire (not required but best practice)
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oklahoma*
- Oregon
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee (monthly notice)
- Texas (monthly notice)
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Send a Preliminary Notice
We’re the Preliminary Notice experts. With us it’s fast, easy, and done right.
