Franklin County Recorder Mechanics Lien Filing

You can file your mechanics lien in person at the Franklin County Recorder’s Office located at:

373 S. High St.
18th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215

Phone: (614) 525-3930
Fax: (624) 525-4299

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday
8 a.m – 5 p.m. (Office stops accepting documents for recording after 4:45 p.m.)

The Franklin County Recorder’s Office does not publicly disclose information on recording backlog.

If your construction project is located in Franklin County, then yes, you should file your lien here.

The Franklin County Recorder’s Office follows the requirements set by Ohio state law. They are as follows:

1. You can only file a lien in Franklin County if the project took place in Franklin County.
2. Include a legal description of the property being liened. This description can be obtained from the Franklin County Recorder’s Office.
3. Include your information, the hiring party’s information, and the property owner’s information. Failure to accurately provide these details
could invalidate your lien.
4. Include your name and address.
5. Detail the first and last furnishing dates. In other words, the first furnishing date is the date on which work begun. The last furnishing date
is the date on which work ended.
6. Be careful not to overestimate the lien amount–only include the value of the labor and materials. Missteps here mean big fines and other
penalties.

In Ohio, you generally have 75 days after the last furnishing date to file a mechanics lien. On residential projects, that deadline is shortened
to 60 days.

The Franklin County Recorder’s Office recording requirements are as follows:

1. The font size must be 10 or larger and written in blue or black ink.
2. The paper size must be 8.5 x 11 or 8.5 x 14 (legal).
3. No text should be highlighted.
4. A one inch margin should be included on the sides and bottom of the page.
5. A three inch margin of blank space should be included at the top of the first page and a one-and-one-half inch margin should be included at the top of the subsequent pages.

In addition to that, the lien must be filed for a project that took place in Franklin county. The Franklin County Recorder’s Office stops accepting liens and other documents after 4:45 p.m.

Failure to adhere to the document standards results in an additional $20 fee.

The Franklin County Recorder’s Office accepts cash, check, money order, or debit/credit card payments.

If paying by check, make sure you address the check to the Franklin County Recorder. Checks written to second or third parties will not be accepted.

The Franklin County Recorder’s Office fees are as follows:

Recording fees:

$34 for the first two pages and $8 for subsequent pages.
$4 per reference.

Lien fees:

$5 for Federal Tax Liens or other Federal Tax Lien Releases.
$3 for partial releases.
$4 for releases of personal property tax liens
$4 for releases of OBES

Copy fees:

$2 for local or toll free facsimile transmissions
$4 for long distance facsimilie transmissions
$2 per page plus $1 per document for certified copies

You can obtain a recorded copy of your lien from the Franklin County Recorder’s Office by:

Sending a request via U.S. mail
Coming into the Franklin County Recorder’s Office
Using the online form at this address (https://recorder.franklincountyohio.gov/Services/Certified-Copy-Request)

You can send a request to or visit the office at:
373 S. High St.
18th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215

Certified copies cost $2 per page and $1 certification fee per document.

You can get the property’s legal description from the Franklin County Recorder’s Office in person.

You can also search for Franklin County Recorder’s Office documents online at:

https://recorder.franklincountyohio.gov/Services/Public-Records-Search