I am a subcontractor and am having a hard time understanding Levelset's description of the 150 day rule. The second I process a new contract, I enter that date, because I expect to turn around shop drawings ("work") very soon thereafter. All of my projects say that they're NOT PROTECTED now, even though I'm electing to send all available Notices to Owner the second I know about a project.
The 150 day rule is a measure of the amount of money that can be claimed in a lien. Money can only be claimed in a lien for those unpaid, non-retention, amounts that are owed for work performed within 150 days of the last date of your work or the recording of a lien, whichever is sooner. This does not affect retention or your right to a lien. The right to a lien is subject to the 90 day rule for filing.