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Is Preliminary Notice Required In My State? (List of Notice and Non-Notice States)

By Scott Wolfe posted 03-14-2017 10:57

  

Is Preliminary Notice Required in My State?


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 noticenotice 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.

A preliminary notice is 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 preliminary 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 zlien.com/resources and select the state in which you’ve performed work.

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
  • 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 (not required but best practice)
  • New Mexico
  • North Carolina
  • Ohio
  • Oklahoma*
  • Oregon
  • South Carolina
  • South Dakota
  • Tennessee
  • 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
  • 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
  • Texas (monthly notice)
  • Utah
  • Virginia
  • Washington
  • Wisconsin
  • Wyoming
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