Skip to the lesson
Back to the home page and map, from TryOwning · Construction and trades · Lesson 5
Part 1 of 3Part 1 of 3, 0 done

Construction and trades · 14 min

Contracts, payments and liens

A good bid isn't money in the bank. The contract decides when you're paid and for what, and the lien law is your last way to get paid if the client doesn't. Learn both before your first job.

OFFICE
Ticket 01 · The guess

How long do you have to file a lien?

If a client doesn't pay for work on their property, a contractor can record a mechanics lien: a claim on the property itself, filed with the county, that stays on the title and can even force a sale. In California, how many days after finishing the work does a contractor hired by the owner have to record one?

30 days
0 days365 days
Words to know

Spot something wrong?

Tell us what looks off. No name or email needed.

What kind of problem?

0 / 1000

We'll also send this page, the lesson, ticket 1, so we can find it. Nothing else. Privacy

·
Sources and every number (4)

Sources

  • California Civil Code section 8412 (when a direct contractor must record a mechanics lien) · California Legislature, 2026
  • California Civil Code section 8414 (when other claimants, such as subcontractors and suppliers, must record a mechanics lien) · California Legislature, 2026
  • California Civil Code section 8460 (an action to enforce a mechanics lien within 90 days of recording) · California Legislature, 2026
  • How to Prevent a Mechanics Lien (preliminary notice, lien releases, joint checks, notice of completion) · California Contractors State License Board, 2026

Every number

  • 90 daysca.gov ·2026 · California: a direct contractor (hired by the owner) must record a mechanics lien within this many days after the work is completed, unless a notice of completion makes it sooner.
  • 60 daysca.gov ·2026 · California: a direct contractor's deadline to record a lien, counted from when the owner records a notice of completion, if that comes first.
  • 90 daysca.gov ·2026 · California: the days other claimants, such as subcontractors and suppliers, have to record a lien after completion.
  • 30 daysca.gov ·2026 · California: the days other claimants have to record a lien after the owner records a notice of completion.
  • 90 daysca.gov ·2026 · California: the days a claimant has after recording a lien to start a court action to enforce it.
  • 20 daysca.gov ·2026 · California: subcontractors and suppliers give the owner a preliminary notice before or within this many days of starting work or delivering materials; a later notice covers only the work done from twenty days before it on.
  1. Lessons›
  2. Industries›
  3. Construction and trades
  • ·Before this: Crews, subs and why contractors fail
  • ·Next: Your overhead rate
  • ·Free guide: How contractors make money
Skip to the lesson
Back to the home page and map, from TryOwning · Construction and trades · Lesson 5
Part 1 of 3Part 1 of 3, 0 done

Construction and trades · 14 min

Contracts, payments and liens

A good bid isn't money in the bank. The contract decides when you're paid and for what, and the lien law is your last way to get paid if the client doesn't. Learn both before your first job.

OFFICE
Ticket 01 · The guess

How long do you have to file a lien?

If a client doesn't pay for work on their property, a contractor can record a mechanics lien: a claim on the property itself, filed with the county, that stays on the title and can even force a sale. In California, how many days after finishing the work does a contractor hired by the owner have to record one?

30 days
0 days365 days
Words to know

Spot something wrong?

Tell us what looks off. No name or email needed.

What kind of problem?

0 / 1000

We'll also send this page, the lesson, ticket 1, so we can find it. Nothing else. Privacy

·
Sources and every number (4)

Sources

  • California Civil Code section 8412 (when a direct contractor must record a mechanics lien) · California Legislature, 2026
  • California Civil Code section 8414 (when other claimants, such as subcontractors and suppliers, must record a mechanics lien) · California Legislature, 2026
  • California Civil Code section 8460 (an action to enforce a mechanics lien within 90 days of recording) · California Legislature, 2026
  • How to Prevent a Mechanics Lien (preliminary notice, lien releases, joint checks, notice of completion) · California Contractors State License Board, 2026

Every number

  • 90 daysca.gov ·2026 · California: a direct contractor (hired by the owner) must record a mechanics lien within this many days after the work is completed, unless a notice of completion makes it sooner.
  • 60 daysca.gov ·2026 · California: a direct contractor's deadline to record a lien, counted from when the owner records a notice of completion, if that comes first.
  • 90 daysca.gov ·2026 · California: the days other claimants, such as subcontractors and suppliers, have to record a lien after completion.
  • 30 daysca.gov ·2026 · California: the days other claimants have to record a lien after the owner records a notice of completion.
  • 90 daysca.gov ·2026 · California: the days a claimant has after recording a lien to start a court action to enforce it.
  • 20 daysca.gov ·2026 · California: subcontractors and suppliers give the owner a preliminary notice before or within this many days of starting work or delivering materials; a later notice covers only the work done from twenty days before it on.
  1. Lessons›
  2. Industries›
  3. Construction and trades
  • ·Before this: Crews, subs and why contractors fail
  • ·Next: Your overhead rate
  • ·Free guide: How contractors make money