Mechanics lien law
Connecticut lien deadlines for contractors
Updated · Checked against primary sources
The short answer
In Connecticut, record a mechanic's lien certificate with the town clerk within 90 days after you stop furnishing labor or materials, then serve the owner within 30 days after recording. Subcontractors without an owner-approved written contract must also serve a notice of intent within that 90-day window. Foreclose and record a lis pendens within one year of recording.
The deadlines
| Step | Rule |
|---|---|
| Preliminary notice: who | Anyone other than the original contractor, or a subcontractor whose written contract with the original contractor was assented to in writing by the owner, must serve a written notice of intent to claim a lien on the owner and on the original contractor. |
| Preliminary notice: when | After commencing work and not later than 90 days after ceasing to furnish materials or render services (CGS 49-35(a)). (This is not an up-front preliminary notice: it may be served at any point in the 90-day window. The original contractor is entitled to receive it only if, within 15 days after starting work, it recorded an affidavit with the town clerk stating its business name, business address and the property. The served notice with the officer's return must be returned to the claimant within 30 days after the lien certificate is filed.) |
| File or register the lien | Lodge a sworn lien certificate with the town clerk of the town where the property is located within 90 days after ceasing to perform services or furnish materials, and serve a true and attested copy on the owner within 30 days after lodging it (CGS 49-34). |
| Enforce or perfect it | Commence a foreclosure action (complaint, cross-complaint or counterclaim) and record a notice of lis pendens on the land records within one year from the date the lien was recorded, or within 60 days after final disposition of an owner's application to discharge or reduce the lien under CGS 49-35a, whichever is later. Otherwise the lien is invalid and discharged as a matter of law (CGS 49-39). |
Other notices and rules
- An owner may apply to the Superior Court for a hearing to discharge or reduce the lien, with at least four days' notice to the lienor (CGS 49-35a).
- A subcontractor's lien cannot exceed, in total, the amount the owner agreed to pay the person through whom the subcontractor claims (CGS 49-33(e)).
- A mechanic's lien is foreclosed in the same manner as a mortgage (CGS 49-33(i)).
Common questions
- Do I need to send a preliminary notice in Connecticut?
- Anyone other than the original contractor, or a subcontractor whose written contract with the original contractor was assented to in writing by the owner, must serve a written notice of intent to claim a lien on the owner and on the original contractor. After commencing work and not later than 90 days after ceasing to furnish materials or render services (CGS 49-35(a))..
- How long do I have to file a lien in Connecticut?
- Lodge a sworn lien certificate with the town clerk of the town where the property is located within 90 days after ceasing to perform services or furnish materials, and serve a true and attested copy on the owner within 30 days after lodging it (CGS 49-34).
- How long does a Connecticut lien last before I have to enforce it?
- Commence a foreclosure action (complaint, cross-complaint or counterclaim) and record a notice of lis pendens on the land records within one year from the date the lien was recorded, or within 60 days after final disposition of an owner's application to discharge or reduce the lien under CGS 49-35a, whichever is later. Otherwise the lien is invalid and discharged as a matter of law (CGS 49-39).
General information from the statutes cited below, checked 2026-09-24. Lien law is strict and details depend on your role and contract. Confirm with a construction lawyer in Connecticut before relying on a deadline.
Where Pavado comes in
How Pavado builds a CRM around your jobs
Lien rights are usually lost to a calendar, not a court. We build CRMs that start each job's notice and lien clocks from its real start and completion dates and remind you before every deadline, so the rights you earned by doing the work are still there when a customer stops paying.
Instead of bending your shop around someone else's software, we build the system around how your jobs actually move, and connect it to what you already use.
- Your pipeline, your stages. From first call to paid invoice, set up the way your team already works.
- Automations for the busywork. Follow-ups, reminders and handoffs that happen without anyone remembering.
- One record per customer. Calls, quotes, jobs, photos and invoices in one place instead of five apps.
- Connected to your stack. QuickBooks or Xero, Gmail or Outlook, payments and e-sign, plus thousands more through Zapier and an API.
- 1.Book a free demo and walk us through how a job moves today.
- 2.We map the workflow and send a scoped proposal, free.
- 3.We build it, connect your tools and get your team using it.
The first conversation and a scoped proposal are free, and we will tell you early if we are not the right fit.
Go deeper
- GuideWhen to File a Construction Lien: 2026 DeadlinesFile while the clock runs: 30 to 60 days in Canada (60 in Ontario), 90 to 180 in most US states, counted from completion. Registering costs $200 to $500.
- GuideCustomer Short Paid the Final Invoice: 5 MovesBefore you chase the balance, decide whether to deposit the cheque. In the US, cashing one marked 'paid in full' can legally erase what you are owed.
- GuideHow to Collect a Contractor Deposit: 5 RulesMake the deposit due 3 to 5 business days before the start date, size it to your upfront spend, and check state caps: California's is $1,000, not $10,000.
- GuideProgress Payment Schedule: 6 Rules That Get PaidEight states cap what you can collect up front. California's limit is $1,000. How to build a draw schedule under your legal ceiling and stay cash positive.
Other states
- USAlabama lien deadlines
- USAlaska lien deadlines
- USArizona lien deadlines
- USArkansas lien deadlines
- USCalifornia lien deadlines
- USColorado lien deadlines
Sources
Cite this page
Pavado, “Connecticut Lien Deadlines 2026: Notice and Filing”, https://www.pavadotech.com/lien-deadlines/connecticut, updated 2026-09-24.