Mechanics lien law
Georgia lien deadlines for contractors
Updated · Checked against primary sources
The short answer
In Georgia, file your claim of lien within 90 days after you finish work or last furnish materials, and mail the owner a copy within 2 business days. Start a lien action within 365 days of filing and file a notice of commencement of lien action within 30 days of suing. Parties without privity to the contractor must send a notice to contractor within 30 days.
The deadlines
| Step | Rule |
|---|---|
| Preliminary notice: who | Only claimants who lack privity of contract with the contractor (for example, sub-subs and suppliers to subs), and only when a notice of commencement has been filed. Prime contractors and first-tier subs do not send it. |
| Preliminary notice: when | Within 30 days from the filing of the notice of commencement or 30 days after first delivering labor, services or materials to the property, whichever is later, sent by registered or certified mail or statutory overnight delivery to the owner and the contractor (44-14-361.5(a), (c)). (If no notice of commencement is filed, this notice to contractor does not apply. The contractor must give a copy of the notice of commencement within 10 days of a written request, or the requirement does not apply to the requester.) |
| File or register the lien | Within 90 days after completion of the claimant's work or within 90 days after the material or machinery is furnished, file the claim of lien with the clerk of superior court for the county (44-14-361.1(a)(2)). Within 2 business days after filing, send a copy by registered or certified mail or statutory overnight delivery to the owner (and to the contractor if a notice of commencement was filed). Same rule for primes and subs. |
| Enforce or perfect it | Commence a lien action within 365 days from the date the claim of lien was filed, and within 30 days after commencing it file a notice of commencement of lien action with the superior court clerk (44-14-361.1(a)(3)). A lien with no notice of commencement of lien action filed within 395 days of filing may be disregarded (44-14-367). |
| Residential jobs | No separate residential notice regime was found in the lien statutes; the same deadlines apply. |
Other notices and rules
- Notice of commencement (44-14-361.5(b)): filed by the owner, owner's agent or contractor with the superior court clerk within 15 days after the contractor physically starts work, and posted on site.
- Preliminary notice of lien rights (44-14-361.3): optional; if used, file within 30 days after first furnishing and mail a copy to the contractor or owner within 7 days. A lien can be enforced without it.
- Notice of contest (44-14-368): an owner or contractor can shorten the enforcement window to 60 days from receipt of the notice; the lien is extinguished 90 days after the contest is filed if no notice of commencement of lien action is filed.
- Lien waivers (44-14-366): must use the statutory interim or final waiver forms; rights cannot be waived in advance. A signed waiver becomes conclusive 90 days after execution unless the claimant files an affidavit of nonpayment in the county before then.
- The claim of lien must state that it expires 395 days after filing if no notice of commencement of lien action is filed, and must tell the owner of the right to contest; omitting either invalidates it (44-14-361.1, 44-14-367).
Common questions
- Do I need to send a preliminary notice in Georgia?
- Only claimants who lack privity of contract with the contractor (for example, sub-subs and suppliers to subs), and only when a notice of commencement has been filed. Prime contractors and first-tier subs do not send it. Within 30 days from the filing of the notice of commencement or 30 days after first delivering labor, services or materials to the property, whichever is later, sent by registered or certified mail or statutory overnight delivery to the owner and the contractor (44-14-361.5(a), (c))..
- How long do I have to file a lien in Georgia?
- Within 90 days after completion of the claimant's work or within 90 days after the material or machinery is furnished, file the claim of lien with the clerk of superior court for the county (44-14-361.1(a)(2)). Within 2 business days after filing, send a copy by registered or certified mail or statutory overnight delivery to the owner (and to the contractor if a notice of commencement was filed). Same rule for primes and subs.
- How long does a Georgia lien last before I have to enforce it?
- Commence a lien action within 365 days from the date the claim of lien was filed, and within 30 days after commencing it file a notice of commencement of lien action with the superior court clerk (44-14-361.1(a)(3)). A lien with no notice of commencement of lien action filed within 395 days of filing may be disregarded (44-14-367).
General information from the statutes cited below, checked 2026-09-24; one or more details come from a secondary source and are noted. Lien law is strict and details depend on your role and contract. Confirm with a construction lawyer in Georgia before relying on a deadline. Read from the 2025 Georgia Code on Justia (latest edition posted). The optional 30-day item in the lead is the preliminary notice of lien rights (44-14-361.3); the mandatory 30-day notice is the notice to contractor (44-14-361.5).
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
- O.C.G.A. 44-14-361.1 (claim of lien, lien action)
- O.C.G.A. 44-14-361.3 (preliminary notice of lien rights)
- O.C.G.A. 44-14-361.5 (notice of commencement, notice to contractor)
- O.C.G.A. 44-14-366 (lien waivers)
- O.C.G.A. 44-14-367 (395-day expiration statement)
- O.C.G.A. 44-14-368 (notice of contest)
Cite this page
Pavado, “Georgia Lien Deadlines 2026: Notice and Filing”, https://www.pavadotech.com/lien-deadlines/georgia, updated 2026-09-24.