Mechanics lien law
North Dakota lien deadlines for contractors
Updated · Checked against primary sources
The short answer
In North Dakota, send the owner written notice by certified mail at least ten days before recording that a lien will be claimed. Record the lien within 90 days after your contribution is done; late liens survive only against the owner's unpaid balance and never beyond three years from first furnishing. Commence suit and record a lis pendens within three years after recording.
The deadlines
| Step | Rule |
|---|---|
| Preliminary notice: who | No notice at the start of work. Before recording, written notice that a lien will be claimed must be sent to the legal or equitable owner by certified mail (N.D.C.C. 35-27-02(4)). |
| Preliminary notice: when | At least ten days before recording the construction lien (The notice requirement sits in the subsection about persons who contract with an agent, trustee, contractor or subcontractor of the owner; sending it is the safe course for every claimant.) |
| File or register the lien | Record the lien with the county recorder within 90 days after all of the claimant's contribution is done (N.D.C.C. 35-27-13). A late lien is still valid except against good faith purchasers or encumbrancers whose rights arose before recording and against the owner for amounts paid to the contractor before recording, and no lien may be filed more than three years after the first item of material is furnished (35-27-14). |
| Enforce or perfect it | The lien is unenforceable unless the lienor commences an action and records a lis pendens within three years after recording the lien. If the owner delivers and files a written demand, suit and lis pendens must follow within 30 days or the lien is forfeited (N.D.C.C. 35-27-25). Give the owner notice of intent to enforce at least 10 days (personal service) or 20 days (registered mail) before suing (35-27-24). |
Common questions
- Do I need to send a preliminary notice in North Dakota?
- No notice at the start of work. Before recording, written notice that a lien will be claimed must be sent to the legal or equitable owner by certified mail (N.D.C.C. 35-27-02(4)). At least ten days before recording the construction lien.
- How long do I have to file a lien in North Dakota?
- Record the lien with the county recorder within 90 days after all of the claimant's contribution is done (N.D.C.C. 35-27-13). A late lien is still valid except against good faith purchasers or encumbrancers whose rights arose before recording and against the owner for amounts paid to the contractor before recording, and no lien may be filed more than three years after the first item of material is furnished (35-27-14).
- How long does a North Dakota lien last before I have to enforce it?
- The lien is unenforceable unless the lienor commences an action and records a lis pendens within three years after recording the lien. If the owner delivers and files a written demand, suit and lis pendens must follow within 30 days or the lien is forfeited (N.D.C.C. 35-27-25). Give the owner notice of intent to enforce at least 10 days (personal service) or 20 days (registered mail) before suing (35-27-24).
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 North Dakota 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, “North Dakota Lien Deadlines 2026: Notice and Filing”, https://www.pavadotech.com/lien-deadlines/north-dakota, updated 2026-09-24.