Mechanics lien law
Oklahoma lien deadlines for contractors
Updated · Checked against primary sources
The short answer
In Oklahoma, prime contractors file a lien statement within four months after last furnishing; subs and suppliers within 90 days. Subs and suppliers with claims of $10,000 or more (and all claims on owner-occupied homes) must send a pre-lien notice within 75 days after last furnishing and before filing. Enforce by suit within one year after filing.
The deadlines
| Step | Rule |
|---|---|
| Preliminary notice: who | Every claimant other than an original contractor must send a pre-lien notice to the original contractor and an owner (42 O.S. 142.6(B)(1)). Exempt: aggregate claims under $10,000, and residential projects of four or fewer units none of which the owner occupies. On a dwelling the owner occupies, the notice is always required. |
| Preliminary notice: when | Before filing the lien statement and no later than 75 days after the last date of supply (Only one pre-lien notice is needed per project; retainage needs none. An affidavit of compliance must be filed with the lien statement (142.6(C)).) |
| File or register the lien | Original contractors: file the verified lien statement with the county clerk within four months after materials or equipment were last furnished or labor last performed (42 O.S. 142). Subcontractors and their suppliers: within 90 days after last furnishing under the subcontract (42 O.S. 143). The county clerk mails notice to the owner within five business days after filing (42 O.S. 143.1). |
| Enforce or perfect it | Bring a civil action to enforce the lien within one year from filing it with the county clerk (42 O.S. 172). |
| Residential jobs | A lien on property occupied as a dwelling by an owner is invalid unless the pre-lien notice was sent within 75 days of last furnishing, regardless of claim size (42 O.S. 142.6(B)(1)). |
Common questions
- Do I need to send a preliminary notice in Oklahoma?
- Every claimant other than an original contractor must send a pre-lien notice to the original contractor and an owner (42 O.S. 142.6(B)(1)). Exempt: aggregate claims under $10,000, and residential projects of four or fewer units none of which the owner occupies. On a dwelling the owner occupies, the notice is always required. Before filing the lien statement and no later than 75 days after the last date of supply.
- How long do I have to file a lien in Oklahoma?
- Original contractors: file the verified lien statement with the county clerk within four months after materials or equipment were last furnished or labor last performed (42 O.S. 142). Subcontractors and their suppliers: within 90 days after last furnishing under the subcontract (42 O.S. 143). The county clerk mails notice to the owner within five business days after filing (42 O.S. 143.1).
- How long does a Oklahoma lien last before I have to enforce it?
- Bring a civil action to enforce the lien within one year from filing it with the county clerk (42 O.S. 172).
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 Oklahoma 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
- 42 O.S. 142 (contractor lien statement)
- 42 O.S. 142.6 (pre-lien notice)
- 42 O.S. 143 (subcontractor lien)
- 42 O.S. 143.1 (notice of lien to owner)
- 42 O.S. 172 (one year to enforce)
Cite this page
Pavado, “Oklahoma Lien Deadlines 2026: Notice and Filing”, https://www.pavadotech.com/lien-deadlines/oklahoma, updated 2026-09-24.