Mechanics lien law
Oregon lien deadlines for contractors
Updated · Checked against primary sources
The short answer
In Oregon, anyone not hired by the owner must send a notice of right to a lien; it only protects work from eight business days before delivery. File the claim of lien within 75 days after you stop work or after completion, whichever is earlier. Mail the owner notice within 20 days after filing, give 10 days notice of intent to foreclose, and sue within 120 days.
The deadlines
| Step | Rule |
|---|---|
| Preliminary notice: who | Anyone furnishing materials, equipment, services or labor not at the request of the owner (ORS 87.021(1)). On commercial improvements, persons who perform labor, provide labor and materials, or rent equipment are exempt, so material-only suppliers still must send it (87.021(3)(b)). On residential jobs over $2,000, original contractors must instead give the owner the Information Notice to Owner or lose their lien (ORS 87.093). |
| Preliminary notice: when | Any time during the improvement, but it only protects work furnished after a date eight business days before it is delivered or mailed |
| File or register the lien | Laborers, suppliers, equipment renters and site preparation claimants: file the claim of lien with the county recording officer not later than 75 days after ceasing to provide labor, equipment or materials or 75 days after completion of construction, whichever is earlier. Other claimants (such as design professionals): 75 days after completion of construction (ORS 87.035(1)). |
| Enforce or perfect it | Suit must be brought within 120 days after the claim of lien is filed (or 120 days after a stated extended payment ends, max two years) (ORS 87.055). Deliver a notice of intent to foreclose to the owner and mortgagee at least 10 days before filing suit (ORS 87.057). |
| Residential jobs | Residential building means owner-occupied with not more than four units; the commercial exemptions from the notice of right to a lien do not apply to it (ORS 87.021(3)(b)). |
Other notices and rules
- Mail the owner and mortgagee written notice of the filed claim, with a copy attached, within 20 days after filing, or lose costs and attorney fees (ORS 87.039).
Common questions
- Do I need to send a preliminary notice in Oregon?
- Anyone furnishing materials, equipment, services or labor not at the request of the owner (ORS 87.021(1)). On commercial improvements, persons who perform labor, provide labor and materials, or rent equipment are exempt, so material-only suppliers still must send it (87.021(3)(b)). On residential jobs over $2,000, original contractors must instead give the owner the Information Notice to Owner or lose their lien (ORS 87.093). Any time during the improvement, but it only protects work furnished after a date eight business days before it is delivered or mailed.
- How long do I have to file a lien in Oregon?
- Laborers, suppliers, equipment renters and site preparation claimants: file the claim of lien with the county recording officer not later than 75 days after ceasing to provide labor, equipment or materials or 75 days after completion of construction, whichever is earlier. Other claimants (such as design professionals): 75 days after completion of construction (ORS 87.035(1)).
- How long does a Oregon lien last before I have to enforce it?
- Suit must be brought within 120 days after the claim of lien is filed (or 120 days after a stated extended payment ends, max two years) (ORS 87.055). Deliver a notice of intent to foreclose to the owner and mortgagee at least 10 days before filing suit (ORS 87.057).
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 Oregon 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, “Oregon Lien Deadlines 2026: Notice and Filing”, https://www.pavadotech.com/lien-deadlines/oregon, updated 2026-09-24.