Do I need to send a preliminary notice in Utah?

Any person who wants to claim a construction lien, including original contractors, files with the State Construction Registry (Utah Code 38-1a-501(1)(a)). Without it, no lien. No later than 20 days after the day the person commences providing construction work.

How long do I have to file a lien in Utah?

Record the notice of construction lien with the county recorder no later than 180 days after final completion of the original contract if no notice of completion is filed, or 90 days after a notice of completion is filed (but never later than 180 days after final completion) (Utah Code 38-1a-502(1)). Deliver or certified-mail a copy to the owner within 30 days after filing, or lose costs and fees (38-1a-502(4)).

How long does a Utah lien last before I have to enforce it?

File the enforcement action within 180 days after filing the notice of construction lien, and record a notice of pendency of action within that time; otherwise the lien is automatically void (Utah Code 38-1a-701).

Mechanics lien law

Utah lien deadlines for contractors

Updated September 24, 2026 · Checked against primary sources

The short answer

In Utah, every lien claimant, including original contractors, must file a preliminary notice in the State Construction Registry within 20 days after starting work. Record the notice of construction lien within 180 days after final completion of the original contract, or 90 days after a notice of completion. Mail the owner a copy within 30 days. Sue and record a lis pendens within 180 days.

The deadlines

Step	Rule
Preliminary notice: who	Any person who wants to claim a construction lien, including original contractors, files with the State Construction Registry (Utah Code 38-1a-501(1)(a)). Without it, no lien.
Preliminary notice: when	No later than 20 days after the day the person commences providing construction work (A late notice bars a lien for work before five days after it is filed, and a notice filed more than 10 days after a notice of completion has no effect (38-1a-501(1)(c), (d)).)
File or register the lien	Record the notice of construction lien with the county recorder no later than 180 days after final completion of the original contract if no notice of completion is filed, or 90 days after a notice of completion is filed (but never later than 180 days after final completion) (Utah Code 38-1a-502(1)). Deliver or certified-mail a copy to the owner within 30 days after filing, or lose costs and fees (38-1a-502(4)).
Enforce or perfect it	File the enforcement action within 180 days after filing the notice of construction lien, and record a notice of pendency of action within that time; otherwise the lien is automatically void (Utah Code 38-1a-701).
Residential jobs	Liens on an owner-occupied residence must describe the steps under the Residence Lien Restriction and Lien Recovery Fund Act (Title 38, Chapter 11) the owner can take to remove the lien, and the enforcement complaint must include the owner instructions and form (38-1a-502(2)(i), 38-1a-701(6)).

Other notices and rules

On nonresidential projects over $500,000 with no payment bond, a notice of intent to obtain final completion triggers a 20-day deadline for claimants to amend their preliminary notice with balances owed (38-1a-506).

Common questions

Do I need to send a preliminary notice in Utah?: Any person who wants to claim a construction lien, including original contractors, files with the State Construction Registry (Utah Code 38-1a-501(1)(a)). Without it, no lien. No later than 20 days after the day the person commences providing construction work.
How long do I have to file a lien in Utah?: Record the notice of construction lien with the county recorder no later than 180 days after final completion of the original contract if no notice of completion is filed, or 90 days after a notice of completion is filed (but never later than 180 days after final completion) (Utah Code 38-1a-502(1)). Deliver or certified-mail a copy to the owner within 30 days after filing, or lose costs and fees (38-1a-502(4)).
How long does a Utah lien last before I have to enforce it?: File the enforcement action within 180 days after filing the notice of construction lien, and record a notice of pendency of action within that time; otherwise the lien is automatically void (Utah Code 38-1a-701).

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 Utah 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.

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The first conversation and a scoped proposal are free, and we will tell you early if we are not the right fit.

Go deeper

Other states

Sources

Cite this page

Pavado, “Utah Lien Deadlines 2026: Notice and Filing”, https://www.pavadotech.com/lien-deadlines/utah, updated 2026-09-24.