Mechanics lien law
District of Columbia lien deadlines for contractors
Updated · Checked against primary sources
The short answer
In Washington, DC, record a notice of intent in the land records during construction or within 90 days after the earlier of project completion or termination. Contractors must mail the owner a copy by certified mail within 5 business days; subcontractors must serve the owner. File suit within 180 days after recording and record a notice of pendency within 10 days of filing.
The deadlines
| Step | Rule |
|---|---|
| Preliminary notice: who | None required to preserve lien rights. Subcontractors, materialmen and suppliers may give the owner written notice of amounts due to them. |
| Preliminary notice: when | Optional, at any time while the owner still owes the prime contractor. (If the owner receives that written notice while it still owes the prime at least the noticed amount, later payments to the prime are prima facie not made in good faith (D.C. Code 40-303.02(b)). Contract clauses that bar subs from contacting the owner are void to that extent.) |
| File or register the lien | Record a notice of intent in the land records during construction or within 90 days after the earlier of completion or termination of the project; otherwise the lien terminates (D.C. Code 40-301.02(a)(1)). A contractor must send a copy to the owner by certified mail within 5 business days after recording, or post it on the property if the mail is returned (40-301.02(a)(2)). Subcontractors and suppliers hired by the prime have the same rights and obligations and must also serve the notice on the owner; until they do, the owner's payments to the prime reduce their lien (40-303.01, 40-303.03). |
| Enforce or perfect it | File suit (a bill in equity) within 180 days after the notice of intent is recorded, and record a notice of pendency of action in the land records within 10 days of filing suit. Missing either deadline terminates the lien (D.C. Code 40-303.13, 40-303.08). |
| Residential jobs | If the work was done under a home improvement contract, a copy of that contract must be attached to the notice of intent (D.C. Code 40-301.02(b)(8)). |
Other notices and rules
- If the owner has paid the prime contractor in full in good faith, subcontractors and suppliers have no lien (D.C. Code 40-303.02(b)).
- The notice of intent must include the contractor's license and a recent certificate of good standing where applicable, plus a sworn, notarized statement (D.C. Code 40-301.02(b)).
Common questions
- Do I need to send a preliminary notice in District of Columbia?
- None required to preserve lien rights. Subcontractors, materialmen and suppliers may give the owner written notice of amounts due to them. Optional, at any time while the owner still owes the prime contractor..
- How long do I have to file a lien in District of Columbia?
- Record a notice of intent in the land records during construction or within 90 days after the earlier of completion or termination of the project; otherwise the lien terminates (D.C. Code 40-301.02(a)(1)). A contractor must send a copy to the owner by certified mail within 5 business days after recording, or post it on the property if the mail is returned (40-301.02(a)(2)). Subcontractors and suppliers hired by the prime have the same rights and obligations and must also serve the notice on the owner; until they do, the owner's payments to the prime reduce their lien (40-303.01, 40-303.03).
- How long does a District of Columbia lien last before I have to enforce it?
- File suit (a bill in equity) within 180 days after the notice of intent is recorded, and record a notice of pendency of action in the land records within 10 days of filing suit. Missing either deadline terminates the lien (D.C. Code 40-303.13, 40-303.08).
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 District of Columbia 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
- D.C. Code 40-301.01 (contractor lien)
- D.C. Code 40-301.02 (notice of intent)
- D.C. Code 40-303.02 (subcontractor limits)
- D.C. Code 40-303.03 (notice to owner)
- D.C. Code 40-303.13 (time to sue)
Cite this page
Pavado, “District of Columbia Lien Deadlines 2026”, https://www.pavadotech.com/lien-deadlines/washington-dc, updated 2026-09-24.