California mechanics lien, stop payment notice and bond deadlines

California's mechanics lien rules are in Part 6 of Division 4 of the Civil Code. This is a summary of the key deadlines, not legal advice.

Private works

• Preliminary notice: give it no later than 20 days after you first furnish work. A late notice still protects work furnished within the 20 days before it was served and afterward (Civil Code § 8204).
• Direct contractors must record a claim of lien after completing their contract and before the earlier of 90 days after completion of the work of improvement or 60 days after the owner records a notice of completion or cessation (§ 8412).
• Everyone else (subs, suppliers, laborers) must record before 90 days after completion, or 30 days after a recorded notice of completion or cessation (§ 8414).
• Enforcement: sue to enforce within 90 days after recording the claim of lien, or it expires (§ 8460).

Public works

Liens do not attach to public property. Instead, a claimant who did not contract directly with the direct contractor must give preliminary notice to the public entity and the direct contractor (§ 9300). A stop payment notice is effective only if given within 30 days after a recorded notice of completion, acceptance or cessation, or 90 days after completion or cessation if none is recorded (§ 9356).

A direct contractor on a public works contract over $25,000 must give a payment bond before work begins (§ 9550). An action on the bond must be filed no later than six months after the stop payment notice period ends (§ 9558).

Summary for general information, reviewed 2026-10-30. Not legal advice; check the source before relying on a deadline or threshold.