Reference Source

California

For California, preliminary notice required is conditional — not required for GC; required for subs/suppliers within 20 days of first furnishing; notice name is Preliminary 20-Day Notice; notice deadline — gc (days) is not required; notice deadline — sub/supplier (days) is 20; lien recording deadline — gc (days) is 90, recorded from its source on 2026-08-14.

State
California
Preliminary notice required
conditional — not required for GC; required for subs/suppliers within 20 days of first furnishing our reading
Notice name
Preliminary 20-Day Notice
Notice deadline — GC (days)
not required
Notice deadline — sub/supplier (days)
20 verified
Lien recording deadline — GC (days)
90
Lien recording deadline — sub/supplier (days)
90
Enforcement deadline (days)
90
Lien scope
full price lien our reading
Late notice consequence
partial our reading
Statute
West's Civil Code §8000–9566
Sourcemechanicslien.com
Verified
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DatasetMechanics lien filing deadlines, preliminary notice requirements, and enforcement windows by US state and party role

Values marked our reading are our classification of what the source says — the source does not print them in those words. The quote below is the evidence for each one; judge it yourself.

What the source says

Subcontractors and materialmen must serve a written preliminary notice to the owner, contractor, and construction lender within 20 days of first furnishing labor or materials. If sent late, it relates back only to 20 days before it was sent. CC §8102, §8200.

mechanicslien.com, retrieved 2026-08-14

Source

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