# North Carolina — Mechanics lien filing deadlines, preliminary notice requirements, and enforcement windows by US state and party role

For North Carolina, preliminary notice required is yes — all claimants must serve Notice to Lien Agent within 15 days of first furnishing on projects where owner has designated a lien agent; notice name is Notice to Lien Agent; notice deadline — gc (days) is 15; notice deadline — sub/supplier (days) is 15; lien recording deadline — gc (days) is 120, recorded from its source on 2026-08-14.

- **State:** North Carolina _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Preliminary notice required:** yes — all claimants must serve Notice to Lien Agent within 15 days of first furnishing on projects where owner has designated a lien agent _(our reading, not quoted from the source)_
- **Notice name:** Notice to Lien Agent _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Notice deadline — GC (days):** 15 _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Notice deadline — sub/supplier (days):** 15 _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Lien recording deadline — GC (days):** 120 _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Lien recording deadline — sub/supplier (days):** 120 _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Enforcement deadline (days):** 180 _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Late notice consequence:** forfeiture _(our reading, not quoted from the source)_
- **Statute:** NC Real Property §44A-7 through 24 _(verified: appears in the quote below)_

## What the source says

> NC Real Property §44A-7 Through 24 — Private Works, Mechanic Lien on Funds, Payment Bonds & Public Projects <https://app.mechanicslien.com/?mode=sign-up> Create Your Account <https://www.mechanicslien.com/get-help/north-carolina> File a Claim <tel:+18004327799> Call (800) 432-7799 Free NC Deadline Calculator Calculate your North Carolina deadlines and get a free consultation. North Carolina mechanic lien deadline table with toggles for project type and claimant type. North Carolina Preliminary Notice & Mechanic Lien Deadlines Select your project type and role to see the deadlines that apply to you. Project Type Private Projects Public Works Select Your Tier Prime Contractor Subcontractors & Suppliers Remote Claimants Prime Contractor — In privity with the property owner Preliminary Notice Mechanic Lien Enforcement 15 days Serve a Notice to Lien Agent within 15 days of first furnishing on projects where the owner has designated a lien agent under N.C.G.S. §44A-11.2. A Claim of Lien on Funds is not required for a contractor in direct contract with the owner. Send Preliminary Notice 120 days Record the Claim of Lien on Real Property with the county clerk of superior court within 120 days after last furnishing labor or materials. N.C.G.S. §44A-12(b). File Mechanic Lien 180 days Commence an action to enforce the lien within 180 days after last furnishing labor or materials.

## Source

- https://mechanicslien.com/north-carolina

Last verified: 2026-08-14. Review by: 2027-08-14.
Part of [Mechanics lien filing deadlines, preliminary notice requirements, and enforcement windows by US state and party role](https://referencesource.org/mechanics-lien-deadlines-by-state/).