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

For Virginia, preliminary notice required is conditional — required on residential (1-4 family) projects where owner designates a Mechanics Lien Agent on the building permit; not required on commercial projects; notice name is Preliminary Notice; notice deadline — gc (days) is 30; notice deadline — sub/supplier (days) is 30; lien recording deadline — gc (days) is 90, recorded from its source on 2026-08-14.

- **State:** Virginia _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Preliminary notice required:** conditional — required on residential (1-4 family) projects where owner designates a Mechanics Lien Agent on the building permit; not required on commercial projects _(our reading, not quoted from the source)_
- **Notice name:** Preliminary Notice _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Notice deadline — GC (days):** 30 _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Notice deadline — sub/supplier (days):** 30 _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Lien recording deadline — GC (days):** 90 _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Lien recording deadline — sub/supplier (days):** 90 _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Enforcement deadline (days):** 180
- **Lien scope:** unpaid balance _(our reading, not quoted from the source)_
- **Late notice consequence:** forfeiture _(our reading, not quoted from the source)_
- **Statute:** Va. Code §43-1 et seq. _(verified: appears in the quote below)_

## What the source says

> 90-day notice for remote claimants, and a one-year deadline to sue on covered public contracts. Read the Guide <https://www.mechanicslien.com/blog/thing-consider-filing-mechanics-lien-in-virginia> 10 Things to Consider When Filing a Mechanics Lien in Virginia Virginia mechanics lien filing involves the unpaid-balance rule, preliminary notice and lien deadlines, licensing, notarization, and mailing requirements. Read the Guide Frequently Asked Questions What statute governs mechanic liens in Virginia? Mechanic liens in Virginia are governed by Va. Code §43-1 et seq. (§43-1 to §43-23.2 for mechanic liens, §43-64 to §43-71 for enforcement). Public works payment bonds are governed by Va. Code §2-2-4337, requiring a 100% bond on contracts over $100,000. Is a preliminary notice required to file a mechanic lien in Virginia? For residential projects (1-2 family dwellings) where a Mechanic&#x27;s Lien Agent is designated on the building permit, notice must be given to the agent within 30 days of first performance or 30 days after permit issuance.

## Source

- https://mechanicslien.com/virginia

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/).