Mechanic's lien · Los Angeles, CA
Mechanic's lien in Los Angeles, CA
In Los Angeles, contractors must serve a Preliminary Notice within 20 days of first furnishing labor or materials (Civ. Code § 8800) to preserve mechanic's lien rights. The notice must be sent to the property owner and construction lender via certified mail.
Governing statutes
20
days for many preliminary notices (§ 8800)
90
days to record the lien after completion
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The process in Los Angeles
- 1
Serve Preliminary Notice
Within 20 days of first furnishing labor or materials, serve a Preliminary Notice per Civ. Code § 8800(f). Send via certified mail to the owner, general contractor, and construction lender.
Civ. Code § 8800(f)
- 2
Record Mechanic's Lien
If unpaid, record a Mechanic's Lien with the LA County Recorder within 90 days of completion or 60 days after notice of completion, whichever is earlier (Civ. Code § 8410).
Civ. Code § 8410
- 3
File Lien Foreclosure
File a lawsuit to foreclose the mechanic's lien within 90 days of recording. The LA County Superior Court handles lien foreclosure cases.
Los Angeles filing details
Processing time: 2-3 weeks for case assignment · Filing fee: $225
LA County Recorder processes mechanic's lien recordings within 5-7 business days.
Preliminary notice requirements are strictly enforced in California — missing the 20-day deadline forfeits lien rights for work performed before the notice.
Los Angeles Superior Court filing fee for lien foreclosure: $225.
Where a lien is recorded
LA County Registrar-Recorder / County Clerk
12400 Imperial Hwy, Norwalk, CA 90650
Where it is filed
Los Angeles Superior Court — Stanley Mosk Courthouse
111 N Hill St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Documents on this track
Each one is drafted to the citations above — preview free, unlock as a court-ready PDF.
- Preliminary NoticeCiv. § 8800(f)
- Mechanic's LienCiv. § 8400
- Demand LetterPre-lien demand
Questions people ask about Los Angeles
What is the deadline for preliminary notice in LA?+
Contractors must serve a Preliminary Notice within 20 days of first furnishing labor or materials (Civ. Code § 8800). Missing this deadline forfeits lien rights for all work performed before the late notice is served.
How much does it cost to file a mechanic's lien in LA County?+
Recording fees at the LA County Recorder are approximately $14 for the first page and $3 per additional page. The foreclosure lawsuit filing fee at LA Superior Court is $225.
Also in this jurisdiction: Eviction notice (Los Angeles) · Eviction notice (San Diego)
Generate Your LA Preliminary Notice
StatuteFlow generates Civ. Code § 8800-compliant preliminary notices for Los Angeles contractors. Free preview, certified mail ready.