Massachusetts lien deadlines for your job.
Pick your role. Enter your first and last day. See every deadline, with the statute.
Next: Record a notice of contract
Sat, Feb 27, 2027. Massachusetts, sub.
Not legal advice. Public jobs take a bond claim, not a lien. Check the statute or a lawyer before you count on a date.
Massachusetts lien deadlines by role
| Role | Preliminary notice | Record the lien |
|---|---|---|
| GC (contract with the owner) | None on a typical job | 90 days after your last day on the job Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 254, § 2 |
| Subcontractor | None on a typical job | 120 days after your last day on the job Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 254, § 4 |
| Supplier | Notice of identification: 30 days after your first day on the job | 120 days after your last day on the job Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 254, § 4 |
Enforce it
Sue to enforce the lien: see the dates the tool works out above; After the notice of contract you also record a statement of account, then sue within 90 days of that. We count from the notice-of-contract deadline to be safe. (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 254, §§ 5, 8, 11)
This is not legal advice. Lien deadlines are strict and they change with the contract, the type of project (a home vs. a commercial job), and what the owner records. Public jobs don't take liens at all: you make a bond claim instead. Check the statute we cite, or call a construction lawyer in that state, before you count on a date. Main statute: Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 254.
Never miss a lien date again.
Dozer keeps every job's dates in one place and reminds you before each one. Your first and last day come from the site record, not memory.
- Preliminary notice, lien and suit dates per job
- Reminders a week and a day before
- Waivers matched to each payment
- First and last day from the gate camera
LIVE 3 jobs · next date in 9 days Photo is an AI-generated stand-in, not a customer site.
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Questions crews ask
What is the deadline to file a mechanics lien in Massachusetts?
A GC records it 90 days after your last day on the job. A subcontractor or supplier records it 120 days after your last day on the job. It can be shorter if 90 days after a notice of substantial completion, or 120 days after a notice of termination, is recorded. (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 254, § 2).
Do I need a preliminary notice in Massachusetts?
Supplier: Notice of identification: 30 days after your first day on the job.
How long do I have to enforce a lien in Massachusetts?
90 days after you record the lien. After the notice of contract you also record a statement of account, then sue within 90 days of that. We count from the notice-of-contract deadline to be safe. (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 254, §§ 5, 8, 11).
Can I put a lien on a public project in Massachusetts?
No. Public property can't be liened. On a public job you make a claim on the contractor's payment bond instead, under the state's Little Miller Act (or the federal Miller Act on federal work), with its own notice deadlines.
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