Oregon Mechanics Lien Deadline Calculator
Oregon mechanics lien deadlines are strict - miss the 75-day filing window by a single day and your lien is permanently unenforceable, no exceptions. Enter your project dates below to get your exact Notice of Right to Lien, lien filing, and enforcement deadlines under Oregon lien law (ORS Chapter 87). Free, no sign-up required.
Unlicensed contractors cannot enforce a mechanics lien in Oregon. - Check CCB License →
Step 1 of 4
What type of project is it?
The project type determines which notice rules apply.
Step 2 of 4
What is your role on the project?
Your role determines whether you need to send a preliminary notice.
Step 3 of 4
Who hired you?
This determines whether you have a direct contract with the property owner.
Step 4 of 4
When did you work on the project?
Use your best estimate if unsure - these dates determine your deadlines.
Your deadlines
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days
For guidance only. Deadlines may vary. Consult a licensed Oregon construction attorney before taking legal action.
The Oregon Mechanics Lien Mistakes That Invalidate Claims
After working through thousands of Oregon contractor license and compliance records, these are the errors that come up most often - and the ones that courts will not forgive.
The 75-day clock runs from the last day you personally provided labor or materials - not from project completion, not from the date the GC finished, and not from the date the property owner took occupancy. Warranty callbacks and punch list repairs done after substantial completion do not extend the deadline. If you stop on-site work on March 1 and return only for a minor repair on April 15, the April 15 date likely does not restart the clock. When in doubt, use the earlier date.
Many subcontractors and suppliers on residential projects assume the GC handles notice requirements. They don't. If you have no direct contract with the property owner on a residential project, you must serve your own Notice of Right to Lien within 8 days of your first day on site (ORS 87.183). Miss this and your lien only covers work done after you eventually serve notice - you permanently lose coverage for the early work.
Oregon has 36 counties. A lien must be filed with the county clerk in the county where the property is physically located - not where the contractor or property owner lives, and not where the contract was signed. Filing in the wrong county makes the lien invalid. For projects near county lines, always verify the correct county using the county assessor's records.
A filed lien is not self-executing. Under ORS 87.055, you must file a lawsuit to enforce the lien within 120 days of the lien filing date - not 120 days from your last day of work. Many contractors file the lien, then wait while negotiating payment, and accidentally let the enforcement window expire. The lien then becomes worthless regardless of how much you are owed. Track the enforcement deadline separately from the filing deadline.
Under ORS 701.131, a contractor who is required to hold a CCB license but does not cannot enforce a construction lien in Oregon. If your license expired before or during the project, courts may void your lien entirely - even if the work was completed and the amount owed is undisputed. Verify your license status before starting any project. Check your CCB license →
Oregon Mechanics Lien Timeline - Day by Day
Here is how a typical Oregon residential construction lien plays out from first day on site to enforcement. Dates are calendar days unless noted.
First day you provide labor or materials on site. This is the start date for the 8-day Notice of Right to Lien clock (subcontractors and suppliers on residential projects).
If you have no direct contract with the property owner on a residential project, you must serve the Notice of Right to Lien by this date (ORS 87.183). General contractors with a direct owner contract are exempt. Missing this date means losing lien coverage for the first days of work.
The final day you personally provide labor or materials. This starts the 75-day lien filing window. Do not include warranty work or minor returns after substantial completion unless they involve substantive new labor or materials.
File the lien claim with the county clerk of the county where the property is located by this date (ORS 87.035). No exceptions, no extensions. A lien filed on day 76 is void. Once filed, the lien clouds the property title and typically prompts the owner or GC to resolve payment.
If payment has not been resolved, you must file a lawsuit to enforce the lien within 120 days of the lien filing date (ORS 87.055) - not from your last day of work. If no lawsuit is filed, the lien automatically expires. In practice, most disputes settle before this point because the filed lien blocks the property from being sold or refinanced.
When NOT to File a Mechanics Lien in Oregon
A mechanics lien is a powerful tool - but it is not always the right one. Filing a lien has real costs and consequences that contractors and suppliers should weigh before proceeding.
Filing fees, attorney preparation, and potential litigation costs can easily exceed $1,500-$3,000 for a straightforward lien. For disputed amounts under $2,000-$3,000, Oregon Small Claims Court (up to $10,000) is often faster and cheaper.
An unlicensed contractor required to hold a CCB license generally cannot enforce an Oregon construction lien (ORS 701.131). Filing without a valid license risks having the lien voided and may expose you to additional liability. Verify your license first →
Filing a lien against a general contractor or property owner you regularly work with is often a relationship-ending move. If there is a realistic path to resolving the dispute through negotiation, exhaust that option first - especially if the project is not yet complete.
On some projects, the owner or GC may have obtained a payment bond that provides an alternative recovery path. Filing on the bond is often simpler and faster than a property lien. Ask whether a bond exists before filing.
Understanding Oregon Lien Deadlines
Oregon mechanics lien law - known in statute as a construction lien under ORS Chapter 87 - gives contractors, subcontractors, and material suppliers a powerful legal tool to secure payment. But the protection is only as good as your compliance with the deadlines. Miss the 75-day window to file a construction lien in Oregon and your rights are permanently gone. Skip the 8-day Notice of Right to Lien on a residential project and you lose coverage for all work performed before the notice. File the lien but ignore the 120-day enforcement deadline and the lien expires automatically - regardless of how much you're owed. For the full legal background on notices, filing procedures, and lien releases, see our Oregon mechanics lien guide →
Notice of Right to Lien - subcontractors & suppliers on residential projects
Under Oregon lien law (ORS 87.183), subcontractors and material suppliers who have no direct contract with the property owner must serve a Notice of Right to Lien within 8 days of first providing labor or materials on a residential project. This notice informs the property owner that a party they may not have hired directly has lien rights against their property.
Missing the 8-day deadline does not eliminate your lien rights entirely - but your Oregon construction lien will only cover work performed after the notice was eventually served. Work provided in those first 8+ days is excluded from the lien claim. Serve the notice as soon as possible even if you've already missed the window. Prime contractors with a direct contract with the property owner are exempt from this requirement.
Lien filing deadline - all claimants, residential and commercial
The 75-day deadline is the most critical in Oregon mechanics lien law. Under ORS 87.035, any contractor, subcontractor, or supplier must file their construction lien claim with the county clerk in the county where the property is located within 75 days of the last date labor or materials were provided. This deadline applies to both residential and commercial projects.
A lien filed on day 76 is completely unenforceable - there are no exceptions and no extensions. When filing, use a proper Oregon construction lien form that includes your name and address, the property owner's name, a description of the work or materials, the amount claimed, and the property description. County filing fees are typically $15-$30 per page. Oregon does not provide a single official state form - many contractors use an Oregon construction attorney or a lien service to prepare the document correctly.
Enforcement lawsuit deadline - after the lien is filed
Filing the lien with the county recorder is not enough. Under ORS 87.055, you must also file a lawsuit to enforce the mechanics lien within 120 days of the lien filing date - not from your last day of work. If no lawsuit is filed within this window, the lien expires automatically and becomes unenforceable, regardless of how much you are owed.
In practice, most Oregon lien disputes are resolved through negotiation after the lien is filed and before a lawsuit is necessary. The filed lien clouds the property title, which motivates property owners and general contractors to resolve payment disputes quickly. Once paid, you must file a release of lien - also called a lien release or lien waiver - with the same county clerk where the original lien was recorded.
Frequently Asked Questions
Last updated: April 2026. General information only - not legal advice. Consult a licensed Oregon attorney before taking legal action.
Ferran built CCB Lookup to make Oregon contractor license verification faster and more accessible. The tool is based on analysis of 47,000+ active and historical Oregon CCB license records across all 36 counties. CCB Lookup is independent and not affiliated with the Oregon Construction Contractors Board or any government agency.
Key Deadlines - Oregon
- 8 days Notice of Right to Lien - from first furnishing (subs & suppliers, residential)
- 75 days File lien with county clerk - from last furnishing
- 120 days File lawsuit to enforce - from lien filing date
Verify Your CCB License
An unlicensed contractor cannot enforce a mechanics lien in Oregon. Verify your license is active before starting work.
Check CCB LicenseQuick Mistake Checklist
- CCB license is active
- Correct start date used (your first day)
- Correct last date used (your last day)
- Notice of Right to Lien served within 8 days
- Filing in the correct county
- Lien filed within 75 days
- Enforcement lawsuit tracked (120 days from filing)