Louisiana doesn't call it a mechanics lien. Under the Private Works Act it's a claim and privilege, and your deadline depends on paperwork the owner may or may not have filed: a notice of contract at the start of the job and a notice of termination at the end. Get that wrong and you can be off by a month.
Quick answer: If a notice of contract was filed, subs and suppliers file their statement of claim within 30 days after the notice of termination is filed (or 6 months after substantial completion if none is). If no notice of contract was filed, the deadline is 60 days after the notice of termination or substantial completion (70 days on residential jobs with a 10-day notice). Suit must be filed within 1 year.
Louisiana lien deadlines at a glance
| Step | Who | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Notice of nonpayment (supplier to a sub, notice of contract jobs) | Sellers of materials to a subcontractor | 75 days after the last day of the month of delivery |
| Statement of claim, notice of contract filed | Subs and suppliers | 30 days after notice of termination, or 6 months after substantial completion if none |
| Statement of claim, notice of contract filed | GC | 60 days after notice of termination, or 7 months after substantial completion if none |
| Statement of claim, no notice of contract | Everyone | 60 days after notice of termination or substantial completion |
| Suit and lis pendens | Everyone | Within 1 year after filing the statement of claim |
Who can file a lien in Louisiana
General contractors and owner-hired professionals get a privilege. Subcontractors (including sub-subs), laborers, sellers of materials to a contractor or sub, equipment lessors with a written lease, and engineers or surveyors hired by a contractor also have claims. A supplier to a supplier, or a seller who sold straight to the owner, generally doesn't qualify.
Notices before the lien
Most subs don't need a preliminary notice. Some claimants do:
- Sellers to a subcontractor on a job with a notice of contract must send a notice of nonpayment to the owner and contractor within 75 days after the last day of the month of delivery.
- Equipment lessors must notify the contractor (and the owner if a notice of contract was filed) within 30 days after the equipment reaches the site, or they only recover rent from the notice forward.
On contracts over $100,000, the owner and GC must file a notice of contract before work starts. If they don't, the GC loses its privilege entirely.
Filing the lien
The statement of claim is filed in the mortgage records of the parish where the property is located. It must state the amount and nature of the debt and identify the owner. Since 2020, the law says "no later than," so you can file before the clock starts. Many claimants ask the owner in writing to notify them of substantial completion or the notice of termination so they don't miss the trigger.
Residential jobs
On a residential job with no timely notice of contract, claimants get 70 days instead of 60, but only if they give the owner a written notice of nonpayment at least 10 days before filing.
After you file
When a notice of contract was filed and lists the owner's address, deliver a copy of the filed statement to the owner. Then you must file suit within 1 year after filing the statement and record a notice of lis pendens within that year, or the claim and privilege are extinguished.
Mistakes that cost Louisiana contractors their lien
- Assuming you have 60 days when a notice of contract and notice of termination were filed. Subs then have only 30 days.
- A GC starting a job over $100,000 without a filed notice of contract.
- Suppliers missing the 75-day notice of nonpayment, or anyone missing the 1-year suit and lis pendens deadline.
Missed the deadline or the lien didn't pay?
The debt doesn't go away when lien rights do. The party that hired you still owes you, and we can pursue it through construction collections on contingency, 10% to 33%, with no charge if we don't collect. Here's what you can still do.
Still in your window? We prepare, file and serve Louisiana liens, usually in about 2 business days. Start a lien →
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to file a lien in Louisiana?
It depends on whether a notice of contract was filed. With one, subs and suppliers have 30 days after the notice of termination (or 6 months after substantial completion if none is filed). Without one, everyone has 60 days after the notice of termination or substantial completion.
What is a notice of termination in Louisiana?
It's a document the owner files when the work is done or abandoned. Filing it starts the clock for lien claims, so watch the parish records near the end of a job.
How long does a Louisiana lien last?
You must file suit and record a lis pendens within 1 year after filing the statement of claim.
This article is general information, not legal advice. LevelSet Collections is not a law firm. Deadlines are based on the Louisiana Private Works Act, La. R.S. 9:4801 et seq., as revised effective January 1, 2020 as of October 2026, and lien laws change. Confirm your dates for your specific job. Sources: La. R.S. 9:4822, La. R.S. 9:4802, La. R.S. 9:4811.
Owed money on a Louisiana job?
Liens from $199, filed in about 2 business days. Call (469) 694-8003.
