Washington's 60-day rule confuses people. It isn't a deadline to send the Notice to Owner. It's a lookback: the notice protects only what you furnished in the 60 days before you sent it. Send it late and you lose everything older than that.
Quick answer: Suppliers and professionals send a Notice to Owner as early as possible; it covers the 60 days before it's sent (10 days on new single-family homes). Everyone records the lien within 90 days of last furnishing, serves the owner within 14 days, and files foreclosure within 8 months.
Washington lien deadlines at a glance
| Step | Who | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Notice to Owner | Material and equipment suppliers, professionals (and some subs on home remodels) | Send early: covers only the prior 60 days (10 on new single-family homes) |
| Claim of lien | Everyone | 90 days after last furnishing |
| Copy to owner | Everyone | 14 days after filing for recording |
| Foreclosure suit | Everyone | 8 months after recording; serve the owner within 90 days of filing |
Who can file a lien in Washington
Anyone who furnishes labor, professional services, materials or equipment at the request of the owner or the owner's agent can lien. A contractor that must be registered has to actually be registered.
Notices before the lien
Material and equipment suppliers and professional service providers must send the owner a statutory Notice to Owner. Exempt: anyone hired directly by the owner, pure laborers, and subs hired directly by the prime (except on owner-occupied home remodels). Send by certified or registered mail or personal delivery.
Prime contractors on residential work of four or fewer units must give the customer the contractor disclosure statement before starting, or they can't lien.
Filing the lien
Record the claim of lien in the county where the property sits within 90 days after you last furnished labor, services, materials or equipment. It must be signed under penalty of perjury and notarized.
Residential jobs
On owner-occupied home remodels, anyone not hired directly by the owner (including subs) must notify the owner, and their lien is limited to what the owner still owes the prime. On new single-family homes, the Notice to Owner lookback is only 10 days.
After you file
Within 14 days after filing for recording, send the owner a copy by certified or registered mail or personal service. Missing this doesn't void the lien, but you lose the right to recover attorney's fees. Foreclosure must be filed within 8 months after recording, and the owner served within 90 days after filing suit. Owners can challenge a lien as frivolous at a fast-track hearing, and the loser pays fees.
Mistakes that cost Washington contractors their lien
- Treating the 60 days as a deadline instead of a lookback, and sending the Notice to Owner late.
- A prime contractor on a home job skipping the contractor disclosure statement.
- Missing the 14-day owner copy (losing attorney's fees) or the 8-month foreclosure 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 Washington liens, usually in about 2 business days. Start a lien →
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to file a construction lien in Washington?
90 days after you last furnished labor, services, materials or equipment.
What is the Washington 60-day notice rule?
The Notice to Owner only protects what you furnished in the 60 days before you sent it (10 days on new single-family homes). It's a lookback, not a fixed deadline.
How long does a Washington lien last?
8 months after recording, unless you file a foreclosure suit.
This article is general information, not legal advice. LevelSet Collections is not a law firm. Deadlines are based on Revised Code of Washington chapter 60.04 as of October 2026, and lien laws change. Confirm your dates for your specific job. Sources: RCW 60.04.031, RCW 60.04.091, RCW 60.04.141.
Owed money on a Washington job?
Liens from $199, filed in about 2 business days. Call (469) 694-8003.
