This Minnesota lien deadline calculator is for prime contractors, subcontractors and suppliers. Enter your role, the type of project and your first and last days of labor or materials, and it shows each deadline under Minn. Stat. chapter 514 with the statute section next to it.
Minnesota's pre-lien notice applies to homes of four units or fewer and smaller commercial jobs, so the project type decides whether you need one. Within the same 120 days after your last item, the lien statement has to be recorded and served on the owner, and the calculator shows both. The suit deadline runs from the last item in your lien statement, not the date you file.
It takes about 20 seconds, and it's free. When you're ready to file, LevelSet Collections records your lien statement with the right office and serves the owner, in all 87 Minnesota counties. Liens are $199 to $500 all-inclusive.
Leave blank if you haven't recorded yet.
Public project? You can't lien public property, but you can still get paid. Ask us how. We get contractors, subs and suppliers paid on public work across the country through Freedom of Information Act and state public-records requests for the contract and payment bond, and Miller Act and state Little Miller Act bond claims. Call or text (469) 694-8003.
What sinks Minnesota liens
- A prime contractor leaving the pre-lien notice language out of its owner contract.
- A sub or supplier missing the 45-day pre-lien notice on a job that wasn't exempt.
- Recording within 120 days but never serving the owner within the same 120 days.
- Sending a Torrens lien to the county recorder instead of the registrar of titles.
- Filing suit without recording a lis pendens within the year.
Every deadline above comes from Minn. Stat. chapter 514. For the full rules, read the Minnesota mechanics lien filing guide →
- Minnesota mechanics lien filing
- Lien deadlines by state
- Mechanics lien filing in all 18 states
- Construction collections if your lien window has closed
Pricing and turnaround
Liens are $199 to $500, and that includes recording fees, notarizing and serving. Pre-lien notices are $100. Notices of intent are $100. Typical turnaround is 2 business days, and there's no minimum claim amount. We file in all 87 Minnesota counties. Collections run on contingency, 10% to 33%, with no charge if we don't collect. Call (469) 694-8003, Monday through Friday, 8am to 7pm.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to file a mechanics lien in Minnesota?
120 days after your last item of labor or materials. Within those same 120 days the lien statement has to be recorded and a copy served on the owner, personally or by certified mail (Minn. Stat. 514.08, subd. 1).
Do I need a pre-lien notice in Minnesota?
On most homes and smaller commercial jobs, yes. A contractor dealing directly with the owner puts it in the written contract (or delivers it within 10 days after the work is agreed on), and subs and suppliers give it to the owner within 45 days after first furnishing (Minn. Stat. 514.011, subds. 1 and 2).
Which Minnesota projects don't need a pre-lien notice?
Wholly residential buildings with more than four units, and nonresidential projects that add more than 5,000 usable square feet, sit on property that already has more than 5,000, or involve no building on a property over 5,000 square feet (Minn. Stat. 514.011, subds. 4b and 4c).
What is Torrens property, and why does it matter for my lien?
Torrens (registered) land is recorded with the county registrar of titles instead of the county recorder. A Minnesota lien statement has to go to the right one (Minn. Stat. 514.08). We check the certificate of title before filing.
How long does a Minnesota lien last?
One year after the date of the last item in the lien statement. The lien must be asserted in a lawsuit, with a notice of lis pendens recorded, within that year or it can't be enforced (Minn. Stat. 514.12).
This page is general information, not legal advice. LevelSet Collections is not a law firm; we prepare and file liens and notices as agent for the claimant. Deadlines change and depend on the facts of your job. We'll check your dates against the statute before filing.
Inside your deadline?
Liens $199 to $500, recording, notarizing and serving included. Usually filed in 2 business days. Call (469) 694-8003.
