This South Dakota lien deadline calculator is for prime contractors, subcontractors, sub-subcontractors, suppliers to subs and laborers. Enter your role and your last day of labor or materials, and it shows each deadline under SDCL chapter 44-9 with the statute section next to it.
Sub-subs and suppliers to subs tell us whether a Notice of Project Commencement was filed, because that decides whether a notice to the named contractor is due 60 days after your last day. Everyone gets the 120-day lien statement deadline, the reminder to mail the owner a copy before filing, and the date the lien expires if it isn't enforced.
It takes about 20 seconds, and it's free. When you're ready to file, LevelSet Collections mails the owner's copy by certified mail and files your verified lien statement with the register of deeds, in all 66 South Dakota counties. Liens are $199 to $500 all-inclusive.
Leave blank if you haven't filed 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 South Dakota liens
- Filing without first mailing the owner a copy by registered or certified mail.
- Forgetting to attach the post office receipt to the lien statement.
- Treating the six-year window as safe and missing the 30-day deadline after a demand to sue.
- A sub-sub or supplier to a sub missing the 60-day notice on a project with a posted commencement notice.
- A lien statement that isn't verified or lacks an itemized account.
- Expecting the lien to reach an exempt homestead.
Every deadline above comes from SDCL chapter 44-9. For the full rules, read the South Dakota mechanics lien filing guide →
- South Dakota 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 66 South Dakota 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 South Dakota?
120 days after you did the last work or furnished the last item. The verified lien statement is filed with the register of deeds of the county where the property sits (SDCL 44-9-15).
Do I have to notify the owner before filing in South Dakota?
Yes. Before filing, mail a copy of the lien statement to the owner's last known post office address by registered or certified mail, and attach the post office receipt to the statement when you file (SDCL 44-9-17).
What is a Notice of Project Commencement in South Dakota?
An optional notice the owner or prime contractor can file with the register of deeds within 30 days after work starts and post at the job site (SDCL 44-9-50, 44-9-51). If one exists, sub-subs and suppliers to subs must mail the named contractor a notice, with a copy to the owner, within 60 days after their last furnishing (SDCL 44-9-53).
How long does a South Dakota lien last?
Up to six years from the last item in the lien statement (SDCL 44-9-24). But if the owner, the owner's agent or a contractor serves a written demand to sue, you have 30 days to start suit or the lien is forfeited (SDCL 44-9-26).
Does a South Dakota lien reach a homestead?
Not to the extent the homestead is exempt from levy and sale on execution (SDCL 44-9-5).
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.
