DCDistrict of Columbia
District of Columbia Lien Law Deadlines for Suppliers and Subcontractors
In the District of Columbia, a supplier with lien rights must record a notice of intent to hold a lien during construction or within 90 days after the earlier of completion or termination of the project, mail it to the owner within 5 business days, and sue within 180 days of recording. No preliminary notice is required.
Public date calculations cover Florida and Kansas. District of Columbia dates require qualified review.
Risk context
The District of Columbia is High Risk for Suppliers
D.C. counts the 90-day window from the earlier of project completion or termination, not from your last delivery. A supplier contracting with the owner has a different position from one employed directly by the original contractor. A supplier hired only by a subcontractor has no lien right under the ordinary statutory route: § 40-303.01 grants downstream rights to persons directly employed by the original contractor. Disputed agency or contracting capacity needs individual review.
Deadline schedule
District of Columbia Mechanics Lien Deadlines (Updated 2026)
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| Deadline Type | Timing | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Notice of Intent to Lien | During construction or within 90 days after the earlier of completion or termination | Record the notice with the Recorder of Deeds. Include the sworn, notarized statement, applicable license and good-standing documents, and a copy of any home-improvement contract required by D.C. Code § 40-301.02(b). A noncompliant notice is void. |
| Preliminary Notice | None required | D.C. has no preliminary notice. For a downstream claimant, written notice of the amount owed can affect later payments: the statutory presumption applies if the owner then has a balance due or to become due to the original contractor at least equal to the notice amount (D.C. Code § 40-303.02(b)). |
| Mail to Owner | Within 5 business days after recording | Send the recorded notice to the owner by certified mail, and post it on the property if the mail comes back (D.C. Code § 40-301.02(a)(2)). Subcontractors must also serve the owner by leaving a copy with the owner or its agent, or by posting; until then, the owner's payments to the prime contractor reduce the lien (D.C. Code § 40-303.03). |
| Enforcement | Within 180 days after recording | File suit to enforce within 180 days after the notice of intent is recorded, and record a lis pendens within 10 days after filing suit, or the lien terminates (D.C. Code § 40-303.13). |
| Downstream Lien Amount | Limited by the original contract balance and payments | For a supplier employed directly by the original contractor, the lien is limited to the amount due or to become due but unpaid to that contractor. Owner payments and notice/service order also matter; this is not a blanket cap on a supplier's own direct-owner contract (D.C. Code § 40-303.02). |
| Home-Improvement Payment Defense | Check before relying on a lien | If an owner or occupant contracted with a person to perform or arrange home-improvement work, proof of payment for that work can defeat the lien under § 47-2883.03. Establish the work classification, payment and contract facts; a residential label alone is insufficient. |
| Statutes | D.C. Code § 40-301.01 et seq. | Key sections: §§ 40-301.02, 40-301.03, 40-303.01 to 40-303.03, and 40-303.13. |
Supplier pitfalls
Common Supplier Mistakes in the District of Columbia
Counting from your last delivery
D.C.'s 90 days run from the earlier of project completion or termination. If the project is completed before your final delivery, a count from your last delivery lands too late.
Assuming every supplier tier has lien rights
Identify who bought the materials and their actual role. Supply to the original contractor is covered by § 40-303.01; supply only to a subcontractor is not. Neither a timely filing nor residential use creates a missing statutory right.
Recording a notice that is void on its face
The notice must include the sworn, notarized statement, applicable license and good-standing documents, and a copy of the home-improvement contract when required. A notice without them is void even if it was recorded on time.
Missing the 180-day suit or the 10-day lis pendens
Recording starts a 180-day clock. File suit within 180 days and record a lis pendens within 10 days of filing suit, or the lien terminates.
Deadline calculator
Not Sure Which District of Columbia Deadline Applies?
Use this District of Columbia guide and collect your project facts for qualified review.
Review District of Columbia project factsThe public calculator provides dates only for reviewed Florida and Kansas scenarios; it does not calculate a District of Columbia date.
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the District of Columbia lien law deadlines?
For a supplier with lien rights, record a notice of intent to hold a lien during construction or within 90 days after the earlier of completion or termination of the project. Mail it to the owner within 5 business days after recording, file suit within 180 days of recording, and record a lis pendens within 10 days of filing suit.
How do I make sure my lien deadline is filed on time?
Work from the project's completion or termination date, not your last invoice. Record the notice of intent with the Recorder of Deeds within 90 days after the earlier of those events, mail it to the owner by certified mail within 5 business days, and calendar the 180-day suit deadline the day you record.
Does D.C. require a preliminary notice?
No. The District of Columbia has no preliminary notice. A downstream claimant may notify the owner of the amount owed. Under § 40-303.02(b), the notice is evidence that later payments lack good faith only if, at notice, the owner has a balance due or to become due to the original contractor at least equal to that amount. Full-payment and home-improvement defenses must also be checked.
Are these the 2024 District of Columbia lien law deadlines?
This guide covers current D.C. law, reviewed in October 2026 against the official D.C. Code, rather than a 2024 snapshot. The 90-day recording window, 5-business-day mailing rule, and 180-day enforcement period come from D.C. Code §§ 40-301.02 and 40-303.13. If your claim depends on the law as it stood in 2024, confirm the version in effect with a D.C. construction attorney.
Important note