KYKentucky
Kentucky Lien Law Deadlines for Suppliers and Subcontractors
Kentucky generally requires the lien within 6 months after last furnishing, an owner copy within 7 days after filing, and enforcement within 12 months after filing. Suppliers without a direct owner contract also face conditional 75- or 120-day notice rules.
Public date calculations cover Florida and Kansas. Kentucky dates require qualified review.
Risk context
Kentucky is High Risk for Suppliers
For qualifying indirect claims, Kentucky makes owner notice a condition of the lien. Timing depends on claim amount and the statutory dwelling facts; direct-owner suppliers do not automatically owe that notice. After filing, you must mail the owner a copy within 7 days or the lien is dissolved, and a lien without an enforcement suit within 12 months is also dissolved.
Deadline schedule
Kentucky Mechanics Lien Deadlines (Updated 2026)
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| Deadline Type | Timing | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Lien Filing Deadline | 6 months from last furnishing | Must be filed with the county recorder/clerk. In Kentucky that is the county clerk's office, and the statement must be sworn (KRS 376.080(1)). |
| Notice to Owner (claims below $1,000) | Within 75 days after last furnishing | For claims governed by subsection (4), a supplier without a direct contract with the owner, authorized agent or applicable lessee must give written notice. The statute says less than $1,000, not $1,000 or less (KRS 376.010(4)). |
| Notice to Owner (claims over $1,000) | Within 120 days of last furnishing | For indirect claims under subsection (4), the period is 120 days when the amount exceeds $1,000. The text does not assign exactly $1,000 to either amount branch; obtain legal review for that amount rather than selecting a period automatically (KRS 376.010(4)). |
| Owner-Occupied Homes | Within 75 days of last furnishing, any amount | For suppliers without a direct owner or authorized-agent contract, subsection (5) substitutes 75 days for any claim amount on qualifying owner-occupied single- or two-family dwellings and related improvements, including homes built under contract for the owner's dwelling. Prior owner payments can defeat that portion of the lien. A contractor or subcontractor is not the owner's authorized agent for this exception (KRS 376.010(5)). |
| Copy to Owner | Within 7 days of filing | Mail a copy of the filed statement to the owner at the last known address by regular mail. If you do not, the lien is dissolved (KRS 376.080(1)). |
| Enforcement Deadline | 12 months from lien filing | Lawsuit to foreclose on the lien must be filed by this date, or the lien is dissolved (KRS 376.090(1)). |
| Statutes | Governing statutes | KRS §376.010; §376.080; §376.090 |
Supplier pitfalls
Common Supplier Mistakes in Kentucky
Missing the Notice to Owner
For indirect claims, identify the exact claim amount and dwelling facts. Subsection (4) distinguishes less than $1,000 from more than $1,000; a claim of exactly $1,000 needs review. Subsection (5) instead uses 75 days for any amount on qualifying dwellings. Do not replace those distinctions with an assumed universal earlier-date rule. A notice ending on a weekend or holiday needs a specific mailing and timing review; do not assume the filing calendar rules answer that question.
Skipping the 7-day copy to the owner
A lien filed on time is still dissolved if you do not mail the owner a copy within 7 days of filing. Mail it the day you file.
Missing the 12-month enforcement deadline
The lien is dissolved unless you bring an action to enforce it within 12 months of filing the statement.
Deadline calculator
Not Sure Which Kentucky Deadline Applies?
Use this Kentucky guide and collect your project facts for qualified review.
Review Kentucky project factsThe public calculator provides dates only for reviewed Florida and Kansas scenarios; it does not calculate a Kentucky date.
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Kentucky lien law deadlines?
For an indirect claim, check the applicable 75- or 120-day owner notice; direct-owner claims do not automatically require it. Exactly $1,000 under the ordinary amount rule needs legal review. File the lien statement with the county clerk within 6 months of your last furnishing, mail the owner a copy within 7 days of filing, and sue within 12 months of filing.
Does Kentucky require notice before filing a lien?
The duty depends on the contract and property. The ordinary indirect-claim rule uses 75 days for amounts below $1,000 and 120 days above $1,000; exactly $1,000 is not assigned to either branch in the text. Qualifying indirect dwelling claims use 75 days regardless of amount. A direct-owner supplier is not subject to those notices solely because the property is residential (KRS 376.010(4)-(5)).
How long do I have to enforce a Kentucky lien?
12 months from the day you file the lien statement. The lien is dissolved if no enforcement action is brought by then (KRS 376.090). See how long a mechanics lien lasts for how expiration works.
Are these the 2024 Kentucky lien law deadlines?
Yes. The notice rules in KRS 376.010 took effect in their current form on June 29, 2023, so the 75- and 120-day deadlines applied throughout 2024, and the official statutes index still listed that version in 2026. The 6-month filing and 12-month enforcement rules come from KRS 376.080 and 376.090. Confirm with a Kentucky construction attorney before relying on them for a claim.
Important note