Iowa Notice of Commencement — MNLR Filing Guide & Form (2026)
✓ Verified against Iowa statutes · Reviewed August 2026 · By Michael Evan — Founder · 50 states · 799 rules
Iowa mechanics lien deadlines at a glance
Preliminary Notice
Post to MNLR — Mechanics Notice Registry
Mechanics Lien
90 days — From last date of furnishing (post-90)
Enforcement
2 years — From filing
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Who Posts the Iowa NOC
The general contractor on a residential 1-2 family project posts the Notice of Commencement on the MNLR under Iowa Code § 572.13A. Iowa places the posting burden on the general contractor — not the homeowner, lender, or sub-tier claimants. Iowa § 572.13A applies only to owner-occupied single or two-family residential dwellings; on Iowa commercial projects there is no Notice of Commencement requirement and no Preliminary Notice obligation under § 572.13B for sub-tier claimants. The general contractor's posting on the MNLR is the Day-1 step that protects the residential project's lien-priority framework.
When the Iowa NOC Must Be Posted
Within 10 days after commencement of work on the residential property under Iowa Code § 572.13A. Commencement is the date physical work begins on the property — site preparation, demolition, framing, or first delivery of materials all count. Iowa does not use the open-ended 'before commencement' rule of Florida, Michigan, and Ohio, nor the 15-day window of Georgia. Iowa is precisely 10 days from physical commencement. Posting earlier — on the day work begins — is best practice and gives sub-tier claimants the longest possible window to post Preliminary Notices under § 572.13B.
Required Information on the Iowa NOC
Iowa Code § 572.13A and the MNLR portal at the Iowa Secretary of State require the legal description of the residential real property, the parcel number assigned by the county assessor, the name and address of the owner, the name and address of the general contractor, the name and address of the construction lender (if any), and the date of commencement of work. The MNLR portal at sos.iowa.gov is a structured electronic form that prompts for each required field — there is no paper alternative under Iowa's statewide registry framework.
Where to File: MNLR Statewide Registry
Iowa Notices of Commencement are posted electronically on the Mechanics' Notice and Lien Registry (MNLR) at the Iowa Secretary of State's website (sos.iowa.gov). Iowa abolished county-by-county recording for mechanics lien chapter 572 filings in 2013 and consolidated all postings into the statewide MNLR. Whether the project is in Polk County (Des Moines), Linn County (Cedar Rapids), Johnson County (Iowa City), Scott County (Davenport), Black Hawk County (Waterloo), Pottawattamie County (Council Bluffs), Woodbury County (Sioux City), Dubuque County (Dubuque), Story County (Ames), or any of Iowa's 99 counties, the Notice posts to the same statewide MNLR. A Notice filed with a County Recorder by mistake creates no valid notice.
Connection to the Residential Preliminary Notice
Once the general contractor posts the Notice of Commencement on the MNLR, every sub-tier claimant on the residential project — subcontractors, sub-subcontractors, material suppliers, equipment lessors — must post a Preliminary Notice on the MNLR under § 572.13B before the homeowner makes final payment to the general contractor in order to preserve lien rights against the homestead. A sub-tier claimant who waits until after final payment loses lien rights to the extent of payments already made. The Notice of Commencement is the public roadmap that tells subs and suppliers a Preliminary Notice obligation exists on this project.
How to Amend an Iowa NOC
When project facts change — a new construction lender comes in, the parcel number is corrected, or the project address is updated — the general contractor should post an amended Notice of Commencement on the MNLR through the same Iowa Secretary of State portal. Amended Notices update the project record going forward; sub-tier claimants serve their Preliminary Notice obligation against the most-recently-posted Notice of Commencement. The Mechanics Lien Management Method recommends an MNLR record review at the 30-day, 60-day, and 90-day marks on every active Iowa residential project.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who posts the Iowa Notice of Commencement?
The general contractor on a residential 1-2 family project posts the Notice on the MNLR under Iowa Code § 572.13A. Iowa places the posting burden on the general contractor — not the homeowner, lender, or sub-tier claimants.
When must the Iowa NOC be posted?
Within 10 days after commencement of work on the residential property. Commencement is the date physical work begins — site preparation, demolition, framing, or first delivery of materials all count.
Does Iowa require a Notice of Commencement on commercial projects?
No. Iowa § 572.13A applies only to owner-occupied 1-2 family residential dwellings. There is no Notice of Commencement requirement on Iowa commercial, industrial, or 3+ unit multi-family projects, and no Preliminary Notice obligation under § 572.13B for sub-tier claimants on commercial work.
What information is required on the Iowa NOC?
Legal description, parcel number, owner name and address, general contractor name and address, construction lender name and address (if any), and date of commencement. The MNLR portal at sos.iowa.gov provides a structured electronic form with each required field.
Where do I post an Iowa NOC?
On the Mechanics' Notice and Lien Registry (MNLR) at the Iowa Secretary of State's website (sos.iowa.gov). Iowa abolished county-by-county recording for chapter 572 filings in 2013 and consolidated all postings into the statewide MNLR. A Notice filed with a County Recorder creates no valid notice.
How does the Iowa NOC connect to the Preliminary Notice?
Once a general contractor posts the Notice of Commencement, every sub-tier claimant on the residential project must post a Preliminary Notice on the MNLR under § 572.13B before the homeowner makes final payment to the prime to preserve lien rights against the homestead.