What Is a Mechanics Lien in Arkansas — Complete 2026 Guide
✓ Verified against Arkansas statutes · Reviewed August 2026 · By Michael Evan — Founder · 50 states · 799 rules
Arkansas mechanics lien deadlines at a glance
Preliminary Notice
75 days — Notice to Owner
Mechanics Lien
120 days — From last date of furnishing
Enforcement
15 months — From filing
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120-Day Filing Deadline Under Ark. Code Ann. § 18-44-117
Under Ark. Code Ann. § 18-44-117, every Arkansas mechanics lien claimant must record a verified lien statement with the Circuit Clerk of the county where the property is located within 120 days from the date the labor was last performed or the materials were last furnished. The 120-day window applies uniformly across all claimant types — general contractors, subcontractors at any tier, material suppliers, equipment lessors, and laborers. There is no separate filing window for prime contractors versus sub-tier claimants. The 120-day deadline is absolute. Missing it permanently eliminates the claimant's lien rights for that project. Each claimant's clock runs from that claimant's own last date of substantive furnishing, not the project completion date or the prime contractor's last day on site. The lien statement must include the claimant's name and address, the property owner's name, a sufficient legal description of the property, the amount claimed, an itemized statement of the labor or materials furnished, and verification by oath.
10-Day Notice of Intent and Residential Notice Under §§ 18-44-114 and 18-44-115
Arkansas is one of a small group of states with two distinct preliminary notice requirements. Under § 18-44-114, every Arkansas claimant must serve a written Notice of Intent to File Lien on the property owner at least 10 days before recording. The 10-day Notice of Intent is a strict precondition: a lien filed without prior service of the notice is invalid on its face, with no opportunity to cure after recording. Service is typically by certified mail with return receipt requested. Separately, on residential single-family or two-family dwelling projects, § 18-44-115 requires every contractor, subcontractor, supplier, and laborer to provide the property owner with a written Residential Notice containing statutory warning language before any labor or materials are furnished. Failing to provide the Residential Notice on a residential project bars the lien entirely against the homestead — even if the 10-day Notice of Intent is later served and the 120-day filing deadline is met. The Residential Notice applies regardless of project size: a $5,000 bathroom remodel and a $500,000 custom-home build are both subject to the rule.
75 Counties and 85 Circuit Clerk Filing Offices
Arkansas mechanics liens are recorded with the Circuit Clerk of the county in which the improved property is located. Arkansas has 75 counties — but ten of those counties operate two judicial districts each — Sebastian, Logan, Mississippi, Carroll, Yell, Franklin, Prairie, Arkansas, Clay, and Woodruff — producing 85 distinct Circuit Clerk filing offices statewide. The most active Arkansas construction counties include Pulaski County (Little Rock, North Little Rock — the highest-volume county), Benton County (Bentonville, Rogers, Bella Vista — home to Walmart's headquarters and the fastest-growing county in the state), Washington County (Fayetteville, Springdale — home to the University of Arkansas), Faulkner County (Conway), Saline County (Benton, Bryant), Sebastian County (Fort Smith — has two judicial districts), Craighead County (Jonesboro), and Garland County (Hot Springs). For projects in counties with two judicial districts, identify the correct district before filing — a wrong-district filing creates no valid lien even if the correct county is identified.
15-Month Enforcement Deadline Under § 18-44-119
Under Ark. Code Ann. § 18-44-119, an action to enforce an Arkansas mechanics lien must be commenced in the Circuit Court of the county where the property is located within 15 months from the date the lien was filed with the Circuit Clerk. Arkansas's 15-month enforcement window is more generous than the 6-month windows in Idaho, Alaska, Colorado, and Mississippi, the 180-day windows in Utah and Wyoming, and the 1-year windows in Texas and Oklahoma. Despite the comparatively generous window, claimants should not delay enforcement: payment negotiations that drift past the 15-month mark cause the lien to expire by operation of law. Calendar the 15-month enforcement deadline immediately upon filing, set reminders at 9 months and 12 months, and retain Arkansas construction counsel by month 14 if the dispute remains unresolved. Once the 15-month window closes, the lien cannot be enforced regardless of merit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file a mechanics lien in Arkansas?
All Arkansas claimants must record a verified lien statement with the Circuit Clerk within 120 days from last furnishing under Ark. Code Ann. § 18-44-117. The 120-day window applies uniformly across all claimant types. Each claimant's clock runs from that claimant's own last date of substantive furnishing. Before recording, every claimant must serve a 10-day Notice of Intent to File on the owner under § 18-44-114.
Do subcontractors need a preliminary notice in Arkansas?
Yes — Arkansas has two distinct preliminary notice requirements. On residential single-family or two-family dwelling projects, every claimant must provide a written Residential Notice before furnishing any labor or materials under § 18-44-115. Separately, all Arkansas claimants must serve a 10-day Notice of Intent to File on the owner at least 10 days before recording under § 18-44-114. Both notices are strict preconditions — skipping either voids the lien.
Where do I file a mechanics lien in Arkansas?
File with the Circuit Clerk of the county where the improved property is located under § 18-44-117. Arkansas has 75 counties and 85 distinct Circuit Clerk filing offices because ten counties operate two judicial districts each. Major construction-volume counties include Pulaski (Little Rock), Benton (Bentonville), Washington (Fayetteville), Faulkner (Conway), Saline (Benton), Sebastian (Fort Smith — two districts), Craighead (Jonesboro), and Garland (Hot Springs).
How long do I have to enforce an Arkansas mechanics lien?
Under § 18-44-119, an action to enforce the lien must be commenced in the Circuit Court within 15 months from the date the lien was filed with the Circuit Clerk. Arkansas's 15-month enforcement window is more generous than most states. Calendar the deadline immediately upon filing. Set reminders at 9 months and 12 months.
Who can file a mechanics lien in Arkansas?
Under §§ 18-44-101 and 18-44-103, every contractor, subcontractor, sub-subcontractor, material supplier, equipment lessor, laborer, architect, engineer, surveyor, landscape architect, and abstractor who furnishes labor, services, materials, fixtures, machinery, or equipment for the construction, alteration, or repair of any building, structure, or improvement on real property in Arkansas has a mechanics lien — provided the applicable preliminary notices, the 120-day filing deadline, and the 15-month enforcement deadline are all satisfied.