Connecticut Mechanics Lien Statutes: Deadlines, Venues & Citations
Where Connecticut liens are filed and enforced
A Connecticut mechanics lien is filed with the Town Clerk in the county where the project sits — 90 days from completion. Filing in the wrong county does not perfect the claim, which matters on projects that straddle county lines. Those are two different clocks against two different offices, and Connecticut claimants lose rights far more often by missing the second one than the first.
Connecticut deadlines by claimant role
For general contractors: Record the lien — 90 days from last furnishing (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 49-34). For subcontractors and suppliers: Record the lien — 90 days from last furnishing (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 49-34); file suit — 1 years from lien recorded (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 49-39); bond notice — 180 days from last furnishing (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 49-41a); file suit — 1 years from last furnishing (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 49-41a); miller act notice — 90 days from last furnishing (40 U.S.C. § 3133(b)(2)); file suit miller act — 1 years from last furnishing (40 U.S.C. § 3133(b)(1)). Every window runs from the claimant's own dates, not the unpaid invoice date.
Rules specific to Connecticut
Record certificate of lien within 90 days of last furnishing of services or materials. Must serve copy on owner within 30 days of recording. Record certificate of lien within 90 days of last furnishing. Serve copy on owner within 30 days of recording. No prelim notice required. File suit to foreclose lien within 1 year of recording. Lien expires after 1 year without enforcement. Written notice within 180 days of last furnishing on public works projects. No mechanic's lien on public property. File suit on payment bond within 1 year of last furnishing. Second-tier claimants only. No notice = no bond claim. File no sooner than 90 days AND no later than 1 year. Owner must pay prime within 30 days of invoice. Prime must pay subs within 30 days of receiving payment. Interest at 1%/month on late payments.
How Connecticut notices must be served
Connecticut requires none (residential) — Notice of Intent commercial. Accepted delivery for the notices tracked here: Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested. Service runs to the Prime Contractor and Surety. Keep the proof of service in the project file — Connecticut disputes over whether a notice was properly served are decided on that documentation.
Public projects in Connecticut
No lien attaches to public property in Connecticut. On public state local and public federal work the remedy is a payment bond claim instead — bond notice within 180 days of last furnishing, served on the Prime Contractor and Surety (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 49-41a). 4 public-project deadlines are tracked for Connecticut.
Connecticut statute citations
The Connecticut deadlines above come from Conn. Gen. Stat. § 49-34, Conn. Gen. Stat. § 49-39, Conn. Gen. Stat. § 49-41a, 40 U.S.C. § 3133(b)(2), 40 U.S.C. § 3133(b)(1), Conn. Gen. Stat. § 42-158j, Conn. Gen. Stat. § 42-158k. Statutes are amended periodically — verify current text before relying on any date, and consult a licensed Connecticut construction attorney on a specific project.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do you have to file a mechanics lien in Connecticut?
90 days — From completion. The filing goes to the Town Clerk in the project's county. See Conn. Gen. Stat. § 49-34. The clock runs from the claimant's own last furnishing or completion, not the invoice date.
Where do you file a mechanics lien in Connecticut?
With the Town Clerk in the county where the property is located. Recording in the wrong county does not perfect the lien.
Does Connecticut require a preliminary notice?
Yes — None (residential). Notice of Intent commercial. Accepted service includes Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested.
How long do you have to enforce a Connecticut mechanics lien?
1 year — From filing. A recorded lien left unenforced past that window generally expires and can expose the claimant to slander-of-title risk if it stays on record.
When must retainage be released in Connecticut?
Retainage released within 30 days of substantial completion. 5% maximum retainage. (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 42-158k).