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FL  ·  Mechanic's Lien Guide

Florida Mechanic's Lien Warning Requirements for Contractors

Know your deadlines before you lose your rights. Florida lien law in plain English — no legalese, no fluff.

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Disclaimer: This is general information, not legal advice. Verify current deadlines with your state's contractor board or a construction attorney before relying on any figure here.
Key Deadlines

Florida Lien Law at a Glance

📅
Lien Filing Deadline
90 days from last furnishing of labor or materials or project completion
from last day of furnishing labor or materials, or project completion
⚠️
Preliminary Notice
Required
45 days from first furnishing labor or materials
📋
Notice to Owner
Required
Florida's "Notice to Owner" (NTO) must be served within 45 days of first furnishing. This is a hard deadline — no exceptions.
👷
Who Can File
Contractors, subcontractors, material suppliers, laborers, architects, landscape architects, engineers, surveyors
⚠️ Preliminary Notice Required

Florida's Preliminary Notice Requirement

All contractors and suppliers (except direct contract with owner) must serve a Notice to Owner within 45 days of first furnishing. This is strictly enforced. Missing the deadline eliminates lien rights.

Deadline: 45 days from first furnishing labor or materials
Commercial vs Residential

Does the Property Type Change Your Deadline?

Same NTO requirement applies. Residential homeowners have additional protections — the Florida Homeowner Construction Recovery Fund may provide relief if a contractor fails to pay subs.

Common Mistakes

What Contractors Get Wrong in Florida

1
Missing the 45-day Notice to Owner deadline — this is the #1 mistake Florida contractors make
2
Serving the NTO on the wrong party — must serve the owner of record, GC, and lender
3
Missing the 90-day lien filing deadline after last furnishing

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FAQ

Florida Lien Law Questions

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This is general information, not legal advice. Verify current deadlines with your state's contractor board or a construction attorney. JobPapers sells document organization tools — we are not attorneys and do not provide legal services.