Connecticut Mechanic Lien Law: Complete Guide
Your Complete Guide to Mechanic Lien Rights Under C.G.S. §49-33 et seq. — Private Works, Public Works & Payment Bond Claims
Connecticut mechanic lien deadline table with toggles for project type and claimant type.
Connecticut Preliminary Notice & Mechanic Lien Deadlines
Select your project type and role to see the deadlines that apply to you.
Prime Contractor — In privity with the property owner
Record the Certificate of Lien with the town clerk in the town where the property is located within 90 days after last furnishing labor or materials.
Serve a copy of the recorded Certificate of Lien on the owner within 30 days after filing.
The Certificate of Lien must be sworn to by the claimant under oath, with a jurat confirming the oath.
Commence a foreclosure action and record a Notice of Lis Pendens within 1 year after the Certificate of Lien is recorded. Foreclosure proceeds in the same manner as a mortgage.
Preliminary Notice
Mechanic Lien
Record the Certificate of Lien with the town clerk in the town where the property is located within 90 days after last furnishing labor or materials.
Serve a copy of the recorded Certificate of Lien on the owner within 30 days after filing.
The Certificate of Lien must be sworn to by the claimant under oath, with a jurat confirming the oath.
Enforcement
Commence a foreclosure action and record a Notice of Lis Pendens within 1 year after the Certificate of Lien is recorded. Foreclosure proceeds in the same manner as a mortgage.
Connecticut Mechanic Lien Law Overview
Connecticut construction mechanic lien rights are governed by C.G.S. §49-33 et seq. This statutory framework protects the payment rights of contractors, subcontractors, materialmen, and suppliers who furnish labor, services, or materials for the improvement of real property in the State of Connecticut.
Connecticut does not require preliminary notices for mechanic lien claimants on private works. Original contractors may record a mechanic lien without prior service of a Notice of Intent. Subcontractors whose contracts are not signed or assented to in writing by the owner must serve a Notice of Intent to File Mechanic Lien upon the owner within 90 days of last performance under C.G.S. §49-35(a). All mechanic liens must be recorded within 90 days after the last date of performance.
Connecticut law requires that mechanic liens be sworn to by the claimant under C.G.S. §49-34, meaning the claimant must personally sign and take an oath before a notary or other authorized official. The Connecticut Supreme Court reinforced this requirement in Stone-Krete Concrete, Inc. v. Jill P. Eder, 280 Conn. 672 (2006). Enforcement requires a Notice of Lis Pendens to be recorded within one year of the mechanic lien recording date, and the mechanic lien is foreclosed in the same manner as a mortgage.
For public works, Connecticut requires a minimum 100% payment bond on contracts exceeding $50,000 under C.G.S. §49-41 et seq. Subcontractors and materialmen must send a 180-day Notice of Claim on Bond to the surety and principal if payment is not made within 60 days of the applicable payment date. Suit on the bond must be filed within one year after last performance. Connecticut also provides escrow account protections for retention payments under §42-158j.
National Lien & Bond provides authoritative guidance on every aspect of Connecticut construction mechanic lien compliance, from Notice of Intent requirements through mechanic lien recording, payment bond claims, and mechanic lien foreclosure proceedings.
Topics on This Page
Connecticut Mechanic Lien Law: Key Topics
Navigate the critical compliance areas for Connecticut construction mechanic lien law.
Notice Requirements
Notice of Intent to File Mechanic Lien obligations for subcontractors, contractor exemptions, and public works bond claim notice requirements under Connecticut law
Mechanic Lien Deadlines
90-day mechanic lien recording requirements, sworn mechanic lien obligations under C.G.S. §49-34, service on owner, and mechanic lien form requirements
Mechanic Lien Enforcement Deadlines
One-year Lis Pendens deadline, mechanic lien foreclosure procedures, payment bond suit timelines, and escrow account protections
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the mechanic lien rights available in Connecticut?
Connecticut provides mechanic lien rights under C.G.S. §49-33 et seq. for contractors, subcontractors, materialmen, and suppliers who furnish labor, services, or materials for the improvement of private real property. Mechanic Liens must be recorded within 90 days of last performance, sworn to under oath per §49-34, and enforced within one year of recording.
Is a preliminary notice required to file a mechanic lien in Connecticut?
No preliminary notice is required for original contractors. Subcontractors whose contracts are not signed or assented to in writing by the owner must serve a Notice of Intent to File Mechanic Lien on the owner within 90 days of last performance under C.G.S. §49-35(a), served by an indifferent person.
What is the deadline to record a mechanic lien in Connecticut?
All mechanic lien claimants must record the mechanic lien within 90 days after the last date of performance of labor or furnishing of materials under C.G.S. §49-33. The mechanic lien must be sworn to by the claimant and a copy must be served on the owner within 30 days of recording.
How are public works payment rights protected in Connecticut?
Public works projects with contracts over $50,000 require a minimum 100% payment bond under C.G.S. §49-41 et seq. Subcontractors and materialmen must send a 180-day Notice of Claim on Bond to the surety and principal if not paid within 60 days of the applicable payment date. Suit must be filed within one year of last performance.
What prompt payment protections exist under Connecticut law?
Owners must pay for labor and materials within 30 days of receiving a payment request. General contractors must pay subcontractors within 30 days of receiving payment from the owner under C.G.S. §42-158j. If a GC fails to pay within 30 days, the subcontractor may claim 1% per month interest and require escrow of the amount due.
Can mechanic lien rights be waived in a Connecticut construction contract?
No. Under C.G.S. §42-158i, any contractual provision or waiver that purports to release the right to claim a mechanic lien or make a payment bond claim for services, labor, or materials not yet performed and paid for is invalidated. Pre-performance mechanic lien waivers are unenforceable in Connecticut.