Mechanics lien (private works): preliminary notice within 20 days after first furnishing work
20 days after date the claimant first furnished work on the work of improvement, under Cal. Civ. Code 8204(a), 8200.
Rule text
(a) A preliminary notice shall be given not later than 20 days after the claimant has first furnished work on the work of improvement. If work has been provided by a claimant who did not give a preliminary notice, that claimant shall not be precluded from giving a preliminary notice at any time thereafter. The claimant shall, however, be entitled to record a lien, give a stop payment notice, and assert a claim against a payment bond only for work performed within 20 days prior to the service of the preliminary notice, and at any time thereafter.
Calculate this deadline
Deadline
Monday, November 30, 2026
- Trigger (Date the claimant first furnished work on the work of improvement): Friday, November 6, 2026.
- Exclude the trigger day and count 20 calendar days: Thursday, November 26, 2026.
- That day is a Thanksgiving Day, so the deadline moves to the next court day: Monday, November 30, 2026 (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 12, 12a, 12b; Cal. Gov. Code 6800, 6707 (state agency filings); Fed. R. Civ. P. 6(a) (federal statutes and federal court filings)).
Rules applied
Cal. Civ. Code 8204(a), 8200
(a) A preliminary notice shall be given not later than 20 days after the claimant has first furnished work on the work of improvement. If work has been provided by a claimant who did not give a preliminary notice, that claimant shall not be precluded from giving a preliminary notice at any time thereafter. The claimant shall, however, be entitled to record a lien, give a stop payment notice, and assert a claim against a payment bond only for work performed within 20 days prior to the service of the preliminary notice, and at any time thereafter.Official source
Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 12, 12a, 12b; Cal. Gov. Code 6800, 6707 (state agency filings); Fed. R. Civ. P. 6(a) (federal statutes and federal court filings)
CCP 12: "The time in which any act provided by law is to be done is computed by excluding the first day, and including the last, unless the last day is a holiday, and then it is also excluded." CCP 12a(a): "If the last day for the performance of any act provided or required by law to be performed within a specified period of time is a holiday, then that period is hereby extended to and including the next day that is not a holiday. For purposes of this section, “holiday” means all day on Saturdays, all holidays specified in Section 135 and, to the extent provided in Section 12b, all days that by terms of Section 12b are required to be considered as holidays." Gov. Code 6707: "When the last day for filing any instrument or other document with a state agency falls upon a Saturday or holiday, such act may be performed upon the next business day with the same effect as if it had been performed upon the day appointed." FRCP 6(a): "The following rules apply in computing any time period specified in these rules, in any local rule or court order, or in any statute that does not specify a method of computing time. (1) ... (A) exclude the day of the event that triggers the period; (B) count every day, including intermediate Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays; and (C) include the last day of the period, but if the last day is a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the period continues to run until the end of the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday."Official source
- Late notice is allowed but only protects work within 20 days before service and after. Not required of laborers; a claimant in direct contract with the owner gives preliminary notice only to the construction lender (8200(e)). Notice by mail is complete on deposit (Civ. Code 8116(b)). Design professionals: 20 days after the work of improvement commenced (8204(b)). Public works preliminary notice (Civ. Code 9300) has no stated day deadline; 9304 limits recovery to work within 20 days before notice (not modeled as a deadline).
- If the clerk's office is closed or inaccessible on the last day (weather, emergency or local closure orders), the deadline may be extended. Check local orders.
This calculator applies the cited rules to the dates you enter. It is not legal advice. Court orders, local rules, and case-specific facts can change a deadline; verify before relying on it. Rule set pending attorney review.
Worked example
Date the claimant first furnished work on the work of improvement on Monday, March 15, 2027, personal service: due Monday, April 5, 2027.
- Trigger (Date the claimant first furnished work on the work of improvement): Monday, March 15, 2027.
- Exclude the trigger day and count 20 calendar days: Sunday, April 4, 2027.
- That day is a Sunday, so the deadline moves to the next court day: Monday, April 5, 2027 (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 12, 12a, 12b; Cal. Gov. Code 6800, 6707 (state agency filings); Fed. R. Civ. P. 6(a) (federal statutes and federal court filings)).
Notes
Late notice is allowed but only protects work within 20 days before service and after. Not required of laborers; a claimant in direct contract with the owner gives preliminary notice only to the construction lender (8200(e)). Notice by mail is complete on deposit (Civ. Code 8116(b)). Design professionals: 20 days after the work of improvement commenced (8204(b)). Public works preliminary notice (Civ. Code 9300) has no stated day deadline; 9304 limits recovery to work within 20 days before notice (not modeled as a deadline).
Related deadlines
- Mechanics lien: direct contractor records claim of lien within 90 days after completion (no notice of completion/cessation recorded) (90 days after)
- Mechanics lien: direct contractor records claim of lien within 60 days after owner records notice of completion or cessation (60 days after)
- Mechanics lien: subcontractor/supplier/laborer records claim of lien within 90 days after completion (no notice recorded) (90 days after)
- Mechanics lien: subcontractor/supplier/laborer records claim of lien within 30 days after owner records notice of completion or cessation (30 days after)
- Owner may record notice of completion on or within 15 days after completion (15 days after)
- Owner gives copy of recorded notice of completion/cessation to direct contractor and preliminary-notice claimants within 10 days (10 days after)
- Mechanics lien: action to enforce (foreclose) lien within 90 days after recording claim of lien (90 days after)
- Mechanics lien with recorded extension of credit: suit no later than 1 year after completion (outer limit) (12 months after)
Rules current as of 2026-10-27. Confirm against the official source and any local rule or court order before relying on a date. Rules changelog.