Mechanics lien release order: owner's demand for release must be given at least 10 days before filing the petition (earliest petition date)
10 days after date the owner gave the claimant notice demanding release of the lien, under Cal. Civ. Code 8482; 8480(a).
Rule text
Civ. Code 8482: "An owner of property may not petition the court for a release order under this article unless at least 10 days before filing the petition the owner gives the claimant notice demanding that the claimant execute and record a release of the claim of lien." Civ. Code 8480(a): "The owner of property or the owner of any interest in property subject to a claim of lien may petition the court for an order to release the property from the claim of lien if the claimant has not commenced an action to enforce the lien within the time provided in Section 8460."
Calculate this deadline
- Trigger (Date the owner gave the claimant notice demanding release of the lien): Friday, November 6, 2026.
- Exclude the trigger day and count 10 calendar days: Monday, November 16, 2026.
Cal. Civ. Code 8482; 8480(a)
Civ. Code 8482: "An owner of property may not petition the court for a release order under this article unless at least 10 days before filing the petition the owner gives the claimant notice demanding that the claimant execute and record a release of the claim of lien." Civ. Code 8480(a): "The owner of property or the owner of any interest in property subject to a claim of lien may petition the court for an order to release the property from the claim of lien if the claimant has not commenced an action to enforce the lien within the time provided in Section 8460."Official source
Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 12, 12a, 12b, 10; Cal. Rules of Court, rule 1.10
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." CCP 12b: "If any city, county, state, or public office, other than a branch office, is closed for the whole of any day, insofar as the business of that office is concerned, that day shall be considered as a holiday for the purposes of computing time under Sections 12 and 12a." CCP 10: "Holidays within the meaning of this code are every Sunday and any other days that are specified or provided for as judicial holidays in Section 135."Official source
- Available only after the 90-day enforcement period of Civ. Code 8460 has run (ml_foreclosure_action_90_days). The notice must comply with Civ. Code 8100 et seq.; if given by mail, completion of notice under Civ. Code 8116 may push the date later; lawyer should confirm when notice is 'given'.
- 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 owner gave the claimant notice demanding release of the lien on Monday, March 15, 2027, personal service: due Thursday, March 25, 2027.
- Trigger (Date the owner gave the claimant notice demanding release of the lien): Monday, March 15, 2027.
- Exclude the trigger day and count 10 calendar days: Thursday, March 25, 2027.
Notes
Available only after the 90-day enforcement period of Civ. Code 8460 has run (ml_foreclosure_action_90_days). The notice must comply with Civ. Code 8100 et seq.; if given by mail, completion of notice under Civ. Code 8116 may push the date later; lawyer should confirm when notice is 'given'.
Related deadlines
- Mechanics lien release order petition: hearing set not more than 30 days after filing (30 days after)
- Mechanics lien release order petition: court must rule not later than 60 days after filing (60 days after)
- Mechanics lien release order petition: serve petition and notice of hearing on claimant at least 15 days before the hearing (15 days before)
- Public works stop payment notice summary proceeding: notice of hearing on motion for determination of rights at least 5 days before hearing (5 days before)
- Public works stop payment notice summary proceeding: court hears the motion within 15 days after the motion (15 days after)
Local rules by county
County local rules and courtroom procedures can add to or change this deadline. Pick a county to calculate with them applied.
- Alameda
- Alpine
- Amador
- Butte
- Calaveras
- Colusa
- Contra Costa
- Del Norte
- El Dorado
- Fresno
- Glenn
- Humboldt
- Imperial
- Inyo
- Kern
- Kings
- Lake
- Lassen
- Los Angeles
- Madera
- Marin
- Mariposa
- Mendocino
- Merced
- Modoc
- Mono
- Monterey
- Napa
- Nevada
- Orange
- Placer
- Plumas
- Riverside
- Sacramento
- San Benito
- San Bernardino
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Joaquin
- San Luis Obispo
- San Mateo
- Santa Barbara
- Santa Clara
- Santa Cruz
- Shasta
- Sierra
- Siskiyou
- Solano
- Sonoma
- Stanislaus
- Sutter
- Tehama
- Trinity
- Tulare
- Tuolumne
- Ventura
- Yolo
- Yuba
Rules current as of 2026-10-25. Confirm against the official source and any local rule or court order before relying on a date. Rules changelog.