Alaska Mechanic’s Lien Rights: A Complete Guide for Subcontractors

In Alaska, mechanic's lien rights extend to:

• General (original) contractors
• Subcontractors of any tier
• Material suppliers and equipment lessors
• Laborers and tradespeople
• Design professionals (engineers, architects, surveyors)
• Trustees of employee benefit trusts related to construction labor

Lien rights in Alaska apply only to work and materials that improve the property itself. Below are examples of what Alaska law considers lienable versus non-lienable.

Lienable Work in Alaska

• On-site labor
• Materials and services incorporated into the improvement
• Construction, alteration, repair, and demolition work
• Architectural, surveying, or engineering services tied to the project
• Equipment that is used on the project—not necessarily incorporated
• Excavation, grading, and site preparation

Non-Lienable Work in Alaska

• Work performed on public projects
• Work unrelated to improving the property
• Materials not used on the project
• Warranty or corrective work performed without additional compensation

Filing a lien in Alaska is straightforward. That said, you should closely follow deadlines and content requirements.

Deadline to File

In Alaska, all project participants—general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and laborers—generally have 120 days from their last furnishing of labor, materials, or equipment to record a lien.

If the owner records a Notice of Completion, the deadline shrinks to 15 days unless you filed a Notice of Right to Lien beforehand.

Filing Requirements

• Where to file: File liens in the recorder’s office for the recording district where the property is located.
• Form requirements: No state-issued form required, but lien claims must be in writing, verified by oath (notarized), and include:
  • Claimant’s name and address
  • Owner’s name
  • Name and address of the person the claimant contracted with (contracting party)
  • Description of the property sufficient for identification (legal description recommended)
  • General description of labor, materials, services, or equipment furnished
  • Contract price
  • Amount due after allowing credits
  • Date of last furnishing
• Filing Fee: Varies by recording district.

Service Requirements

Alaska law doesn’t require lien claimants to serve a copy of the recorded Claim of Lien on the owner or other parties. However, providing copies is a recommended best practice to avoid disputes and encourage payment.

Recording a lien preserves your rights—but enforcement is how you get paid. Here’s what you must do to ensure you enforce your lien in Alaska.

Enforcement Requirements

• Enforcement deadline: A foreclosure lawsuit must be filed within six months after the lien is recorded, unless an extension notice is recorded within that period (Alaska Stat. § 34.35.080). A notice of pendency (lis pendens) should also be recorded to protect priority during litigation.
• Enforcement extension: All project participants may extend enforcement for another 6 months by filing a Notice of Extension of Lien before the original 6 months expires.
• Filing location: Superior Court in the judicial district where the property is located.
• Lien priority: Alaska law prioritizes payment in this general order: laborers first, then suppliers and subcontractors, with GCs paid last (Alaska Stat. § 34.35.112).

Lien Release Requirements

Once paid, the claimant must record an acknowledgement of satisfaction either: (1) immediately if debt was settled with cash, or (2) within 10 days of payment if debt was settled in some other way. Failure to record an acknowledgement of satisfaction within 30 days after written demand makes claimants liable for all damages caused by the failure and a $100 payment made to the requesting party (Alaska Stat. § 34.35.112).