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A mechanic's lien is a legal document used by contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers to secure payment for work completed on a construction project. Filing a mechanic's lien essentially states that:
- You're owed money for services provided
- You're expecting payment by a specific date
- You'll proceed with litigation if you don't receive payment by that date
While a lien is in place, it restricts the owner from selling, refinancing, or transferring the property without paying you. That pressure makes liens one of the most powerful payment tools available—especially for subcontractors and suppliers.
Mechanic's lien laws vary significantly by state, with different rules governing who can file a lien, what notices are required, and timelines for filing and enforcement. This guide covers the essentials of Idaho's mechanic's lien laws to help you protect your right to payment.
Required only for residential projects exceeding $2,000 before entering into a contract
Not required
Not required
Not required
Not required
Not required
Within 90 days after the last day of work/furnishing materials
Within 90 days after the last day of work/furnishing materials
Within 90 days after the last day of work
Within 6 months after filing a lien claim
Within 6 months after filing a lien claim
Within 6 months after filing a lien claim
Unpaid amount due under the owner contract
Unpaid value of labor, materials, or rented/leased equipment furnished
Unpaid wages for labor performed
You can find the rules and regulations for Idaho mechanic's lien rights in the Idaho Statutes, Title 45, Chapter 5. This applies to work on private projects only; if you're working on a public project in Idaho, you must claim a lien against a payment bond instead for contracts exceeding $50,000.
Idaho's lien system is relatively straightforward:
- Record a Claim of Lien on time.
- Enforce it in court if payment isn't resolved.
With that framework in mind, let's walk through how Idaho lien rights actually work.
In Idaho, mechanic's lien rights extend to everyone “performing labor upon, or furnishing materials to be used” for specific projects. These individuals include:
- General (original) contractors
- Subcontractors and lower-tier subcontractors
- Material suppliers and vendors
- Equipment lessors and rental equipment providers
- Laborers (including mine labor, where applicable)
- Professional engineers and licensed surveyors under contract for qualifying services
- Parties performing site work like grading, filling, leveling, surfacing, or otherwise improving land/lots
Idaho lien law covers labor, professional services, materials, and certain equipment supplied for use in the construction, alteration, repair, or improvement of private property (Idaho Code §§ 45-501 to 45-505).
Here are some examples of what’s considered lienable and what isn’t.
Lienable Work in Idaho
- Construction, alteration, or repair of buildings and other structures
- Site work and land improvement (grading, filling in, leveling, surfacing, lot improvement)
- Labor in mines or mining claims
- Preparing or furnishing designs, plans, plats, maps, specifications, drawings, surveys, or cost estimates
- On-site observation or supervision
- Professional engineering and licensed surveying services tied to land/building development or boundary work
Non-Lienable Work in Idaho
- Work on public property
- Labor, materials, or services not connected to improving the property
- Items supplied that are not for (or not tied to) the improvement
Idaho does not require preliminary notices to preserve lien rights. That said, lien filing deadlines remain strict and must be followed.
Deadline to File
All claimants—GCs, subcontractors, suppliers, and laborers—must file a Claim of Lien within 90 days after the last day of work or the last day materials were delivered (whichever is applicable).
Filing Requirements
- Filing location: The county recorder in the county where the property is located.
- Form requirements: The Claim of Lien must include:
- The lien claim amount
- The owner’s name
- The payer’s name (the person who hired you)
- A property description sufficient for identification
- GCs only: If the work is subject to the residential GC disclosure law, include the required proof of disclosure and acknowledgment of receipt (Idaho Code § 45-525).
- Verification: An Idaho Claim of Lien must be notarized.
- Filing fee: Yes, but specific fees vary based on the filing officer.
A special note regarding multiple properties: If you’re filing a claim against two or more locations with the same owner, your claim must state the amount due on each of the construction sites; otherwise, the lien is postponed.
Service Requirements
A true and correct copy must be served on the owner or reputed owner no later than 5 business days after filing—either by personal service (process server) or by certified mail to the last known address. (Idaho Code § 45-507(5))
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 Idaho.
Enforcement Requirements
- Enforcement deadline: File a foreclosure lawsuit within 6 months of filing the lien claim.
- Filing location: Idaho district court in the county where the property is located.
- Lien priority: Idaho establishes lien priority by role; generally, laborers are first, then material/equipment providers, then subcontractors, then the original contractor, then professional engineers and licensed surveyors. Parties are paid in full or pro rata if proceeds are insufficient.
Lien Release Requirements
Once an Idaho lien is paid or otherwise resolved, the claimant should sign and record a written release or satisfaction in the recorder’s office where the lien was filed.
- Unified workflow: Manage lien rights within your billing and collections workflow to keep payment context in one place.
- Automated compliance: Automatically track critical deadlines and milestones based on each state's lien laws.
- Meaningful visibility: View the lien protection status for each project to identify and mitigate risk.
- Document creation: Generate state-specific lien notices instantly using existing project data
- Integrated delivery: Send notices via certified mail directly from Siteline to streamline delivery.
Licensing law for Idaho mechanic’s liens is a bit murky. Generally speaking, contractors should be licensed to avoid payment disputes and enforcement issues. If licensing is a concern on a specific job, it’s worth getting legal guidance before leveraging your lien rights.
Yes, all parties, from subcontractors to laborers, are entitled to file a lien for their work, services, or materials in Idaho, as long as those liens align with statutory specifications.
No, Idaho’s lien filing and enforcement deadlines are set by statute and cannot be altered.
No, a Notice of Intent (NOI) isn’t required before filing an Idaho mechanic’s lien.
No, Idaho does not require preliminary notices to preserve mechanic’s lien rights. However, GCs on residential projects exceeding $2,000 must provide specific owner disclosures before contracting, and proof of that disclosure can be required when recording the lien.
No, Idaho doesn’t require parties to fill out a specific lien waiver form. To understand what you should include, review our comprehensive guide to Idaho lien waivers.
In Idaho, you can lien only for the unpaid value of lienable labor, professional services, materials, and qualifying rented or leased equipment you actually furnished (Idaho Code § 45-501).
Attorney’s fees, court costs, and interest typically can’t be included in the lien amount, but Idaho law allows the prevailing party to recover some attorney’s fees and costs during enforcement. In certain cases, the court may also award interest at 7% per year.
No. Idaho’s lien statutes do not require a written contract for lien rights to exist. That said, written contracts are still best practice as they make it much easier to prove scope, pricing, and what’s owed if the lien is challenged.
Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Always consult with a qualified construction attorney in your state regarding specific legal matters before taking any action that could affect your lien rights.