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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 general contractor (GC) or 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 on who can file, what notices are required, and when liens must be filed and enforced. This guide walks through the essentials of Louisiana lien rights so you can better protect your right to be paid.
Notice of Contract must be filed before work begins (for contracts over $100,000)
Generally not required; see FAQ #1 for supplier and equipment lessor exceptions
Not required
Not required
Not required
Not required
If NOC was filed: Within 7 months of substantial completion or abandonment, OR within 60 days of Notice of Termination filing
If no NOC was filed: Within 60 days after Notice of Termination filing or substantial completion/abandonment
If NOC was filed: Within 6 months of substantial completion or abandonment, OR within 30 days after Notice of Termination Filing
If no NOC was filed: Within 60 days after Notice of Termination filing or substantial completion/abandonment
If NOC was filed: Within 6 months of substantial completion or abandonment, OR within 30 days after Notice of Termination Filing
If no NOC was filed: Within 60 days after Notice of Termination filing or substantial completion/abandonment
Within 1 year after the lien filing date
Within 1 year after the lien filing date
Within 1 year after the lien filing date
Price of work performed under the contract
Value of unpaid materials delivered or labor performed
Value of unpaid materials delivered or labor performed
Mechanic's lien rights in Louisiana are governed by the Louisiana Private Works Act (La. R.S. § 9:4801 et seq.) and apply only to private construction projects. (Public property cannot be liened. If you're unpaid on a public project, payment disputes are handled through bond claims.)
Louisiana's lien system hinges on a document called the Notice of Contract. When an owner files a Notice of Contract with the parish clerk before work begins, it puts potential lien claimants on notice that specific filing rules will apply—including a requirement to file liens within a defined window after substantial completion.
If no Notice of Contract is filed, lien claimants have only 60 days from the earlier of a Notice of Termination being filed or the substantial completion/abandonment of the project to file their lien. This makes tracking project milestones critical.
Louisiana also requires certain parties to provide preliminary notices in order to preserve their lien rights. Subcontractors, suppliers, and others without a direct contract with the owner must serve a Notice of Non-Payment before filing a lien.
In Louisiana, mechanic's lien rights extend to:
- General (original) contractors
- Subcontractors and lower-tier subcontractors
- Laborers and workers
- Material suppliers and sellers of “movables”
- Equipment lessors (movables rented by written contract for use at the site)
- Consultants such as architects, engineers, or surveyors hired by the owner
To be eligible for a mechanic's lien in Louisiana, your labor, services, or materials must meet Louisiana lien laws’ statutory definition of “work.” Here are some examples of what that does and does not include.
Lienable Work in Louisiana
- Improving, constructing, erecting, reconstructing, modifying, repairing, demolishing, or physically changing a structure
- Clearing, leveling, grading, test piling, cutting, or removing trees and debris
- Placing fill dirt, leveling, demolishing, or other preparation for new construction
Non-Lienable Work in Louisiana
- Work on public property
- Oil, gas, and water well drilling
- Certain railroad bed and structure work.
Before filing a lien in Louisiana, make sure you’ve met any notice or preliminary requirements that apply to your role (see table above).
Deadline to File
In Louisiana, lien filing deadlines are driven by (1) whether the GC submitted a Notice of Contract, and (2) whether the owner filed a Notice of Termination.
- If no Notice of Contract was filed: Most claimants must file within 60 days after the filing of a Notice of Termination, or within 60 days after substantial completion or abandonment if no Notice of Termination is filed (La. R.S. 9:4822(A)).
- If a Notice of Contract was properly filed:
- GCs must file within 60 days after a Notice of Termination, or within 7 months after substantial completion or abandonment if no Notice of Termination is filed (La. R.S. 9:4822(C)).
- All other claimants (e.g., subs, sub‑tiers, suppliers, laborers, equipment lessors, consultants) must file within 30 days after a Notice of Termination, or within 6 months after substantial completion or abandonment if no Notice of Termination is filed (La. R.S. 9:4822(B)).
A note on certain residential projects: In limited residential situations that meet these requirements (and when an NOC was not filed), a seller of movables—typically a material supplier—may have up to 70 days to file. This is a special and narrow exception. Residential projects should be reviewed carefully.
Filing Requirements
- Filing location: File a Statement of Claim or Privilege with the recorder of mortgages in the parish where the property is located.
- Form requirements: The State of Claim or Privilege must include this core info:
- Claimant’s signature
- Description of labor, services, or materials
- Complete property description and registry number
- Itemized list of the lien claim
- Lien claim amount
- Owner’s name
- Verification: The lien claim must be in writing and signed, but it does not need to be notarized.
- Filing fee: Yes, but specific fees vary by parish.
Service Requirements
If a Notice of Contract was properly filed, a claimant must deliver a copy of the recorded statement to the owner if the owner’s address is stated in the Notice of Contract (La. R.S. 9:4822(B)).
Louisiana allows delivery by certified mail and other tracked USPS methods, commercial courier, and electronic methods if the recipient consents.
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 Louisiana.
Enforcement Requirements
- Enforcement deadlines: File suit to enforce the lien within one year after the lien filing date.
- Lis pendens requirements: To keep the recorded lien effective against third parties, file a notice of pendency of action within one year after filing the lien statement and reference the recorded lien statement (La. R.S. 9:4833(E)).
- Filing location: Enforcement actions are typically filed in Louisiana state courts with jurisdiction over the property and parties involved.
- Lien priority: Louisiana sets priority by statute. In plain terms, laborers generally rank first, then many supplier, lessor, and sub-type claims, then contractor claims—subject to important mortgage and tax exceptions (La. R.S. 9:4821).
Lien Release Requirements
Once a lien has been satisfied, it should be removed from the mortgage records. If an owner or other interested party demands cancellation, the lien claimant generally has 10 days to deliver a written request directing the recorder of mortgages to cancel the lien. An unreasonable failure to do so can expose the claimant to damages and attorney fees (La. R.S. 9:4833).
- 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.
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- 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.
Louisiana lien law isn’t clear on whether licensing is a condition to record or enforce a lien. However, licensing issues can still matter in disputes and potentially limit the amount of funds you’re able to recover.
Yes, all parties from the GC down to lower-tier subs and suppliers are entitled to mechanic’s liens in Louisiana.
Yes. If the owner records a Notice of Termination, it can immediately start the lien-filing clock and reduce your filing deadline to as little as 30 days (depending on your role and whether a Notice of Contract was filed). Because this filing can dramatically change lien timing, it’s important to watch the mortgage records and confirm how it affects your specific deadline (La. R.S. 9:4822(A)–(C), (E)).
No. Louisiana does not require a Notice of Intent before filing a lien.
It depends on your role and the type of project.
Residential Projects
- GCs must provide the owner with a Notice of Lien Rights using the statutory form before or at the time of contracting.
- Subcontractors, suppliers, and laborers are generally not required to send a preliminary notice.
- Equipment lessors must deliver a written notice within 30 days from when the equipment is first placed on the job site (unless they contracted directly with the owner). This notice must include the lessor’s and lessee’s names and addresses and a general description of the equipment (La. R.S. 9:4804(B)(1)).
Non-Residential Projects
- GCs must file a Notice of Contract before starting work if the contract price exceeds $100,000. Failing to do so can result in the loss of lien rights (La. R.S. 9:4811(A)).
- Subcontractors, suppliers, and laborers are generally not required to send a preliminary notice.
- Suppliers furnishing materials to a subcontractor on a project where a Notice of Contract was filed must send a Notice of Nonpayment within 75 days after the last day of the calendar month in which materials were delivered (La. R.S. 9:4804(C)).
- Equipment lessors have the same 30-day notice requirement described above to preserve full lien rights.
Additional note for equipment lessors: At any time, the owner or GC may request a description of all equipment currently on the project. The lessor must respond within 15 days, or their lien rights may be reduced or extinguished (La. R.S. 9:4804(B)(2)).
No. Louisiana does not mandate statutory lien waiver forms. However, it’s best practice to use clear, unambiguous language and specify the payment and work period covered by the waiver. You can learn more about Louisiana lien waivers here.
Louisiana liens generally secure the principal amount owed for labor, materials, equipment rent, or other covered contributions, plus interest due and filing fees. Certain delivery costs and some wage-type fringe benefits can be included in specific situations (La. R.S. 9:4803(A)(1)–(3)).
Attorney fees and litigation expenses are generally not part of the secured lien amount under the Private Works Act (La. R.S. 9:4803(C)).
Not generally. Louisiana lien rights are tied to furnishing lienable work and meeting statutory requirements, not having a written contract. That said, written contracts make payment and scope disputes much easier to prove.
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.