What is the deadline to file a mechanic’s lien in Iowa?
In Iowa, a contractor who contracted with the owner must post a verified statement of account to the state mechanics’ notice and lien registry within two years and ninety days after the last labor or material was furnished, and a lien posted more than ninety days after that date also requires written notice to the owner. On residential construction (single-family and two-family dwellings) the general contractor must post a notice of commencement of work to the registry no later than ten days after work begins, and a general contractor that has contracted or will contract with a subcontractor must give the owner the written boldface owner notice set out in the statute; a general contractor that fails to give a required notice is not entitled to a lien. An action to enforce the lien must be brought within two years from the expiration of ninety days after the last labor or material was furnished, and within thirty days after the owner serves a written demand to sue, or the lien is forfeited. A subcontractor or supplier often has different notice requirements and deadlines. This is Iowa Code §§ 572.1, 572.8, 572.9, 572.10, 572.13, 572.13A, 572.27, 572.28.
| What | Iowa |
|---|---|
| Deadline to file the lien | 2 years and 90 days after last work |
| Who this deadline is for | A contractor hired directly by the owner |
Source
Iowa Code §§ 572.1, 572.8, 572.9, 572.10, 572.13, 572.13A, 572.27, 572.28
Read the statute in the Iowa Code (Iowa Legislature): legis.iowa.gov.
Checked against the statute on November 13, 2026.
This is a summary of a published statute, not legal advice. Rules change, local ordinances can add to them, and the terms of a specific lease may differ. Check the citation and speak to a lawyer before acting.
How Seayora uses this rule
A contractor on Seayora keeps every job’s dates, its estimate, its invoices and its payments in one record, so the date work was last performed and the amount still owed are on file when a lien deadline is counted.
Guides on this rule
- Mechanic’s Lien Deadlines by State: When to File — Mechanic’s lien filing deadlines in all 50 states and DC, when each clock starts, and the notice a statute requires before filing.
Compare this rule in every state
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The same question in other states
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