What is the deadline to file a mechanic’s lien in North Dakota?
In North Dakota, a contractor who contracted with the owner must record the lien with the county recorder within 90 days after all of its contribution is done. Filing after 90 days does not defeat the lien except against good-faith purchasers or encumbrancers whose rights accrue before filing and against the owner to the extent paid to a contractor before recording, and no lien may be filed more than three years after the first item of material is furnished. Before suing to enforce, the lienholder must give the owner written notice of intent at least ten days ahead by personal service or twenty days ahead by registered mail; if the owner serves and files a written demand, suit must be filed and a lis pendens recorded within 30 days or the lien is forfeited, and in any case the lien is unenforceable unless an action is commenced and a lis pendens recorded within three years after the lien is recorded. A subcontractor or supplier often has different notice requirements and deadlines. This is N.D. Cent. Code §§ 35-27-02, 35-27-13, 35-27-14, 35-27-24, 35-27-25.
| What | North Dakota |
|---|---|
| Deadline to file the lien | 90 days after last contribution |
| Who this deadline is for | A contractor hired directly by the owner |
Source
N.D. Cent. Code §§ 35-27-02, 35-27-13, 35-27-14, 35-27-24, 35-27-25
Read the statute in the North Dakota Century Code (North Dakota Legislative Branch): ndlegis.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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- District of Columbia
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- Hawaii