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Mechanics Lien Deadlines in Maryland

In Maryland, a claimant must file a petition to establish a mechanics lien in circuit court within 180 days after finishing work or furnishing materials, subcontractors must first give a notice of intention to claim a lien within 120 days, and the right to enforce expires 1 year after the petition is filed.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Maryland at a glance

Deadline to record lien
180 days after work finished
In Maryland the lien is established by filing a petition in circuit court, not by recording a claim with a recorder.
Preliminary notice required
Yes in some cases (subcontractors, within 120 days)
Subcontractors must give written notice of intention to claim a lien within 120 days after doing the work or furnishing materials.
Deadline to enforce lien
1 year after the petition is filed
Within that year the claimant files a petition to enforce in the lien proceedings.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Maryland

How long does a contractor have to file a mechanics lien in Maryland?

Deadline to record lien in Maryland: 180 days after work finished. In Maryland the lien is established by filing a petition in circuit court, not by recording a claim with a recorder.

Is a preliminary notice required before filing a mechanics lien in Maryland?

Yes in some cases (subcontractors, within 120 days). Preliminary notice required in Maryland: yes in some cases (subcontractors, within 120 days). Subcontractors must give written notice of intention to claim a lien within 120 days after doing the work or furnishing materials.

How long do you have to foreclose a mechanics lien in Maryland?

Deadline to enforce lien in Maryland: 1 year after the petition is filed. Within that year the claimant files a petition to enforce in the lien proceedings.

Where do the Maryland mechanics lien deadlines come from?

The rules above come from Md. Code, Real Prop. 9-105, Md. Code, Real Prop. 9-104 and Md. Code, Real Prop. 9-109. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

What this means in practice

Deadlines often differ by role. The period for a general contractor who dealt directly with the owner can be different from the period for a subcontractor or supplier, and residential projects can have their own rules. Check which category fits before relying on a single number.

The event that starts the clock matters as much as the length of the period. Depending on the statute, it can be the last day labor or materials were furnished, completion of the project, or the recording of a notice of completion or commencement by the owner. Keeping dated records of the last work performed helps establish the start date.

Recording a lien is not the end of the process. If the debt is not paid, the claimant generally has to file a lawsuit to foreclose the lien within the enforcement period, or the lien expires. When the debt is paid, the owner will usually want a signed lien release recorded so the title is clear.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.