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Mechanics Lien Deadlines in Minnesota

In Minnesota, a lien statement must be recorded and served within 120 days after the last work or materials, contractors and subcontractors must give the owner a statutory notice on most projects (subcontractors within 45 days of first furnishing), and the lien must be enforced within 1 year after the last item on the lien statement.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Minnesota at a glance

Deadline to record lien
120 days after last work or materials
A copy of the statement must also be served on the owner within the 120 days.
Preliminary notice required
Yes in some cases (exceptions for large projects)
Contractors include the notice in the owner contract (or deliver it within 10 days); subcontractors give notice within 45 days after first furnishing. Not required for some large residential and commercial projects.
Deadline to enforce lien
1 year after last item on the lien statement
Asserted by filing a complaint or answer with the court administrator.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Minnesota

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

Deadline to record lien in Minnesota: 120 days after last work or materials. A copy of the statement must also be served on the owner within the 120 days.

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

Yes in some cases (exceptions for large projects). Preliminary notice required in Minnesota: yes in some cases (exceptions for large projects). Contractors include the notice in the owner contract (or deliver it within 10 days); subcontractors give notice within 45 days after first furnishing. Not required for some large residential and commercial projects.

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

Deadline to enforce lien in Minnesota: 1 year after last item on the lien statement. Asserted by filing a complaint or answer with the court administrator.

Where do the Minnesota mechanics lien deadlines come from?

The rules above come from Minn. Stat. 514.08, Minn. Stat. 514.011 and Minn. Stat. 514.12. 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.