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Mechanics Lien Deadlines in Tennessee

In Tennessee, a lien must be recorded within 90 days after the improvement is complete or abandoned to keep priority against later buyers and lenders, remote contractors on projects other than one to four family homes must serve a notice of nonpayment, and a prime contractor's lien lasts 1 year after completion unless a suit to enforce it is brought within that time.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Tennessee at a glance

Deadline to record lien
90 days after completion
Counted from completion or abandonment. The statute ties recording to priority against later purchasers and lenders, not against the owner.
Preliminary notice required
Yes in some cases (remote contractors)
Remote contractors must serve it on the owner and prime contractor within 90 days of the end of each month work was unpaid. Does not apply to 1 to 4 family residential units.
Deadline to enforce lien
1 year after completion (prime contractor)
The lien continues until final decision of a suit properly brought within that year.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Tennessee

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

Deadline to record lien in Tennessee: 90 days after completion. Counted from completion or abandonment. The statute ties recording to priority against later purchasers and lenders, not against the owner.

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

Yes in some cases (remote contractors). Preliminary notice required in Tennessee: yes in some cases (remote contractors). Remote contractors must serve it on the owner and prime contractor within 90 days of the end of each month work was unpaid. Does not apply to 1 to 4 family residential units.

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

Deadline to enforce lien in Tennessee: 1 year after completion (prime contractor). The lien continues until final decision of a suit properly brought within that year.

Where do the Tennessee mechanics lien deadlines come from?

The rules above come from Tenn. Code 66-11-112, Tenn. Code 66-11-145 and Tenn. Code 66-11-106. 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.