Iowa Mechanics Lien Guide and FAQs

For the purpose of this chapter:

1. Every person who furnishes any material or labor for, or performs any labor upon, any building or land for improvement, alteration, or repair thereof, including those engaged in the construction or repair of any work of internal or external improvement, and those engaged in grading, sodding, installing nursery stock, landscaping, sidewalk building, fencing on any land or lot, by virtue of any contract with the owner, owner-builder, general contractor, or subcontractor shall have a lien upon such building or improvement, and land belonging to the owner on which the same is situated or upon the land or lot so graded, landscaped, fenced, or otherwise improved, altered, or repaired, to secure payment for the material or labor furnished or labor performed.

2. If material is rented by a person to the owner, general contractor, or subcontractor, the person shall have a lien upon such building, improvement, or land to secure payment for the material rental. The lien is for the reasonable rental value during the period of actual use of the material and any reasonable periods of nonuse of the material taken into account in the rental agreement. The delivery of material to such building, improvement, or land, whether or not delivery is made by the person, creates a presumption that the material was used in the course of alteration, construction, or repair of the building, improvement, or land. However, this presumption shall not pertain to recoveries sought under a surety bond.

3. An owner-builder is not entitled to a lien under this chapter as to work the owner-builder performs, or is contractually obligated to perform, prior to transferring title to the buyer.

No person shall be entitled to a mechanic’s lien who, at the time of making a contract for furnishing material or performing labor, or during the progress of the work, shall take any collateral security on such contract.

After the completion of such work, the taking of security of any kind shall not affect the right to establish a mechanics lien unless such new security shall, by express agreement, be given and received in lieu of such lien.

The entire land upon which any building or improvement is situated, including that portion not covered therewith, shall be subject to a mechanics lien to the extent of the interest therein of the person for whose benefit such material was furnished or labor performed.

When the interest of such person is only a leasehold, the forfeiture of the lease for the nonpayment of rent, or for noncompliance with any of the other conditions therein, shall not forfeit or impair the mechanicâs lien upon such building or improvement; but the same may be sold to satisfy such lien, and removed by the purchaser within thirty days after the sale thereof.

When the lien is for material furnished or labor performed in the construction, repair, or equipment of any railroad, canal, viaduct, or other similar improvement, said lien shall attach to the erections, excavations, embankments, bridges, roadbeds, rolling stock, and other equipment and to all land upon which such improvements or property may be situated, except the easement or right-of-way.

1. A person shall perfect a mechanics lien by posting to the state construction registry internet website a verified statement of account of the demand due the person, after allowing all credits, setting forth:

a. The date when such material was first furnished or labor first performed, and the date on which the last of the material was furnished or the last of the labor was performed.

b. The legal description that adequately describes the property to be charged with the lien.

c. The name and last known mailing address of the owner of the property.

d. The address of the property or a description of the location of the property if the property cannot be reasonably identified by an address.

e. The tax parcel identification number

2. Upon posting of the lien, the administrator shall mail a copy of the lien to the owner. If the statement of the lien consists of more than one page, the administrator may omit such pages as consist solely of an accounting of the material furnished or labor performed. In this case, the administrator shall attach a notification that pages of accounting were omitted and may be inspected on the state construction registry internet website.

3. A lien perfected under this section shall be limited to the county in which the building, land, or improvement to be charged with the lien is situated. The county identified on the state construction registry internet website at the time of posting the required notices pursuant to sections 572.13A and 572.13B shall be the only county in which the building, land, or improvement may be charged with a mechanics lien.

The statement of account required by section 572.8 shall be posted by a general contractor or subcontractor within two years and ninety days after the date on which the last of the material was furnished or the last of the labor was performed.

A general contractor or a subcontractor may perfect a mechanic’s lien pursuant to section 572.8 beyond ninety days after the date on which the last of the material was furnished or the last of the labor was performed by posting a lien to the state construction registry internet website and giving written notice thereof to the owner. Such notice may be served by any person in the manner original notices are required to be served. If the party to be served is out of the county wherein the property is situated, a return of that fact by the person charged with making such service shall constitute sufficient service from and after the time it was posted to the state construction registry internet website.

Liens perfected under section 572.10 shall be enforced against the property or upon the bond, if given, by the owner or by the owner-builder’s buyer, only to the extent of the balance due from the owner to the general contractor or from the owner-builder’s buyer to the owner-builder at the time of the service of such notice; but if the bond was given by the general contractor or owner-builder, or person contracting with the subcontractor posting the claim for a lien, such bond shall be enforced to the full extent of the amount found due the subcontractor.

Where a lien is claimed upon a railway, the subcontractor shall have ninety days from the last day of the month in which such labor was done or material furnished within which to file the claim therefor.

Except as provided in section 572.13B, payment to the general contractor or owner-builder of any part or all of the contract price of the building or improvement within ninety days after the date on which the last of the materials was furnished or the last of the labor was performed by a subcontractor, does not relieve the owner from liability to the subcontractor for the full value of any material furnished or labor performed upon the building, land, or improvement if the subcontractor posts a lien within ninety days after the date on which the last of the materials was furnished or the last of the labor was performed.

A mechanic’s lien may be discharged at any time by submitting a bond to the administrator in twice the amount of the sum for which the claim for the lien is posted, with surety or sureties, to be approved by the administrator, conditioned for the payment of any sum for which the claimant may obtain judgment upon the claim.

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require the owner to pay a greater amount or at an earlier date than is provided in the owner’s contract with the general contractor, unless the owner pays a part or all of the contract price to the general contractor before the expiration of the ninety days allowed by law for the posting of a mechanic’s lien by a subcontractor; provided that in the case of residential construction, nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require the owner to pay a greater amount or at an earlier date than is provided in the owner’s contract with the general contractor, unless the owner pays a part or all of the contract price to the general contractor after the owner receives notice pursuant to section 572.13B, subsection 2 or subsection 3, paragraph “b”.

Mechanics liens shall have priority over each other in the order of the posting of the statements of accounts as provided in section 572.8.

1. Mechanics liens posted by a general contractor or subcontractor within ninety days after the date on which the last of the material was furnished or the last of the claimant’s labor was performed and for which notices were properly posted to the state construction registry internet website pursuant to sections 572.13A and 572.13B shall be superior to all other liens which may attach to or upon a building or improvement and to the land upon which it is situated, except liens of record prior to the time of the original commencement of the claimant’s work or the claimant’s improvements, except as provided in subsection 2.

2. Construction mortgage liens shall be preferred to all mechanics liens of claimants who commenced their particular work or improvement subsequent to the date of the recording of the construction mortgage lien. For purposes of this section, a lien is a construction mortgage lien to the extent that it secures loans or advancements made to directly finance work or improvements upon the real estate which secures the lien.

3. The rights of purchasers, encumbrancers, and other persons who acquire interests in good faith, for a valuable consideration, and without notice of a lien perfected pursuant to this chapter, are superior to the claims of all general contractors or subcontractors who have perfected their liens more than ninety days after the date on which the last of the claimant’s material was furnished or the last of the claimant’s labor was performed.

4. For purposes of this section, a lender who obtains an interest in the real estate by assignment of a mortgage shall be entitled to the same priority as the original mortgagee.

Mechanics liens shall take priority over all garnishments of the owner for the contract debts, whether made prior or subsequent to the commencement of the furnishing of the material or performance of the labor, without regard to the date of posting the claim for such lien.

Mechanics liens, including those for additions, repairs, and betterments, shall attach to the building or improvement for which the material or labor was furnished or done, in preference to any prior lien, encumbrance, or mortgage upon the land upon which such building or improvement was erected or situated except as provided in sections 572.10 and 572.11.

In the foreclosure of a mechanics lien when there is a superior lien, encumbrance, or mortgage upon the land the following regulations shall govern:

1. Lien on original and independent building or improvement. If such material was furnished or labor performed in the construction of an original and independent building or improvement commenced after the attaching or execution of such superior lien, encumbrance, or mortgage, the court may, in its discretion, order such building or improvement to be sold separately under execution, and the purchaser may remove the same in such reasonable time as the court may fix. If the court shall find that such building or improvement should not be sold separately, it shall take an account of and ascertain the separate values of the land, and the building or improvement, and order the whole sold, and distribute the proceeds of such sale so as to secure to the superior lien, encumbrance, or mortgage priority upon the land, and to the mechanics lien priority upon the building or improvement.

2. Lien on existing building or improvement for repairs or additions. If the material furnished or labor performed was for additions, repairs, or betterments upon any building or improvement, the court shall take an accounting of the values before such material was furnished or labor performed, and the enhanced value caused by such additions, repairs, or betterments; and upon the sale of the premises, distribute the proceeds of such sale so as to secure to the superior mortgagee or lienholder priority upon the land and improvements as they existed prior to the attaching of the mechanics lien, and to the mechanics lienholder priority upon the enhanced value caused by such additions, repairs, or betterments. In case the premises do not sell for more than sufficient to pay off the superior mortgage or other superior lien, the proceeds shall be applied on the superior mortgage or other superior liens.

Each claim posted to the mechanics notice and lien registry internet website shall be properly indexed and shall contain the following items:

1. The name of the person by whom posted.

2. The date and hour of posting.

3. The amount thereof.

4. The name of the person against whom posted.

5. The legal description that adequately describes the property to be charged with the lien.

6. The tax parcel identification number of the property to be charged.

7. The address of the property or a description of the location of the property if the property cannot be reasonably identified by an address.

1. When a mechanic’s lien is satisfied by payment of the claim, the claimant shall acknowledge satisfaction thereof and, if the claimant neglects to do so for thirty days after demand in writing is personally served upon the claimant, the claimant shall forfeit and pay twenty-five dollars to the owner, general contractor, or owner-builder and be liable to any person injured to the extent of the injury.

2. If satisfaction is not acknowledged within thirty days after service of the demand in writing, the party serving the demand or causing the demand to be served may file for record with the administrator a copy of the demand with proofs of service attached and endorsed and, in case of service by publication, a personal affidavit that personal service could not be made within this state. Upon completion of the requirements of this subsection, the posting shall be constructive notice to all parties of the due forfeiture and cancellation of the lien. Upon the posting of the demand with the required attachments, the administrator shall mail a date-stamped copy of the demand to both parties.

1. An action to enforce a mechanic’s lien, or an action brought upon any bond given in lieu thereof, may be commenced in the district court after said lien is perfected.

2. An action to challenge a mechanic’s lien may be commenced in the district court or small claims court if the amount of the lien is within jurisdictional limits. Any permissible claim or counterclaim meeting subject matter and jurisdictional requirements may be joined with the action. The court shall make written findings regarding the lawful amount and the validity of the mechanic’s lien. In addition to any other appropriate order, the court may enter judgment on a permissibly joined claim or counterclaim. If the court determines that the mechanic’s lien is invalid, valid for a lesser amount, frivolous, fraudulent, forfeited, expired, or for any other reason unenforceable, the clerk of the district court shall submit the ruling to the administrator who shall make a posting to the state construction registry internet website regarding the proper amount of the lien or, if warranted, canceling the lien.

An action to enforce a mechanic’s lien shall be brought in the county in which the property to be affected, or some part thereof, is situated.

1. An action to enforce a mechanic’s lien shall be by equitable proceedings, and no other cause of action shall be joined therewith.
2. a. Except as provided in paragraph “b”, a claimant may only amend a lien claim by leave of court in furtherance of justice.b. A claimant may amend a lien statement without leave of court to decrease the amount demanded, and such amendment shall be effected through the mechanics’ notice and lien registry. Amendment of a lien statement pursuant to this paragraph shall not change or otherwise affect its priority.c. A claimant shall not amend a lien statement to increase the amount demanded.

Any action to enforce a mechanic’s lien shall be brought within two years from the expiration of ninety days after the date on which the last of the material was furnished or the last of the labor was performed.

1. Upon the written demand of the owner served on the claimant requiring the claimant to commence action to enforce the lien, such action shall be commenced within thirty days thereafter, or the lien and all benefits derived therefrom shall be forfeited.

2. If an action is not filed within thirty days after demand to commence action is served, the party serving the demand or causing the demand to be served may post with the administrator a copy of the demand with proofs of service attached and endorsed and, in case of service by publication, a personal affidavit that personal service could not be made within this state. Upon completion of the requirements of this subsection, the record shall be constructive notice to all parties of the due forfeiture and cancellation of the lien. Upon the posting of the demand with the required attachments, the administrator shall mail a date-stamped copy of the demand to both parties.

A mechanic’s lien is assignable, and shall follow the assignment of the debt for which it is claimed.

Unless otherwise agreed, a general contractor or owner-builder who engages a subcontractor to supply labor or materials or both for improvements, alterations or repairs to a specific residential construction property shall pay the subcontractor in full for all labor and materials supplied within thirty days after the date the general contractor or owner-builder receives full payment from the owner. If a general contractor or owner-builder fails without due cause to pay a subcontractor as required by this section, the subcontractor, or the owner by subrogation, may commence an action against the general contractor or owner-builder to recover the amount due. Prior to commencing an action to recover the amount due, a subcontractor, or the owner by subrogation, shall give notice of nonpayment of the cost of labor or materials to the general contractor or owner-builder paid for the improvement. Notice of nonpayment must be in writing, delivered in a reasonable manner, and in terms that reasonably identify the real estate improved and the nonpayment complained of. In an action to recover the amount due a subcontractor, or the owner by subrogation, under this section, the court in addition to actual damages, shall award a successful plaintiff exemplary damages against the general contractor or owner-builder in an amount not less than one percent and not exceeding fifteen percent of the amount due the subcontractor, or the owner by subrogation, for the labor and materials supplied, unless the general contractor or owner-builder does one or both of the following, in which case no exemplary damages shall be awarded:

1. Establishes that all proceeds received from the person making the payment have been applied to the cost of labor or material furnished for the improvement.

2. Within fifteen days after receiving notice of nonpayment the general contractor or owner-builder gives a bond, in an amount not less than the amount necessary to satisfy the nonpayment for which notice has been given under this section, and in a form approved by the administrator, to hold harmless the owner or person having the improvement made from any claim for payment of anyone furnishing labor or material for the improvement, other than the general contractor or owner-builder.

A lien arising under this chapter as a result of the construction of an apartment house or apartment building which is owned on a cooperative basis under chapter 499A, or which is submitted to a horizontal property regime under chapter 499B, is not enforceable, notwithstanding any contrary provision of this chapter, as against the interests of an owner in a unit contained in the apartment house or apartment building acquired in good faith and for valuable consideration, unless a lien statement specifically describing the unit is posted under section 572.8 within the applicable time period specified in section 572.9, but determined from the date on which the last of the material was supplied or the last of the labor was performed in the construction of that unit.

1. In a court action to enforce a mechanic’s lien, a prevailing plaintiff may be awarded reasonable attorney fees.

2. In a court action to challenge a mechanic’s lien posted on a residential construction property, if the person challenging the lien prevails, the court may award reasonable attorney fees and actual damages. If the court determines that the mechanic’s lien was posted in bad faith or the supporting affidavit was materially false, the court shall award the owner reasonable attorney fees plus an amount not less than five hundred dollars or the amount of the lien, whichever is less.

1. The notification requirements in this section apply only to commercial construction.

2. A person furnishing labor or materials to a subcontractor shall not be entitled to a lien under this chapter unless the person furnishing labor or materials does all of the following:

a. Notifies the general contractor or owner-builder in writing with a one-time notice containing the name, mailing address, and telephone number of the person furnishing the labor or materials, and the name of the subcontractor to whom the labor or materials were furnished, within thirty days of first furnishing labor or materials for which a lien claim may be made. Additional labor or materials furnished by the same person to the same subcontractor for use in the same construction project shall be covered by this notice.

b. Supports the lien claim with a certified statement that the general contractor or owner-builder was notified in writing with a one-time notice containing the name, mailing address, and telephone number of the person furnishing the labor or materials, and the name of the subcontractor to whom the labor or materials were furnished, within thirty days after the labor or materials were first furnished, pursuant to paragraph “a”.

3. Notwithstanding other provisions of this chapter, a general contractor or owner-builder shall not be prohibited from requesting information from a subcontractor or a person furnishing labor or materials to a subcontractor regarding payments made or payments to be made to a person furnishing labor or materials to a subcontractor.