Did not send prelim notice. Job is commercial hotel. has not been 90 days. No construction lender. Can I lien?
Yes, general contractors in California are only required to send a preliminary notice if there is a construction lender on the project. As you alluded to, the deadline to file liens in California is 90 days after completion of the project. Unless a Notice of Completion was filed on the project, then the deadline for GCs is cut to just 60 days after the notice was recorded.
For a detailed explanation of the process, see: Step-by-Step Guide to Filing a California Mechanics Lien