We just sent out a Preliminary Notice for the 8009 Franklin job. Is that necessary if we're the General Contractor? Or only if we're the sub? Is this effected differently if the owner is a in Washington state?
1 reply
Feb 12, 2020
For all private construction projects within the state of California, a preliminary notice is required to be sent in order to secure mechanics lien rights. This includes general contractors. This should be sent within 20 days of first furnishing labor or materials to the project. For GC's it needs to be sent to the owner by registered or certified mail, express mail, or overnight delivery by an express service carrier. This applies, regardless of where the owner is currently located.
Sending the notice doesn't invalidate your lien rights, but it will limit them to any value provided in the 20 days preceding when the notice was received, and all work and materials thereafter. In addition to mechanics lien rights, failing to send a preliminary notice can also lead to potential fines from the CA Contractor's State Licensing Board.
Here's some additional reading on CA prelims: