California Private Time Frames

Step 1: Notice

Direct Contractor: Notify lender within 20 days of first furnishing.
Others: Preliminary Notice to the owner, direct contactor and lender, if any, within 20 days of first furnishing.
A late notice may be served but will only retroactively trap 20 days from the date the late notice is served.

Serve the Owner the Mechanic’s Lien and Notice of Mechanic’s Lien prior to filing.
Within 90 days after completion of the entire work unless the owner has recorded a Notice of Completion or a Notice of Cessation. If either of these notices has been recorded the original contractor must file within 60 days after recording, other claimants must file within 30 days after the recording.

File suit action within 90 days of recording lien and record notice of pendency within 20 days after the filing of the foreclosure action unless extended by a statutory Notice of Credit but, in any case, not more than a year after completion of the work of improvement.

California Private Stop Notice Time Frames

Within 90 days after completion of the entire work unless the owner has recorded a Notice of Completion or a Notice of Cessation. If either of these notices has been recorded the original contractor must file within 60 days after recording, other claimants must file within 30 days after the recording.
For the Claimant to receive funds from the Stop Payment Notice claim, he or she must post a Release Bond given by an admitted surety insurer equal to 125% of the amount of the claim. Once this bond is posted, the funds obtained through Stop Payment Notice must be released by the Owner (§8510).