AK · Mechanics Lien Law
Alaska Mechanics Lien Law: Deadlines, Notices & Filing Guide
Alaska mechanics lien rights are set out in AS §§ 34.35.050 – 34.35.120 for private projects and AS §§ 36.25.010 – 36.25.025 for public work. Because deadlines run from first and last furnishing, tracking both dates from day one on site is essential.
Alaska mechanics lien deadlines at a glance
Alaska does not require preliminary notice on private or residential projects as a general matter. A Notice of Right to Lien under AS § 34.35.064 is optional and only becomes mandatory if the owner has posted a Notice of Non-Responsibility, though serving it proactively is generally good practice.
An Alaska claim of lien must be recorded within 120 days of the date the claimant last furnished labor or materials, under AS §§ 34.35.050 – 34.35.120. If the property owner has recorded a Notice of Non-Responsibility, the claimant must also have served a Notice of Right to Lien beforehand to preserve the claim.
A foreclosure action must be commenced within six months after the lien is recorded, or the lien expires under AS §§ 34.35.050 – 34.35.120.
Public work in Alaska is governed by the state's Little Miller Act, AS §§ 36.25.010 – 36.25.025. Claimants without a direct contract with the prime must serve written notice on the prime contractor within 90 days of last furnishing, and any suit on the payment bond must follow within one year of that same date.
Primary statute
AS §§ 34.35.050 – 34.35.120 · AS §§ 36.25.010 – 36.25.025
Who can file a mechanics lien in Alaska?
Alaska allows general contractors, subcontractors, sub-subcontractors, and material suppliers to file a lien, and design professionals may qualify where the statute reaches them, so long as they furnished labor, materials, or services to the improvement.
Overview of Alaska lien practice
Alaska's lien statute centers everything on the last-furnishing date: claimants get 120 days from that point to record their claim of lien, and only six months after recording to file a foreclosure suit before the lien lapses. There is generally no obligation to send a preliminary notice on private work, though the calculus changes if the owner has recorded a Notice of Non-Responsibility, in which case a Notice of Right to Lien under Section 34.35.064 becomes a prerequisite rather than a courtesy. Because the recording and suit windows are both short and strictly enforced, contractors working across Alaska's counties and boroughs should confirm the correct recording jurisdiction and the accurate legal owner before filing. Public projects follow a separate Little Miller Act framework requiring remote claimants to give the prime contractor 90 days' notice and to sue on the bond within a year of last furnishing. Federal property in Alaska, as everywhere, falls outside the reach of a private mechanics lien, leaving bond claims as the applicable remedy there.
Common pitfalls on Alaska projects
120-day recording clock is strict
A claim of lien must be recorded within 120 days after last furnishing under AS § 34.35.080, with no general extension.
Six-month suit deadline follows recording
AS § 34.35.080(d) causes the lien to expire unless a foreclosure suit is filed within six months of recording.
Notice of Non-Responsibility changes the rules
If the owner has posted a Notice of Non-Responsibility, the claimant must have already served a Notice of Right to Lien before recording.
Public-project notice runs to the prime
Remote claimants on public jobs must notify the prime contractor within 90 days of last furnishing under AS § 36.25.020(b), and sue on the bond within one year under § 36.25.020(c).
Alaska mechanics lien FAQs
When must a mechanics lien be recorded in Alaska?
The claim of lien must be recorded within 120 days after the claimant last furnished labor or materials, and the case must then proceed to a foreclosure suit within six months of recording.
Is preliminary notice required in Alaska?
Generally no, but a Notice of Right to Lien under AS § 34.35.064 becomes required if the owner has recorded a Notice of Non-Responsibility, so it is worth serving as a precaution.
How long do I have to enforce a lien in Alaska?
Six months from the date the lien is recorded, after which the lien expires by operation of law.
What about Alaska public projects?
Remote claimants must give the prime contractor written notice within 90 days of last furnishing and file any bond suit within one year of that date under Alaska's Little Miller Act.
Filing a Alaska mechanics lien or bond claim?
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This page is general information and not legal advice. Statutes change — verify against the official text linked above.