MI · Mechanics Lien Law
Michigan Mechanics Lien Law: Deadlines, Notices & Filing Guide
Michigan mechanics lien and bond claim deadlines under MCL § 570.1111 (private) and MCL § 129.207 (public), explained by My Lien Lawyer. Deadlines run from first and last furnishing, so both dates need careful tracking from the outset of work.
Michigan mechanics lien deadlines at a glance
Subcontractors, suppliers, and laborers without a direct contract with the owner must serve a Notice of Furnishing on the designee named in the project's Notice of Commencement within 20 days of first furnishing. Missing this step does not bar the lien outright, but it does limit recovery to amounts furnished within the 20 days before the notice is actually served.
A Michigan claim of lien must be recorded within 90 days after the claimant's last furnishing of labor or materials to the project. The clock runs from that last date on site, not from contract completion or payment. Once recorded, the claimant must also serve a copy of the lien on the owner within 15 days.
Enforcement suit must be filed within 1 year after the date the claim of lien was recorded, or the lien is extinguished by operation of law.
On Michigan public projects, claimants without a direct contract with the general contractor must give written notice of claim within 90 days of last furnishing labor or materials. First-tier claimants working directly for the GC are not strictly required to serve this notice, but doing so anyway is the safer course.
Primary statute
MCL § 570.1111 · MCL § 129.207
Who can file a mechanics lien in Michigan?
Michigan construction liens are available to contractors, subcontractors, sub-subcontractors, material suppliers, and, where the statute permits, design professionals who furnished labor, materials, or services to the improvement.
Overview of Michigan lien practice
Michigan's lien system is built around two dates that every claimant should log from day one: first furnishing and last furnishing. First furnishing starts the 20-day clock for a sub-tier claimant's Notice of Furnishing, while last furnishing starts the 90-day window to record the claim of lien and the 90-day window for public bond claim notices. Because the lien must be recorded in the correct county register of deeds and the recorded document must then be served on the owner within 15 days, claimants need to confirm the property's county and the owner of record before filing rather than after. Residential work carries an added wrinkle, since a sworn statement to the owner or general contractor is required before payment for lien rights to remain enforceable. As with every state, federal property is not lienable, so public jobs on federal land or facilities fall outside this framework entirely and must proceed, if at all, under federal remedies. Missing any one of these steps can quietly shrink or eliminate lien rights well before the recording deadline arrives.
Common pitfalls on Michigan projects
Late Notice of Furnishing shrinks recovery
Serving the Notice of Furnishing late does not necessarily kill the lien, but it limits recovery to labor and materials furnished within the 20 days before the notice was served and afterward.
Laborers get a separate 30-day window
Laborers have 30 days after wages become due to serve their own notice under MCL § 570.1109(6), which runs on a different clock than the standard furnishing-based notice.
Service of the recorded lien is mandatory
A copy of the recorded claim of lien must be served on the owner within 15 days of recording under MCL § 570.1111(4), or the lien can be challenged.
Notice of Commencement changes the sequence
If the owner filed a Notice of Commencement, a timely Notice of Furnishing naming the designee must have gone out first before other lien steps can be relied upon.
Michigan mechanics lien FAQs
When does a mechanics lien need to be recorded in Michigan?
The claim of lien must be recorded with the register of deeds in the county where the property sits within 90 days after the claimant's last furnishing of labor or materials, under MCL § 570.1111.
Does Michigan require a preliminary notice before filing a lien?
Yes. Anyone without a direct contract with the owner must serve a Notice of Furnishing on the Notice of Commencement designee within 20 days of first furnishing to fully protect their lien rights for that work.
How long do I have to enforce a Michigan construction lien in court?
A lawsuit to enforce the lien must be commenced within 1 year of the date the claim of lien was recorded, or the lien rights are lost.
What is required to preserve bond rights on a Michigan public project?
Claimants without a direct contract with the principal contractor must give written notice of their claim within 90 days of last furnishing labor or materials; direct contractors should serve it too even though it is not strictly mandated for them.
Who can file a mechanics lien in Michigan?
Contractors, subcontractors, sub-subcontractors, material suppliers, and qualifying design professionals who furnished labor, materials, or services to the improvement may file, subject to the notice requirements for those without a direct owner contract.
Filing a Michigan mechanics lien or bond claim?
My Lien Lawyer coordinates mechanics lien filings, bond claims, and construction collections in Michigan — directly or through our vetted local-counsel network. The first call is free.
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This page is general information and not legal advice. Statutes change — verify against the official text linked above.