Connecticut Lien Laws

Your Guide to Filing, Enforcing, and Discharging Connecticut Mechanic’s Liens

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Connecticut Lien Filing Resources

Understanding Your Rights and Responsibilities Under CT Lien Law

Contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers in Connecticut have the legal right to file a Mechanic’s Lien to protect their payment rights. Connecticut Lien Law requires strict adherence to deadlines and procedural steps — missing any can invalidate your claim.

Speedy Lien makes filing Mechanic’s Lien in Connecticut fast, simple, and fully state compliant.

Table of Contents

Connecticut Lien Law Basics

Understand the key elements of a Connecticut Mechanic’s Lien and how it protects the right to payment for contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers.

Key Rules:

  • Deadlines: Connecticut Mechanic’s Liens must be filed within the strict deadline.

    • Within 90 days of your last date of work or providing materials
  • Who Can File: Contractors, subcontractors, laborers, material suppliers, and service providers involved in private or public projects.

  • Who Can Be Held Responsible: A Mechanic’s Lien can be enforced against the property listed in the lien and anyone legally responsible for the debt that created the lien.

  • What Is Covered: Labor, materials, services, and improvements related to real property or land subdivision.

  • Scope: Liens can attach to improvements on real property as well as site developments, lot improvements, and subdivisions of land.

  • Legal Framework: Governed by Chapter 847, Sec. 49-33 of Connecticut General Statutes.

Expanded Information and Requirements:

Connecticut Lien Law​

Chapter 847, Sec. 49-33. Mechanic’s lien. Precedence. Rights of subcontractors.

(a) If any person has a claim for more than ten dollars for materials furnished or services rendered in the construction, raising, removal or repairs of any building or any of its appurtenances or in the improvement of any lot or in the site development or subdivision of any plot of land, and the claim is by virtue of an agreement with or by consent of the owner of the land upon which the building is being erected or has been erected or has been moved, or by consent of the owner of the lot being improved or by consent of the owner of the plot of land being improved or subdivided, or of some person having authority from or rightfully acting for the owner in procuring the labor or materials, the building, with the land on which it stands or the lot or in the event that the materials were furnished or services were rendered in the site development or subdivision of any plot of land, then the plot of land, is subject to the payment of the claim.

(b) The claim is a lien on the land, building and appurtenances or lot or in the event that the materials were furnished or services were rendered in the site development or subdivision of any plot of land, then on the plot of land and the claim takes precedence over any other encumbrance originating after the commencement of the services, or the furnishing of any such materials, subject to apportionment as provided in section 49-36.

(c) If any such liens exist in favor of two or more persons for materials furnished or services rendered in connection with the same construction, raising, removal or repairs of any building or any of its appurtenances, or in the improvement of any lot, or in the site development or subdivision of any plot of land, no one of those persons shall have any priority over another except as hereinafter provided.

(d) If any instrument constituting a valid encumbrance upon such land other than a mechanic’s lien is filed for record while the building is being constructed, raised, removed or repaired, or the lot is being improved, or the plot of land is being improved or subdivided, all such mechanic’s liens originating prior to the filing of that instrument for record take precedence over that encumbrance and no such mechanic’s lien shall have priority over any other such mechanic’s lien. That encumbrance and all such mechanic’s liens shall take precedence over any mechanic’s lien which originates for materials furnished or services rendered after the filing of that instrument for record, but no one of the mechanic’s liens originating after the filing of that instrument for record has precedence over another. If any lienor waives or releases his lien or claim of precedence to any such encumbrance, that lien shall be classed with and have no priority over liens originating subsequent to that encumbrance.

(e) A mechanic’s lien shall not attach to any such building or its appurtenances or to the land on which the same stands or to any lot or to any plot of land, in favor of any subcontractor to a greater extent in the whole than the amount which the owner has agreed to pay to any person through whom the subcontractor claims subject to the provisions of section 49-36.

(f) Any such subcontractor shall be subrogated to the rights of the person through whom the subcontractor claims, except that the subcontractor shall have a mechanic’s lien or right to claim a mechanic’s lien in the event of any default by that person subject to the provisions of sections 49-34, 49-35 and 49-36, provided the total of such lien or liens shall not attach to any building or its appurtenances, or to the land on which the same stands or to any lot or to any plot of land, to a greater amount in the whole than the amount by which the contract price between the owner and the person through whom the subcontractor claims exceeds the reasonable cost, either estimated or actual, as the case may be, of satisfactory completion of the contract plus any damages resulting from such default for which that person might be held liable to the owner and all bona fide payments, as defined in section 49-36, made by the owner before receiving notice of such lien or liens.

(g) In the case of the removal of any building, no such mechanic’s lien shall take precedence over any encumbrance upon the land to which such building has been removed which accrued before the building was removed upon the land.

(h) If any person has a claim for more than ten dollars for materials furnished or services rendered in the construction, raising, removal or repairs of any real property, and the claim is by virtue of an agreement with or by consent of the lessee of such real property or of some person having authority from or rightfully acting for such lessee in procuring the materials or labor, then the leasehold interest in such real property is subject to the payment of the claim. This subsection shall not be construed to limit any of the rights or remedies available to such person under subsection (a) of this section.

(i) Any mechanic’s lien may be foreclosed in the same manner as a mortgage.

(1949 Rev., S. 7217; 1949, 1953, S. 2973d; P.A. 74-310, S. 1; P.A. 79-602, S. 86; P.A. 99-153, S. 7.)

History: P.A. 74-310 applied provisions with respect to improvement of lots, site improvements and subdivisions of land; P.A. 79-602 divided section into Subsecs. and restated provisions but made no substantive changes; P.A. 99-153 added new Subsec. (h) to allow mechanic’s liens to attach to leasehold interests without limiting existing lien rights or remedies and relettered the remaining Subsec. accordingly.

How to File a Mechanic’s Lien in Connecticut

Learn how to file a Mechanic’s Lien in Connecticut and protect your right to payment.

Key Rules:

  • Deadlines: Connecticut Mechanic’s Liens must be filed within the strict deadline.

    • Within 90 days of your last date of work or providing materials

  • Who Can File: Contractors, subcontractors, laborers, material suppliers, and service providers involved in private or public projects.

  • Required Contents: Include lienor and owner info, description of labor/materials, amounts owed, work dates, and property identification.

  • Service Requirement: You must serve a true and attested copy of the lien certificate to the property owner within 30 days of filing.

  • Priority: Liens take priority over unrecorded claims, mortgages, and judgments filed after the lien notice. The first to file are the first to get paid.

  • Duration: The initial Lien is valid for 1 calendar year from the date of filing. Your deadline to file an Extension of Lien is within one year of filing your Lien claim. Failure to file your Extension prior to the deadline will cause the lien to expire.

Expanded Information and Requirements:

Connecticut Lien Law​

Sec. 49-35. Notice of intent. Liens of subcontractors and materialmen. 

(a) No person other than the original contractor for the construction, raising, removal or repairing of the building, or the development of any lot, or the site development or subdivision of any plot of land or a subcontractor whose contract with the original contractor is in writing and has been assented to in writing by the other party to the original contract, is entitled to claim any such mechanic’s lien, unless, after commencing, and not later than ninety days after ceasing, to furnish materials or render services for such construction, raising, removal or repairing, such person gives written notice to the owner of the building, lot or plot of land and to the original contractor that he or she has furnished or commenced to furnish materials, or rendered or commenced to render services, and intends to claim a lien therefor on the building, lot or plot of land; provided an original contractor shall not be entitled to such notice, unless, not later than fifteen days after commencing the construction, raising, removal or repairing of the building, or the development of any lot, or the site development or subdivision of any plot of land, such original contractor lodges with the town clerk of the town in which the building, lot or plot of land is situated an affidavit in writing, which shall be recorded by the town clerk with deeds of land, (1) stating the name under which such original contractor conducts business, (2) stating the original contractor’s business address, and (3) describing the building, lot or plot of land. The right of any person to claim a lien under this section shall not be affected by the failure of such affidavit to conform to the requirements of this section. The notice shall be served upon the owner or original contractor, if such owner or original contractor resides in the same town in which the building is being erected, raised, removed or repaired or the lot is being improved, or the plot of land is being improved or subdivided, by any indifferent person, state marshal or other proper officer, by leaving with such owner or original contractor or at such owner’s or the original contractor’s usual place of abode a true and attested copy thereof. If the owner or original contractor does not reside in such town, but has a known agent therein, the notice may be so served upon the agent, otherwise it may be served by any indifferent person, state marshal or other proper officer, by mailing a true and attested copy of the notice by registered or certified mail to the owner or original contractor at the place where such owner or the original contractor resides. If such copy is returned unclaimed, notice to such owner or original contractor shall be given by publication in accordance with the provisions of section 1-2. When there are two or more owners, or two or more original contractors, the notice shall be so served on each owner and on each original contractor. The notice, with the return of the person who served it endorsed thereon, shall be returned to the original maker of the notice not later than thirty days after the filing of the certificate pursuant to section 49-34.

(b) No subcontractor, without a written contract complying with the provisions of this section, and no person who furnishes material or renders services by virtue of a contract with the original contractor or with any subcontractor, may be required to obtain an agreement with, or the consent of, the owner of the land, as provided in section 49-33, to enable him to claim a lien under this section.

Connecticut Lien Law​

Chapter 847, Sec 49-34: Notice to Owner

A mechanic’s lien is not valid unless the person performing the services or furnishing the materials (1) within ninety days after he has ceased to do so, lodges with the town clerk of the town in which the building, lot or plot of land is situated a certificate in writing, which shall be recorded by the town clerk with deeds of land, (A) describing the premises, the amount claimed as a lien thereon, the name or names of the person against whom the lien is being filed and the date of the commencement of the performance of services or furnishing of materials, (B) stating that the amount claimed is justly due, as nearly as the same can be ascertained, and (C) subscribed and sworn to by the claimant, and (2) not later than thirty days after lodging the certificate, serves a true and attested copy of the certificate upon the owner of the building, lot or plot of land in the same manner as is provided for the service of the notice in section 49-35.” Conn. Gen. Stat. § 49-34 (2021).

Connecticut Lien Law​

Manner of service on owner or original contractor

A) The notice shall be served upon the owner or original contractor, if such owner or original contractor resides in the same town in which the building is being erected, raised, removed or repaired or the lot is being improved, or the plot of land is being improved or subdivided, by any indifferent person, state marshal or other proper officer, by leaving with such owner or original contractor or at such owner’s or the original contractor’s usual place of abode a true and attested copy thereof.

B) If the owner or original contractor does not reside in such town, but has a known agent therein, the notice may be so served upon the agent, otherwise it may be served by any indifferent person, state marshal or other proper officer, by mailing a true and attested copy of the notice by registered or certified mail to the owner or original contractor at the place where such owner or the original contractor resides.” Conn. Gen. Stat. § 49-35(a) (2021)

Satisfying a Mechanic’s Lien

Once the matter is paid and resolved, you must file a satisfaction to remove your lien off the property.

Key Rules:

  • Satisfaction by Lienor: Once your lien has been paid, you must remove the lien from the title of the property. In cases of failure to file a satisfaction, the lienor can be liable for damages.

Extending a Mechanic’s Lien and Lien Enforcement

Once a Mechanic’s Lien is filed, it gives you a legal claim against the property, but it doesn’t automatically get you paid.

Key Rules:

  • Duration: A Mechanic’s Lien in Connecticut is valid for 1 year from the date of filing.

  • Foreclosure Action: A foreclosure action is the ultimate enforcement mechanism for a Mechanic’s Lien. Think of it like when a bank forecloses on a home because the mortgage wasn’t paid — the lienholder can go to court, and if payment isn’t made, the property can be sold to satisfy the debt. That’s the level of power a foreclosure action gives you.

  • Bond Claim: If a Bond is filed against your Mechanic’s Lien, you can initiate a “Bond Claim” or begin an action against the Bond. This process would be handled through an attorney. If your Lien is Bonded off, you still have the ability to Extend your Mechanic’s Lien. If your Lien is not Extended, you lose your Lien Rights on the property.

Expanded Information and Requirements:

Connecticut Lien Law​

Sec. 49-39. Time limitation of Mechanic’s Lien

A mechanic’s lien shall not continue in force for a longer period than one year after the lien has been perfected, unless the party claiming the lien commences an action to foreclose it, by complaint, cross-complaint or counterclaim, and records a notice of lis pendens in evidence thereof on the land records of the town in which the lien is recorded within one year from the date the lien was recorded or within sixty days of any final disposition of an application made pursuant to section 49-35a, including any appeal taken with respect thereto in accordance with section 49-35c, whichever is later. Each such lien, after the expiration of the one-year period or sixty-day period, as the case may be, without action commenced and notice thereof filed as aforesaid, shall be invalid and discharged as a matter of law. An action to foreclose a mechanic’s lien shall be privileged in respect to assignment for trial. With respect to any such lien which was validated in accordance with the provisions of section 49-37a, the one-year period or sixty-day period, as the case may be, shall toll from the date of the validation.

Discharging a Mechanic’s Lien by Bond

Under Connecticut law (Sec. 49-37), property owners or other interested parties may apply to a Superior Court judge to dissolve a mechanic’s lien by substituting a surety bond in place of the lien on the real estate. The judge will notify the lienor of the application, and if satisfied that the applicant intends to contest the lien in good faith and that the bond offered has sufficient surety, the court will order the lien dissolved and the bond substituted.

The bond must be filed with the clerk of the Superior Court in the judicial district where the lien is recorded, and a certified copy of the court order must be recorded with the town clerk to complete the dissolution.

Note: If no action is brought to recover on the bond within 1 year of the lien’s recording, the bond becomes void.

Bonding off a lien is often a practical and strategic move when:

  • You need to clear the title quickly (for financing, sale, or refinancing).

  • The lien is disputed or inflated.

  • You want to avoid foreclosure proceedings against your property.

It lets you protect your real estate while still ensuring that legitimate claims can be resolved fairly.

Expanded Information and Requirements:

Connecticut Lien Law​

Sec. 49-37. Dissolution of mechanic’s lien by substitution of bond

(a) Whenever any mechanic’s lien has been placed upon any real estate pursuant to sections 49-33, 49-34 and 49-35, the owner of that real estate, or any person interested in it, may make an application to any judge of the Superior Court that the lien be dissolved upon the substitution of a bond with surety, and the judge shall order reasonable notice to be given to the lienor of the application. If the lienor is not a resident of the state, the judge may order notice to be given by publication, registered or certified letter or personal service. If the judge is satisfied that the applicant in good faith intends to contest the lien, he shall, if the applicant offers a bond, with sufficient surety, conditioned to pay to the lienor or his assigns such amount as a court of competent jurisdiction may adjudge to have been secured by the lien, with interest and costs, order the lien to be dissolved and such bond substituted for the lien and shall return the application, notice, order and bond to the clerk of the superior court for the judicial district wherein the lien is recorded; and, if the applicant, within ten days from such return, causes a copy of the order, certified by the clerk, to be recorded in the town clerk’s office where the lien is recorded, the lien shall be dissolved. Whenever a bond is substituted for any lien after an action for the foreclosure of a lien has been commenced, the plaintiff in the foreclosure may amend his complaint, without costs, so as to make the action one upon the bond with which the plaintiff may join an action to recover upon his claim. Whenever a bond is substituted for any lien before an action for the foreclosure of the lien has been commenced, the plaintiff may join the action upon the bond with an action to recover upon his claim. Whenever a bond has been substituted for any lien, pursuant to this section, unless an action is brought to recover upon the bond within one year from the date of recording the certificate of lien, the bond shall be void.

(b) Whenever a bond has been substituted for any lien pursuant to this section:

(1) The principal or surety on the bond, if no action to recover on the bond is then pending before any court, may make application, together with a proposed order and summons, to the superior court for the judicial district in which the action may be brought, or to any judge of the court, that a hearing be held to determine whether the lien for which the bond was substituted should be declared invalid or reduced in amount. The court or judge shall thereupon order reasonable notice of the application to be given to the obligee on the bond and, if the application is not made by all principals or sureties on the bond, shall order reasonable notice of the application to be given to all other such principals and sureties, and shall set a date for the hearing to be held thereon. If the obligee or any principal or surety entitled to notice is not a resident of this state, the notice shall be given by personal service, registered or certified mail, publication or such other method as the court or judge shall direct. At least four days notice shall be given to the obligee, principal and surety entitled to notice prior to the date of the hearing.

(2) The application, order and summons shall be substantially in the form established by subsection (b) of section 49-35a, adapted accordingly. The provisions of subdivisions (1) and (2) of subsection (b) of section 49-35a, shall apply.

(3) If an action on the bond is pending before any court, any party to that action may at any time prior to trial, unless an application under subdivision (1) of this subsection has previously been ruled upon, move that the lien for which the bond was substituted be declared invalid or reduced in amount.

(4) No more than one application or motion under subdivision (1) or (3) of this subsection may be ruled upon with respect to any single mechanic’s lien, except that the foregoing does not preclude an application or motion by a person not given notice of the prior application or not a party to the action at the time the prior motion was ruled upon. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed as permitting a surety on a bond to bring an application for discharge or reduction, if the validity of the lien has previously been ruled upon pursuant to section 49-35a.

(5) Upon the hearing held on the application or motion set forth in this subsection, the obligee on the bond shall first be required to establish that there is probable cause to sustain the validity of the lien. Any person entitled to notice under subdivision (1) of this section may appear, be heard and prove by clear and convincing evidence that the validity of the lien should not be sustained or that the amount of the lien claimed is excessive and should be reduced. Upon consideration of the facts before it, the court or judge may: (A) Deny the application or motion if probable cause to sustain the validity of the lien is established; or (B) order that the bond is void if (i) probable cause to sustain the validity of the lien is not established, or (ii) by clear and convincing evidence, the invalidity of the lien is established; or (C) order the amount of the bond reduced if the amount of the lien is found to be excessive by clear and convincing evidence.

(6) Any order entered upon an application set forth in subdivision (1) of this subsection shall be deemed a final judgment for the purpose of appeal.

(1949 Rev., S. 7221; 1955, S. 2975d; P.A. 75-418, S. 8, 10; P.A. 76-436, S. 649, 681; P.A. 78-280, S. 1, 127; P.A. 79-602, S. 93; 79-631, S. 36, 111.)

 

Compliance, Documentation, and Liability

Know your responsibilities under Connecticut lien law, including notice requirements and potential penalties for invalid or improper liens.

Key Rules:

  • Itemized Statement and Service Requirements: Lien claimants must properly file and serve lien claims with detailed descriptions of work and amounts. Failure to serve lien claims correctly can invalidate enforcement.

  • Willful Exaggeration Voids Lien: If a lienor deliberately overstates the lien amount, the lien is void and the lienor cannot file another lien for the same claim.

  • Lienor Liability for Exaggeration: If a lien is declared void due to willful exaggeration, the lienor is liable for damages, including bond premiums, interest on money deposited to discharge the lien, attorney’s fees, and the difference between claimed and actual amounts due.

Official Information Disclaimer

Disclaimer: These codes may not be the most recent version. The state’s senate office may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.

We are not a law firm and our employees are not acting as your attorney. The information contained in the site is general legal information and should not be construed as legal advice to be applied to any specific factual situation.

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