Can a supplier lien my California house after I paid the contractor?
Researched by the LokalMatch editorial team1 answer
The lumber yard sent a notice saying they delivered materials to my job and were never paid.
Answers (1)
LokalMatch EditorialLokalMatch editorial
Take that notice seriously and file it somewhere you can find it. What you received is a preliminary notice, and in California it is the document a subcontractor or supplier has to send if there is any chance they will need to file a lien later.
The timing rule inside it protects you a little. A notice served late still counts, but only for work done in the twenty days before it was delivered and anything after that — so an old debt cannot be resurrected by a notice sent today.
The defenses are practical rather than legal. Pay by joint check, made out to your contractor and the supplier together, so the money cannot stop halfway. Before each payment, get a signed conditional release from everyone who could claim; after each payment, get the unconditional release signed by each claimant paid, which the contractor should be handing you without being asked.
Keep every preliminary notice with the date you received it, because between them they are a list of who is owed money on your house. That list is the only warning system you get.
Answers come from pros and are reviewed by LokalMatch before they’re published. They’re general information — for regulated or safety-critical work, have a licensed professional assess your situation.
Sources
Where the facts on this page come from.
How to Prevent a Mechanics Lien — Contractors State License Board (accessed September 24, 2026)