How to File a Mechanic’s Lien in Colorado
There comes a moment for many Colorado contractors and subcontractors when the job is finished—or mostly finished—and payment still hasn’t arrived. Maybe the homeowner stopped responding. Maybe the general contractor is holding retainage and insisting on extra paperwork. Or perhaps the project simply ran out of money and you ended up carrying the debt.
When you get to that point, the mechanic’s lien is one of the most powerful tools Colorado law gives you to secure payment. But it’s also a tool that must be used carefully. Strict timelines, detailed requirements, notice obligations, and filing rules make lien claims both potent and risky. A slightly incorrect legal description or a missed deadline can invalidate the lien entirely.
As a construction lawyer, I see two common patterns: (1) contractors who wait too long to assert their rights, and (2) contractors who rush to file a lien without understanding what Colorado law actually requires. Both mistakes can cost you your leverage—and in some cases, your claim.
This guide walks you through the entire process in a practical, narrative way. No bullet-point lists. No abstract statutory language. Just a clear explanation of what actually happens when you decide to file a mechanic’s lien in Colorado.
If you want a broader overview written for homeowners, take a look at our Colorado Mechanic’s Lien Guide for Homeowners (link internally on your site). This article, by contrast, focuses on the contractor’s perspective and the specific steps involved in creating a valid lien.
Understanding What a Mechanic’s Lien Really Is
Before filing anything, it helps to understand the purpose of a lien. A mechanic’s lien is not just a claim that you are owed money. It is a legal interest recorded against the property itself. That means the property cannot be sold, refinanced, or transferred without addressing the lien. In other words, it gives you leverage—not because you have a judgment, but because you’ve clouded the title in a way that forces the owner to take you seriously.
But Colorado’s mechanic’s lien statute is strict. Courts treat these liens as extraordinary remedies, and they expect contractors to follow the rules precisely. That is why each step of the process matters.
Step One: Confirm That You Still Have Lien Rights
Colorado gives most contractors four months from the last day they furnished labor or materials to record a lien. On residential projects, the rule is even tighter when it comes to enforcing a lien that has been filed.
This is where many people make an unintentional mistake. They assume “last day of work” means the day they last visited the site. In reality, courts often look to the last substantial improvement—not punch-list items, minor corrections, warranty calls, or cosmetic touch-ups.
If you’re unsure how to calculate your deadline, you can read our in-depth article on How Long a Contractor Has to File a Colorado Mechanic’s Lien (internal link). It expands on this issue and explains why calculating this date incorrectly can invalidate your lien before it is even recorded.
Step Two: Serve a Notice of Intent to Lien
Unlike some states, Colorado requires a contractor to give the property owner advance notice before recording a lien. This is known as the Notice of Intent to File a Lien, and it must be sent at least ten days prior to recording your lien statement.
The purpose of this notice is to give the homeowner one last chance to resolve the dispute before you take the formal step of encumbering their title. It’s also where disputes often settle. The moment owners realize their home sale, refinance, or construction loan may be affected, conversations start to move again.
A Notice of Intent is not a mere courtesy. Without proper notice, the lien will not hold up in court. Many contractors try to skip this step, only to discover later that the lien can be attacked for noncompliance. When in doubt—serve it.
Step Three: Prepare a Legally Accurate Lien Statement
Colorado requires certain elements to appear in a recorded lien statement. What truly matters here is accuracy. The property must be clearly identified. The amount must be something you can justify. And the description of work must be tied to actual labor or materials that improved the property.
One of the most common mistakes I see is the “kitchen-sink” lien—where a contractor inflates the claimed amount to include disputed change orders, delay damages, or work that was never completed. These overstatements can expose you to counterclaims for slander of title.
If you’re unsure what amounts are actually lienable in Colorado, see our companion article, How Much Can a Contractor Claim in a Colorado Mechanic’s Lien? (internal link). That guide walks through what is allowed, what is not, and how courts treat inflated or exaggerated liens.
Step Four: Record the Lien in the Right County
A mechanic’s lien must be recorded in the county where the property sits. That means a Denver contractor filing a lien on a home in Castle Rock must record with the Douglas County Clerk and Recorder—not Denver County.
The recording process varies slightly from county to county. Some allow electronic submission; others require in-person or mail-in documents. Filing fees also differ. If you file in the wrong county, the lien is void—no second chances.
Once recorded, your lien becomes part of the property’s public record. That means title companies, lenders, and prospective buyers will all see it. This alone can resolve many disputes, because liens often force the issue when a sale is pending.
Step Five: Decide Whether to Enforce the Lien
Recording the lien is not the end of the process. It only preserves your right to enforce the lien later. In Colorado, you generally have six months from the date you last performed work—or from project completion—to file a foreclosure lawsuit.
This enforcement lawsuit is where many lien claims ultimately resolve through settlement. But it’s also where courts closely scrutinize every step of the process: your Notice of Intent, your last date of work, your lienable amounts, and the accuracy of your recorded statement.
If the homeowner is reading this side of things, they may prefer our guide: How to Dispute a Mechanic’s Lien Filed Against Your Home in Colorado (internal link). Homeowners should understand that filing a lien is not the same as proving one.
The Bigger Picture: Mechanic’s Liens Are Powerful But Technical
Colorado’s lien laws strike a delicate balance. They protect contractors who have genuinely improved a property, but they also guard homeowners from unfair or abusive filings. That’s why strict compliance matters on both sides.
When contractors understand the process, they preserve their rights, protect their profit margin, and avoid litigation they could have prevented with clearer documentation or early notice. When homeowners understand the process, they can distinguish between valid and invalid liens—and avoid being pressured into paying claims they don’t owe.
If You’re Considering Filing a Lien, We Can Help
If you are a contractor who believes you have a lien claim—or a homeowner trying to understand one—our firm routinely evaluates mechanic’s liens throughout Colorado. A short consultation is often enough to determine whether lien rights exist, what deadlines apply, and whether a lien will help resolve the dispute or escalate it.
The information provided on this website is for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice or legal opinion. You should not act or refrain from acting on the basis of any information provided on this website without seeking legal advice from an attorney.