Mechanic's Lien Guide
Rhode Island Mechanic's Lien Guide
Lien deadlines, notice requirements, and filing procedures for contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers in Rhode Island.
Rhode Island Lien Deadlines
Preliminary Notice
Not requiredNo preliminary notice is required for subcontractors and suppliers in Rhode Island. The "Notice of Possible Mechanic's Lien" obligation under § 34-28-4.1 falls on the person contracting directly with the owner, lessee, or tenant.
Notice of Intention
200 daysTo perfect a lien, a Notice of Intention must be mailed to the owner of record (by prepaid registered or certified mail, return receipt requested) AND a copy filed in the land evidence records of the city or town where the land is located, both before or within 200 days after the last day of doing work or furnishing materials (R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-28-4). The lien only covers work done or materials furnished during the 200 days prior to filing, so do not delay.
Mechanic's lien / Enforcement
40 daysThe lien is perfected by the mailing and recording of the Notice of Intention within 200 days. To enforce it, a complaint to enforce the lien must be filed in superior court and a notice of lis pendens recorded in the land evidence records, both within 40 days of the date the Notice of Intention was recorded (R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-28-10). Missing the 40-day window renders the lien void and wholly lost. Rhode Island is not an unpaid-balance state.
Calculate your Rhode Island Mechanics Lien Deadline
Your project
DISCLAIMER: These deadlines are pulled from recent lien laws, but you should consult a lien expert or lawyer to understand the deadlines specific to your situation.
Rhode Island deadlines
Showing deadlines for a Subcontractor. Deadlines can vary by role.
Enter your project dates on the left to calculate exact deadline dates.
Notice of Intent to Lien
200 days from last furnishing (same period as lien)
Enter project dates to calculate
Mechanics Lien Filing
200 days from last labor or materials furnished
Enter project dates to calculate
Enforcement (foreclosure)
Complaint to enforce within 40 days of lien recording date (Lis Pendens first, then Complaint within 7 days of Lis Pendens)
Calculated once you record the lien
Rhode Island Lien Guide
Preliminary Notice & Notice of Intent
Preliminary Notice: Not required. Notice of Possible Mechanic's Lien: A person contracting directly with the owner, lessee, or tenant (other than a material supplier) must give the owner a "Notice of Possible Mechanic's Lien" — either incorporated conspicuously into the written contract or sent by certified mail, return receipt requested — any time prior to commencing work or delivering materials (R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-28-4.1). Notice of Intention to Lien: Required to perfect any lien. It must be mailed to the owner of record and a copy recorded in the land evidence records, both before or within 200 days after last furnishing labor or materials (R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-28-4).
Who Can File a Mechanic's Lien
Any person who does work or furnishes materials in the construction, erection, alteration, or repair of an improvement by consent of or at the request of the owner may claim a lien in Rhode Island, including contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and laborers (R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-28-1).
Who Gets the Notice
The Notice of Intention is mailed to the owner of record of the land (or, for a lien against a leasehold interest, the lessee or tenant) and a copy is recorded in the land evidence records of the city or town where the land is located. The Notice of Possible Mechanic's Lien is given to the owner, lessee, or tenant.
Information Required
The Notice of Intention must be executed under oath and include: - Name and mailing address of the owner of record (or lessee/tenant) - A general description of the land sufficient to identify it (e.g., street name and number) - A general description of the nature of the work done/to be done or materials furnished/to be furnished, and their approximate value as of the date of the notice - The name and address of the person for whom the work was done or to whom materials were furnished - The name and address of the person mailing the notice and the individual authorized to bind them - A statement that the person mailing the notice has not been paid
Rhode Island Public Works
A mechanic's lien is not available against public property in Rhode Island. Instead, a claimant looks to the payment bond required on public construction projects (Rhode Island's Little Miller Act). Subcontractors and suppliers should make a claim against the general contractor's payment bond and its surety. Because bond notice and suit deadlines differ from private-project lien deadlines, confirm the specific timing requirements for the applicable public contract before your window closes.
Rhode Island Lien Statutes
Official Resources
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