How many days do you have to file a mechanics lien in Iowa?
Perfect the lien by posting a verified statement of account on the mechanics' notice and lien registry website. It lists the first and last dates of work or delivery, the legal description, the owner's name and mailing address, the property address and the tax parcel number. The statement must be posted within two years and ninety days after the last material was furnished or the last labor was performed.1 Iowa Code 572.8; 572.9
Do you need a preliminary notice in Iowa?
The general contractor (or an owner-builder who hires subcontractors) must post a notice of commencement of work on the state mechanics' notice and lien registry within ten days after work starts. A subcontractor then posts a preliminary notice on the registry; the lien reaches only the balance the general contractor was still owed when that notice was posted, and on residential jobs only the balance owed when the owner actually received it. On residential jobs the general contractor must also give the owner a written lien-rights notice, or loses lien rights.2 Iowa Code 572.13A; 572.13B; 572.13
How long is a mechanics lien good for in Iowa?
A suit to enforce the lien must be brought within two years after the ninety days that follow the last day of labor or material.3 Iowa Code 572.27
Who can file a mechanics lien in Iowa?
Anyone who furnishes material or labor, or rents material, for a building or land improvement under a contract with the owner, owner-builder, general contractor or subcontractor has a lien on the building and the land. An owner-builder cannot claim a lien for work done before transferring title to the buyer.4 Iowa Code 572.2
What about public jobs in Iowa?
A contract for a public improvement that equals or exceeds $25,000 must come with a surety bond. The bond may be required on smaller contracts too.5 Iowa Code 573.2
Notarization: read the Iowa lien statute.
Sources
- Iowa Code 572.8; 572.9 (legis.iowa.gov, 2026-10-27)
- Iowa Code 572.13A; 572.13B; 572.13 (legis.iowa.gov, 2026-10-27)
- Iowa Code 572.27 (legis.iowa.gov, 2026-10-27)
- Iowa Code 572.2 (legis.iowa.gov, 2026-10-27)
- Iowa Code 573.2 (legis.iowa.gov, 2026-10-27)