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HomeCivil CodeDiv. 4Pt. 6Ch. 2§ 8200 Preliminary Notice For Liens

§ 8200 Preliminary Notice For Liens

Civil Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 8200 Preliminary Notice For Liens

Key Takeaways

  • •Before asking for money for work done on a building, you must tell the owner, the main builder, and the bank (if there is one) that you are working on the project.
  • •If you don’t tell them first, you can’t later ask for money by putting a legal claim on the building or stopping payments.
  • •Workers (like laborers) don’t have to give this notice.
  • •If you have a direct deal with the owner, you only need to tell the bank (if there is one).

Example

You are a plumber hired by a subcontractor to fix pipes in a new house.

Before you can ask for money from the owner or the bank if you don’t get paid, you must first tell the owner, the main builder, and the bank that you are working on the house. If you skip this step, you can’t later put a legal claim on the house or stop payments to get your money.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 8200 Preliminary Notice For Liens

(a) Except as otherwise provided by statute, before recording a lien claim, giving a stop payment notice, or asserting a claim against a payment bond, a claimant shall give preliminary notice to the following persons: (1) The owner or reputed owner. (2) The direct contractor or reputed direct contractor to which the claimant provides work, either directly or through one or more subcontractors. (3) The construction lender or reputed construction lender, if any. (b) The notice shall comply with the requirements of Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 8100) of Title 1. (c) Compliance with this section is a necessary prerequisite to the validity of a lien claim or stop payment notice under this title. (d) Compliance with this section or with Section 8612 is a necessary prerequisite to the validity of a claim against a payment bond under this title. (e) Notwithstanding the foregoing subdivisions: (1) A laborer is not required to give preliminary notice. (2) A claimant with a direct contractual relationship with an owner or reputed owner is required to give preliminary notice only to the construction lender or reputed construction lender, if any. (Added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 697, Sec. 20. (SB 189) Effective January 1, 2011. Operative July 1, 2012, by Sec. 105 of Ch. 697 and by Section 8052.)

Last verified: January 21, 2026

Key Terms

lien claimstop payment noticepayment bondpreliminary noticelaborer

Related Statutes

  • § 8204 Preliminary Notice Requirements
  • § 9300 Preliminary Notice Requirements
  • § 8202 Preliminary Notice Requirements
  • § 8206 Preliminary Notice Requirements
  • § 8208 Contractor Preliminary Notice Requirements

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Civil Code. Section 8200.
View Official Source