Arkansas Mechanics Lien Deadline (2026): 120 Days after Last Work for Remodelers
How long a remodeler hired by the homeowner has to record a mechanics lien in Arkansas, what notice comes first, and the deadline to sue, worked on three dates.
Not legal advice. General information from each state's lien statute, checked Oct 29, 2026, for a contractor hired directly by the owner of an existing home. Dates are calendar arithmetic; some states move a deadline that lands on a weekend or holiday and some don't, and a recorded notice of completion or commencement can change the clock. Before you rely on a date, check with a construction attorney in your state.
The rule in Arkansas
120 days after last work
File with the circuit clerk within 120 days after you last did work or supplied materials.
15 months after recording
Sue within 15 months after filing the lien.
Notice before work starts
Put the state's residential notice, in its exact wording and bold capitals, in or with the contract. Deliver it in person or by certified mail before work starts. Send the homeowner notice 10 days before filing, stating the amount owed and who owes it.
Check first
On homes of 4 or fewer units, skip the notice and you lose your lien. No one else can lien unless the owner got a notice. A payment and performance bond excuses it. Remodels over $2,000 need a state home improvement license. Without it, you can't sue on the contract.
Source: Ark. Code 18-44-114, 18-44-115, 18-44-117, 18-44-119; 17-25-505, 17-25-515 (FindLaw mirror of 18-44-117 (current as of 3/28/2024); Pulaski County Clerk copies of 18-44-115 and 18-44-117 (official edition through 8/1/2012); Justia 2025 for 18-44-119 and 2010 for 18-44-114; Ark. Labor Dept. Residential Law (rev. July 2025))
“within one hundred twenty (120) days after the things specified in this subchapter”
Three last days of work, worked
| Last work | Record by | Sue by |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 13, 2026 | Jul 11, 2026 | Oct 11, 2027 |
| Jul 31, 2026 | Nov 28, 2026 | Feb 28, 2028 |
| Nov 20, 2026 | Mar 20, 2027 | Jun 20, 2028 |
Suit dates assume you record the lien on its last day; record earlier and a suit deadline that runs from recording comes earlier. Dates are calendar arithmetic and aren't moved off weekends or holidays.
Also check
- Remodels over $2,000 need a state home improvement license. Without it, you can't sue on the contract.
- Before you file: Send the homeowner notice 10 days before filing, stating the amount owed and who owes it.
Arkansas lien questions
How long do I have to file a mechanics lien in Arkansas?
File with the circuit clerk within 120 days after you last did work or supplied materials.
How long does a mechanics lien last in Arkansas?
Sue within 15 months after filing the lien.
Does a contractor need to send a notice before filing a lien in Arkansas?
Put the state's residential notice, in its exact wording and bold capitals, in or with the contract. Deliver it in person or by certified mail before work starts. Send the homeowner notice 10 days before filing, stating the amount owed and who owes it.
Compare other states
How we checked
We read each state's mechanics lien statute on the legislature's site, for a contractor hired directly by the homeowner on an existing home. Two independent research passes covered all 50 states and DC, and a third reviewer checked the result. Where a state's own site would not load, the row names the copy we read. Last checked .
This guide explains the general rule. It is not legal advice.