New Hampshire Construction Lien Guide
New Hampshire mechanics lien law is governed by N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 447:2–447:14.
If you provide labor, materials, equipment, or professional services that improve private real property in New Hampshire and are not paid, New Hampshire law allows you to secure payment through a mechanics lien.
Keep in mind that New Hampshire Mechanics Lien, Construction Lien, and Claim of Lien are commonly used interchangeably to describe the same statutory lien right.
LET’S LEARN THE BASICS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE CONSTRUCTION LIENS
⭐ Who Can File a Mechanics Lien in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire grants mechanics lien rights to parties who improve private real property, including:
General contractors
Subcontractors
Sub-subcontractors
Material suppliers
Laborers
Architects, engineers, and other design professionals (when services improve the property)
Mechanics liens do not apply to public projects. Payment disputes on public work are handled through bond claims instead.
⭐ New Hampshire Lien Deadlines (Critical)
⭐ LIEN IT OR LOSE IT
All New Hampshire mechanics lien deadlines are calculated from the claimant’s last date of furnishing labor, materials, equipment, or professional services to the project. That date controls when notices must be sent, when the lien must be filed, and when enforcement must begin.
New Hampshire does not require a traditional “preliminary notice” or “notice to owner” before filing a mechanics lien. However, New Hampshire does require a Notice of Intent to Lien ("NOI") before a lien may be enforced.The Notice of Intent to Lien is a mandatory pre-enforcement notice designed to give the property owner a final opportunity to resolve payment before litigation.
DEADLINE #21— SEND NEW HAMPSHIRE NOTICE OF INTENT TO LIEN
Who Must Send the New Hampshire NOI?
All lien claimants, including:
General contractors
Subcontractors
Suppliers
Design professionals
There is no contract-tier exemption.
New Hampshire NOI Deadline
The Notice of Intent to Lien must be served at least 30 days before filing the lien enforcement lawsuit
⚠️ Important: In New Hampshire, the NOI is tied to enforcement of your mechanics lien, not lien recording.
Method of Service of Neew Hampshire NOI
Certified mail, return receipt requested, or
Personal service
Failure to properly serve the NOI can bar enforcement of the lien.
Deadline #1 — Record the New Hampshire Mechanics Lien
A New Hampshire mechanics lien must be recorded within 120 days of the claimant’s last furnishing of labor or materials. The lien is recorded with the Town Clerk in the town where the property is located.
A New Hampshire mechanics lien must include all of the following:
Name of the lien claimant (that's you)
Name of the property owner (or reputed owner)
Name of the party who hired the claimant (if different from the owner)
Description of the property sufficient to identify it
Description of the labor, materials, or services provided
First date of furnishing labor or materials
Last date of furnishing labor or materials
Exact amount claimed to be due and unpaid
Statement that the amount claimed is justly due
Signature of the claimant or authorized agent
Verification (notarization)
Deadline #2 — Enforce the New Hampshire Mechanics Lien
To preserve and enforce the lien, the claimant must file a lien enforcement lawsuit within 120 days of recording the lien. If no lawsuit is filed within this period, the lien expires automatically and becomes unenforceable.