Maine mechanics liens

Who and what this applies to

Labor, materials and the specified services/equipment furnished with the owner’s contract or consent under Title 10, chapter 603. Section 3251 expressly includes the listed municipal public buildings.

Thresholds and scope

Indirect claimants and owner-contract claimants have different filing requirements.

The rules

• Section 3251 grants the lien for its listed work and services on the building and relevant land or owner interest. Source
• A claimant without an owner contract must file the sworn statement in the relevant registry and mail a copy to the owner within 90 days after ceasing work, materials or services. Section 3253 exempts direct owner contracts from this requirement. Source
• The enforcement action generally must be filed within 120 days after last furnishing, subject to section 3256. An indirect claimant cannot serve the owner with the complaint and summons until 30 days after filing. Source
• The owner-payment defense in subsection 3 protects specified payments made before suit or the prescribed warning notice. That subsection does not apply to business, commercial or industrial premises unless the owner resides there; it is not a universal preliminary-notice requirement. Source

Primary sources

• 10 M.R.S. §3251
• 10 M.R.S. §3253
• 10 M.R.S. §3255(1)
• 10 M.R.S. §3255(3)

Sources reviewed 2026-09-30. This guide covers the projects and rules stated above.

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