Mississippi mechanic's liens

Who and what this applies to

Private real-property construction liens under Mississippi Title 85, chapter 7, article 21.

Thresholds and scope

Licensing is required for lien entitlement when the claimant or the contractor it hires is required by the cited licensing statutes to be licensed.

The rules

• Section 85-7-403 grants the listed contractor, subcontractor, supplier and design-professional liens, but preserves the “licensed as required” condition. It is not an unconditional requirement that exempt work be licensed. Source
• Record the claim with the chancery clerk within 90 days after the claimant’s last work/services/materials; include the statutory expiration and contest warnings. Within two business days after filing, send the prescribed copy by registered or certified mail or statutory overnight delivery to the owner (or the statutory substitute); a claimant other than the contractor must also send the contractor or its registered agent a copy within that period. Source
• A claimant lacking the specified contractor/owner privity gives first-furnishing notice within 30 days under section 407, except single-family construction. For single-family construction, an indirect claimant gives the owner the statutory pre-lien notice at least ten days before filing. Source
• Commence the payment action within 180 days after lien filing. A recorded contest can shorten that to 90 days after contest filing, without extending the original 180-day period; comply with the associated filing/service requirements. Source

Primary sources

• 2014 Miss. Laws, SB2622 §2; Miss. Code §85-7-403
• SB2622 §3; Miss. Code §85-7-405
• SB2622 §§4-5; Miss. Code §§85-7-407, 409
• SB2622 §§11-12; Miss. Code §§85-7-421, 423

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

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