That depends upon what you mean by an intent of lien. On private works of improvement you must send you preliminary notice or notice of right to lien within 31 days of first supplying labor or materials to the project. If you serve this notice late then you are only protected for work which took place within 31 days of sending the notice. For example if you are on a project for 90 days and then send your preliminary notice you will only have lien rights for the prior 31 days, you will not have lien rights for the first 59 days you were on the project. A mechanic’s lien must be recorded no later than 90 days after your last supplied labor/material to the project, 90 days of completion of the project or within 40 days of a valid notice of completion, whichever last occurs.

On residential projects prior to recording a lien you must send a 15 day notice of intent to lien. The above timelines apply, with the exception of the fact that the time to record a mechanic’s lien is extended by 15 days to allow for the sending of the notice.