Industry Guide
Notice of Commencement vs. Preliminary Notice: What Construction Teams Confuse
A Notice of Commencement is filed by the owner to start the clock on the project. A Preliminary Notice is filed by a subcontractor or supplier to preserve lien rights. They sound similar but do opposite jobs — one protects the owner, one protects the claimant — and the mechanics differ by state. Teams routinely mix them up and miss deadlines as a result.
Jordan Patel8 min read