If you’re starting a new construction project in the Grand Canyon State, then you may have “send an Arizona 20 day preliminary notice” written on your to-do list. Even though it’s a to-do, you may not understand exactly what this means, and that’s why we wanted to clear up confusion around the preliminary notice.

The CNS team, your resource for construction notices, is also here to take care of preliminary notices for you. You can contact us for assistance by sending us a message or calling 800-366-5660.

As we explained in our recent article, “How Does a California 20 Day Preliminary Notice Work?”, people can get confused by the term “20 day preliminary notice.” For instance, someone may think you need to send the prelim 20 days after their construction project ends. However, the requirement is within 20 days of their project beginning.

Keep reading to learn how an Arizona preliminary lien notice works.

Your Arizona 20 Day Preliminary Notice: The Basics

Let’s discuss what a preliminary notice is, generally, and then the particulars of a prelim in AZ. If you regularly do business in Arizona, be sure to review all of our construction notice services in the state. See all AZ Lien Services ⇢

Preliminary Notices

Keep in mind that you might hear a preliminary notice also referred to as a “pre lien,” “prelim,” or “preliminary lien notice.” Regardless of which name you hear, they all point to an official document sent at the beginning of a construction project.

Why are preliminary notices so important? They reduce your risk, helping to ensure you get paid for the work you do. When you send a prelim, you protect your right to file a mechanics lien, if your customer doesn’t pay. Additionally, when you send a prelim, you’re following the law. And, if you don’t mail a preliminary notice, you won’t be able to record a mechanics lien if you aren’t paid.

In general, a contractor sends a prelim to the property owner, construction lender, and general contractor (if the contractor themselves isn’t the GC – or, as the Arizona Revised Statutes 33-992.01 put it, the “original contractor”). Usually, this notice is sent as certified mail to all parties.

Though this explanation is simple, the steps are involved and vary from state-to-state, such that CNS customers rely on our team to give them a hand.

Your Arizona Pre Lien

Arizona differs from the general rule, though, in a couple of ways. Remember the following when mailing your pre lien and working on your project:

• You must send the preliminary notice as first-class mail – and with a certificate of mailing.
• All contractors must send a prelim, including general contractors (GCs).
• If your project’s dollar value (as indicated on your prelim) increases 30%+ during the process, you might need to send another preliminary notice. Details on Arizona lien laws are in the state’s Revised Statutes.

Similar to California, you must mail your Arizona preliminary lien notice within 20 days of starting your project. That means the day you commence work on the jobsite is your baseline, as Day 1, and you count 20 days out from there (details are in the AZ Revised Statutes). Your recipients don’t need to receive it within 20 days, so you still have time to mail your Arizona prelim, even within the final hours before the cut-off.

Upcoming Project in CA, OR, WA, NM, or NV?

Then our team has you covered! We serve customers in all the western states listed above, and our experts ensure you properly send your pre lien – and get it out the door on time.

Each state’s lien laws have their own requirements. Because we work with construction companies – from large material suppliers to sole proprietors – we know the ins & outs of each states’ rules. Discover how we can help you with construction projects in California, Oregon, Washington, New Mexico, and Nevada: See all of our services ⇢

Get Your Arizona 20 Day Preliminary Lien Notice Form Started

You can ask our team to help, and we’ll use our proprietary pre lien notice, which we mail to your recipients. We pride ourselves in accurate, prompt, and expert handling of your preliminary notices – so you and your business can file a mechanics lien later on, if you need to.

Ask CNS to clear that prelim off your to-do list ⇢

Prefer to call? You can reach us at 800-366-5660.

Disclaimer: CNS is not an attorney, and if you need legal advice, please contact one.