20 Day Notice California Form PDF Details

The 20 Day Notice California form is a required preliminary notice that protects the lien rights of subcontractors, material suppliers, and equipment lessors on construction projects. It must be served within 20 days of first furnishing labor, materials, or equipment to the project. Work performed more than 20 days before the notice is served is not protected by lien rights.

Who Must Send the 20 Day Notice?

The following parties are generally required to serve a 20 Day Notice in California:

General contractors with a direct contract with the property owner are typically exempt from this requirement.

Required Information on the Form

A valid California 20 Day Preliminary Notice must include the following information:

How to Serve the 20 Day Notice

In California, the 20 Day Notice must be served on the property owner, the general contractor, and the construction lender (if any). It must be delivered by first-class mail, certified mail, or personal delivery. Failing to serve all required parties may limit or void your lien rights.

What Happens If You Miss the Deadline?

Serving the notice after 20 days does not eliminate your lien rights entirely. A late 20 Day Notice protects labor and materials furnished in the 20 days before the notice was sent. However, any work or materials provided more than 20 days before the notice date lose lien protection. For this reason, it is best to send the notice at the start of your work on the project.

Related California Construction Forms

You may also need these related forms for your California construction project:

QuestionAnswer
Form Name 20 Day Notice California Form
Form Length 1 page
Fillable? Yes
Fillable fields 35
Avg. time to fill out 15 min
Other names california preliminary notice form pdf, 20 day preliminary notice california form, california 20 day notice form, prlm