Public Improvement Lien (Mechanic's Lien)

Department of Finance


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Public improvement lien
(mechanic’s lien)

If you work or provide material to a contractor or subcontractor of a public improvement project for the City, you can file a notice of lien. A lien is a legal claim against property for outstanding debt. You can file the notice before the project is completed or within 30 days of completion.

When you file a lien, the City withholds payment from the contractor and publishes information about the lien in the public improvement lien docket, where you can view the liens filed against contractors doing business with the City.

The Department of Finance does not process mechanic’s liens against private real property.

Who would file a public improvement lien?

You can file a lien with the Department of Finance if you are a subcontractor or a supplier on a City government public construction project and you have not been paid by the contractor. In that case, you have the right to file a lien in the amount the contractor owes. The City will hold payment to the contractor 1 1/2 times the amount owed on the lien.

We only accept notices of public improvement liens for contracts awarded by mayoral agencies and registered with the NYC comptroller’s office. Other public entities, such as HHC, New York State agencies, the MTA, the School Construction Authority, and the New York City Economic Development Corporation have their own public improvement lien processes.

Filing a public improvement lien

Mail your completed Public Improvement Lien Form to:

NYC Department of Finance
Collections Division
OCA/External Inquiry
59 Maiden Lane, 28th Floor
New York, NY 10038

Requesting a stamped copy of a lien

Send your request with a self-addressed, stamped envelope to:

NYC Department of Finance
Collections Division
OCA/External Inquiry
59 Maiden Lane, 28th Floor
New York, NY 10038

Withdrawing a lien

A lien can be removed from the list of active liens on our website through a court order, or when legal consent such as a Satisfaction of Lien is filed by whoever filed the lien.

You can mail Satisfaction of Lien forms to:

NYC Department of Finance
Collections Division
OCA/External Inquiry
59 Maiden Lane, 28th Floor
New York, NY 10038

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