A  Notice of Commencement announces that work is about to begin on a home-building or remodeling project and provides interested parties with information needed to follow the construction lien procedures properly.

Subcontractors, suppliers or laborers can request a copy of the notice of commencement; a written request should be sent to the owner, lessee or designee by certified mail and must include a blank notice of commencement and a blank notice of furnishing. Upon request, the owner, lessee or designee must prepare and provide the notice of commencement along with a blank notice of furnishing to the requesting party within 10 days.

If the homeowner does not reside at the site of the improvement, a copy of the notice of commencement along with a blank notice of furnishing must be posted at the site in a conspicuous place. The notice of commencement and blank notice of furnishing should be posted even if the homeowner lives at the site.

NOTE: The notice of commencement is required to be recorded in the office of the register of deeds for commercial construction projects ONLY. The language on the notice of commencement for commercial construction differs from that for residential construction.

§    Written requests to the homeowner must include a blank notice of commencement and a blank notice of furnishing.

§   Homeowners must prepare and return the notice of commencement along with a blank notice of furnishing within 10 days.

§  A notice of commencement should be clearly posted at the work site.

§    A notice of commencement for residential projects does not need to be recorded at the office of the register of deeds.

Blank Forms (pdf):

Notice of Commencement (Residential)

PLEASE NOTE:  INFORMATION PROVIDED INCLUDES CHANGES TO THE CONSTRUCTION LIEN ACT,
PURSUANT TO PA 497 OF 2006 AND PA 572 OF 2006.