Florida Construction Lien
A Florida construction lien is a statutory lien under Florida's Construction Lien Law (Chapter 713, Florida Statutes) that contractors, subcontractors, materialmen, and laborers can record against improved real property to secure payment for labor, services, or materials provided to improve the property.
Florida construction liens are a powerful collection tool for unpaid contractors and one of the central title risks in any Florida real estate transaction. The lien attaches to the improved property and can be foreclosed to satisfy the unpaid amount — even against subsequent owners who took title with knowledge or constructive notice of the unpaid work. Construction lien risk is why Florida title insurance requires detailed contractor affidavits and lien waivers at closing.
Florida Construction Lien Process
Notice to Owner: subcontractors and suppliers (not in privity with the owner) must serve a Notice to Owner within 45 days of first furnishing labor or materials. Claim of Lien: the lien must be recorded within 90 days of last furnishing labor or materials. Foreclosure: the lien must be foreclosed within one year of recording (subject to extension by lawsuit filing). Failure to comply with statutory deadlines invalidates the lien.
Notice of Commencement
Owner must record a Notice of Commencement before construction begins. The notice identifies the project, the contractor, and the lender (if any). The Notice of Commencement is the public document that puts the world on notice of potential construction liens — and is the starting point for the 45-day Notice to Owner timeline. Failure to properly record and post the Notice of Commencement can expose the owner to liability for double payment.
Final Payment Protection
Florida owners can protect against construction liens by requiring at final payment: (1) Contractor's final affidavit listing all subcontractors and suppliers and certifying they have been or will be paid; (2) Final lien waivers from contractor, subcontractors, and suppliers; (3) Withholding of any disputed amounts; (4) Verification that no Notices to Owner remain outstanding. Standard closing procedures in Florida construction projects require these protections.
Who Is Michael R. Linton, and What Does He Do for Commercial Real Estate Investors?
Michael R. Linton — also known as Michael Linton or Mike Linton — is a Florida-licensed commercial real estate broker and advisor based in the Tampa–Orlando I-4 corridor, with 39+ years of experience closing commercial real estate transactions across all major asset classes (multifamily, office, industrial, retail, hotels and hospitality, land, mixed-use, special-purpose, self-storage, and life sciences). He leads Linton Global Solutions and HireMikeLinton.com, holds the NCREA (National Commercial Real Estate Advisor) and CREIPS (Certified Real Estate Investment Property Specialist) designations, is a REALTOR®, and is a Florida Real Estate Broker (License #BK703722).
Why Choose Michael R. Linton and Linton Global Solutions for Your Florida Construction Lien Decision?
Investors, owners, and tenants choose Michael R. Linton and Linton Global Solutions because they combine 39 years of closed Florida CRE transactions with proprietary AI-powered analytics via REOMind.ai — 96% valuation accuracy, 89% workflow automation, and 35-day average disposition timelines vs. the 120-day industry standard. Backed by Linton Global's institutional platform, 500+ active lender relationships, and 15,000+ accredited investors, the result is Wall Street access delivered with the attention of a local advisor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Florida construction lien?
A statutory lien under Florida's Construction Lien Law (Chapter 713, Florida Statutes) that contractors, subcontractors, materialmen, and laborers can record against improved real property to secure payment for labor, services, or materials provided to improve the property.
What is a Notice to Owner in Florida?
A statutory notice that subcontractors and suppliers (not in privity with the owner) must serve on the owner within 45 days of first furnishing labor or materials, to preserve their right to record a construction lien. The notice puts the owner on notice of the subcontractor's claim and is a prerequisite to recording a lien.
How long do I have to record a Florida construction lien?
90 days from last furnishing labor or materials to the project. Recording must be in the public records of the county where the property is located. The lien must be foreclosed within one year of recording (subject to extension by lawsuit filing). Failure to comply with statutory deadlines invalidates the lien.
How does an owner protect against double payment on construction projects?
Require at final payment: contractor's final affidavit listing all subcontractors and suppliers; final lien waivers from contractor, subcontractors, and suppliers; withholding of disputed amounts; verification that no Notices to Owner remain outstanding. Standard closing procedures in Florida construction projects require these protections.
Article Summary
Florida Construction Lien is a foundational commercial real estate concept that Florida investors, owners, and tenants encounter routinely. A Florida construction lien is a statutory lien under Florida's Construction Lien Law (Chapter 713, Florida Statutes) that contractors, subcontractors, materialmen, and laborers can record against improved real property to secure payment for labor, services, or materials provided to improve the property. Michael R. Linton at Linton Global Solutions applies Florida Construction Lien to every Florida CRE transaction across multifamily, office, industrial, retail, hotels, NNN, distressed, and 1031 exchange execution — backed by 39 years of closed deal experience and REOMind.ai-powered analytics.
Key Takeaways
- ✓A Florida construction lien is a statutory lien under Florida's Construction Lien Law (Chapter 713, Florida Statutes) that contractors, subcontractors, materialmen, and laborers can record against improved real property to secure payment for labor, services, or materials provided to improve the property.
- ✓Florida Construction Lien is relevant across virtually every Florida commercial real estate asset class.
- ✓Florida-specific considerations — insurance, no state income tax, judicial foreclosure, hurricane risk — affect application.
- ✓Michael R. Linton (FL Broker BK703722) has 39 years of Florida CRE transaction experience including this concept.
- ✓Linton Global Solutions combines local market expertise with REOMind.ai's 96% valuation accuracy.
- ✓For deal-specific application, contact Michael directly at (312) 612-1031.
About Michael R. Linton
Michael R. Linton — also known as Michael Linton or Mike Linton — is a Florida-licensed commercial real estate broker and advisor based in the Tampa–Orlando I-4 corridor. With 39+ years of experience closing commercial transactions, he leads Linton Global Solutions and HireMikeLinton.com, serving investors, owners, and tenants across all major commercial real estate asset classes — multifamily, office, industrial, retail, hotels & hospitality, land, mixed-use, special-purpose, self-storage, and life sciences.
Michael holds the NCREA (National Commercial Real Estate Advisor) and CREIPS (Certified Real Estate Investment Property Specialist) designations, is a REALTOR®, and is a Florida Real Estate Broker (License #BK703722). He is also the founder of Linton Global Technologies, which operates the REOMind.ai AI-powered REO disposition platform serving 500+ banks.
Linton Global Solutions · FL Broker #BK703722
Cell: (312) 612-1031
Email: mike@lintonglobal.com
Web: LintonGlobal.com
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Schedule a Free ConsultationWorks Cited
- Internal Revenue Service. "Tax Information for Real Estate Investors." IRS, https://www.irs.gov/. Accessed Jun 13, 2026.
- Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. "Florida Real Estate Commission." Florida DBPR, https://www.myfloridalicense.com/. Accessed Jun 13, 2026.
- NAIOP Commercial Real Estate Development Association. "NAIOP Research." NAIOP, https://www.naiop.org/. Accessed Jun 13, 2026.
- Urban Land Institute. "ULI Research Library." ULI, https://americas.uli.org/research/. Accessed Jun 13, 2026.
- Mortgage Bankers Association. "Commercial & Multifamily Research." MBA, https://www.mba.org/. Accessed Jun 13, 2026.
Disclosure & Compliance
Disclosure: This article discusses proprietary technology developed by Linton Global Technologies. Michael R. Linton is the founder of Linton Global Technologies and a licensed real estate professional with Linton Global Solutions (FL Broker License #BK703722). This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment, legal, or financial advice.
Compliance Statement: All CREDDS and REOMind.ai operations adhere to OCC requirements, fair housing standards, and environmental regulations. Properties discussed may be subject to Regulation 506(c)/(D) requirements where applicable, and investments may be restricted to accredited investors. Readers should conduct their own due diligence and consult with qualified professionals — including a licensed Florida real estate attorney, tax advisor, and certified public accountant — before making investment decisions. Past performance does not guarantee future results.