What is a Notice of Commencement?

A recorded document that identifies project parties and the official start date for lien purposes; used primarily on private construction projects to notify potential claimants and to establish priority.

Can a Notice of Commencement be e-signed?

Electronic signatures are generally valid under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and UETA where adopted; verify that the signing method meets state notary and recorder acceptance for notarized instruments.

Is notarization always required?

Notarization requirements vary by state and county; some jurisdictions require an acknowledged signature and will reject unnotarized filings, so confirm local recorder rules before submitting.

How do I correct errors after recording?

Record an amended notice or corrective instrument as allowed by local practice and retain both the original and amendment; consult counsel for changes affecting lien rights.

Who is authorized to sign the notice?

Typically the property owner or an authorized agent signs; for corporate owners, an officer or authorized representative should sign and identify capacity on the document.

How long should I retain the recorded notice?

Retain the recorded notice for the duration of the project plus a multi-year period (commonly three to seven years) and follow industry-specific retention rules such as IRS or HIPAA where applicable.

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Notice of Commencement

Notice of Commencement

This template is fully customizable. Edit the text, fill out the fields, and send it for signature. Give it a try!

What a Notice of Commencement Is and when it’s used

A Notice of Commencement is a recorded construction document that establishes the official project start date and identifies key parties such as the owner, general contractor, lender and surety. It is typically recorded in the county recorder or land records office where the property is located so that subcontractors and material suppliers know who hired the contractor and when lien rights begin to run. States differ on format and filing requirements, but the Notice of Commencement is generally used to shorten dispute risk, clarify payment responsibility and facilitate lien and bond procedures on private construction projects.

Why recording a Notice of Commencement matters

Recording a Notice of Commencement sets an objective start date for lien and claim timelines, notifies potential claimants of project contacts, and helps owners and lenders manage payment exposure and lien prevention.

Which parties typically prepare and rely on a Notice of Commencement

The Notice of Commencement is relevant to several project stakeholders involved in private construction.

Owners and developers — Use the notice to establish the official project start date and disclose lender or bond information to limit exposure.
General contractors and prime contractors — Record or obtain the notice to confirm contractual timing and to provide subcontractors with project details.
Subcontractors and suppliers — Rely on the recorded notice to determine when to file preliminary notices and preserve lien rights where applicable.

Essential elements included in a professional Notice of Commencement

A complete Notice of Commencement contains standardized data fields so recording staff, claimants and title personnel can rely on the document for lien, bond, and title searches.

Project Description

Concise legal or common description of the work and property address that allows a county recorder to identify the parcel and project scope for public records searches.

Owner Information

Full legal name and mailing address of the property owner, plus contact information for notices and service of process when necessary.

Contractor Information

Name, mailing address, and license or registration number for the general contractor or prime contractor on the project.

Lender or Bonding Party

Name and contact details for any lender, surety, or bond agent whose rights or claims may affect payment or title.

Legal Description

Lot, block, subdivision, or metes-and-bounds text sufficient to identify the parcel in county records and match recorded instruments.

Effective and Recording Data

Effective date of the notice, notarized signature(s), county recorder block and space for recording instrument number.

Required data fields at a glance

Owner name: Full legal name

Contractor name: Legal business name

Property description: Legal description

Recording county: County name

Effective date: MM/DD/YYYY

Notary block: Acknowledgement present

Step-by-step: complete and record a Notice of Commencement

Follow these steps to prepare a Notice of Commencement accurately and reduce the risk of recording delays or lien disputes.

01

Gather documents: Collect owner, contractor, lender, and legal description details.
02

Complete form: Enter required fields and verify accuracy before signing.
03

Sign and notarize: Owner or authorized agent signs; obtain notarization per state rules.
04

Record and distribute: File with county recorder and provide copies to subs and lender.

Configure an online workflow for Notice of Commencement

Set up a digital routing template to collect signatures, notarization, and automated distribution for project stakeholders.

Field	Configuration
Signer roles	Owner first, then lender and contractor if required
Notary required	Enable RON or in-person notarization per state
Authentication	Email plus SMS code for secondary verification
Distribution	Auto-send copies to lender, lien agent, and subs

Formats, integrations, and technical considerations

Use common file formats and integrate with project systems to streamline Notice of Commencement workflows.

Supported formats: PDF, DOCX
Notary and RON: Audio-video recording support
Integrations: Procore, NetSuite, Box

Typical online submission and recording workflow

A typical eSubmission flow reduces manual handoffs: prepare, sign, notarize, record, then distribute.

Upload document: Add the Notice of Commencement draft to the signing platform.
Place fields: Add signature, date, and notary fields to the document.
Collect signatures: Send signing links; obtain notarization if required.
Record and archive: File with recorder and save completed PDF with audit trail.

Timing considerations and typical deadlines

Timing for recording and notices varies by state; record early to protect parties and ensure lien timelines are clear.

Record as soon as practical:

Recording before substantial deliveries reduces ambiguity about lien start dates.

Provide to subcontractors:

Deliver copies promptly so subcontractors can comply with preliminary notice rules.

State-specific windows:

Some states set explicit filing deadlines—verify local statute or county rules.

Notarization timing:

Obtain notarization at signing; some counties will reject unacknowledged submissions.

Update if necessary:

Record amended notices if ownership, lender, or contractor details change.

Project milestones tied to the Notice of Commencement

Key milestones link the notice to claimant rights, title activity, and closeout processes during a construction project.

01

Prepare notice

Draft the notice and verify legal description before authorizing signatures.

02

Record notice

File with county recorder to establish the public start date.

03

Notify subcontractors

Provide copies to subcontractors, suppliers, and the lender as required.

04

Monitor claim period

Track statutory notice and lien filing windows after the recorded effective date.

Common preparation mistakes to avoid

Incorrect legal description or parcel reference that prevents county staff from matching the notice to property records and may delay recording.
Omitting notarization when state or county recording requirements demand an acknowledged signature, causing rejection or invalidation.
Using an unclear effective date or backdating; ambiguous dates can trigger disputes over lien timelines and contractor obligations.
Failing to distribute the recorded notice to subcontractors, suppliers, or the lender, which can complicate payment claims and claim notice compliance.

Risks and consequences of an incorrect or missing Notice of Commencement

Lien invalidation: Incorrect notice may affect the availability or timing of mechanic’s liens.

Recording rejection: Counties can refuse instruments that do not meet local form or notarization standards.

Payment disputes: Ambiguity in notice details can lead to withheld payments or claims against owner.

Increased litigation: Errors often result in costly disputes over priority and lien enforcement.

Delays to closing: Title and escrow may require corrected notices before closing or funding.

Regulatory fines: Some jurisdictions impose fees for improper recording procedures.

Representative examples of Notice of Commencement workflows in practice

These brief examples show how documented workflows and e-signing platforms support Notice of Commencement processing on real projects.

Martin Properties

A regional developer recorded a Notice of Commencement at project start to align title and construction timelines.

Tim Martin noted seamless online execution across devices.
The recorded notice clarified start dates for subcontractors and reduced disputes during closeout, simplifying lien searches for the title company and lender.

BIS

An operations team used electronic notarization for remote owners to sign a Notice of Commencement.

Dan Rotelli emphasized SOC 2 assurances in vendor selection.
Remote notarization and recorded PDFs with audit trails reduced administrative delay and provided a defensible public record in the event of payment claims.

Practical tips for accurate and efficient completion

Adopt consistent processes to minimize recording errors and to preserve lien and title protections across projects.

Verify legal descriptions

Confirm the parcel legal description against the deed or title report before recording; small discrepancies can cause recorder rejection and delay notice effectiveness.

Confirm notary and RON rules

Check local requirements for in-person notarization versus approved remote online notarization methods to ensure the recording office accepts the signed instrument.

Use standardized templates

Employ a consistent Notice of Commencement template that includes all required fields and spaces for recorder stamps and instrument numbers to reduce administrative rework.

Distribute promptly

After recording, send copies to subcontractors, suppliers, lender, and title to ensure everyone has the public record necessary for notice and lien preservation.

eSignature vendor pricing and feature snapshot for Notice of Commencement workflows

Compare baseline pricing and key capabilities when choosing an eSignature provider for notarization, bulk distribution, and secure recordkeeping for Notices of Commencement.

	signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc	HelloSign
Starting Price	$8/user/mo	$15/user/mo	$14/user/mo	$19/user/mo	$15/user/mo
Free Trial	7-day free trial	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan
Bulk Send	Yes	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Envelope Cap	No envelope cap	100 envelopes/user/year	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan

Frequently asked questions about Notices of Commencement

Answers to common questions about validity, recording, e-signatures, notarization, corrections and who should sign the notice.

Need help? Contact support

What is a Notice of Commencement?
A recorded document that identifies project parties and the official start date for lien purposes; used primarily on private construction projects to notify potential claimants and to establish priority.
Can a Notice of Commencement be e-signed?
Electronic signatures are generally valid under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and UETA where adopted; verify that the signing method meets state notary and recorder acceptance for notarized instruments.
Is notarization always required?
Notarization requirements vary by state and county; some jurisdictions require an acknowledged signature and will reject unnotarized filings, so confirm local recorder rules before submitting.
How do I correct errors after recording?
Record an amended notice or corrective instrument as allowed by local practice and retain both the original and amendment; consult counsel for changes affecting lien rights.
Who is authorized to sign the notice?
Typically the property owner or an authorized agent signs; for corporate owners, an officer or authorized representative should sign and identify capacity on the document.
How long should I retain the recorded notice?
Retain the recorded notice for the duration of the project plus a multi-year period (commonly three to seven years) and follow industry-specific retention rules such as IRS or HIPAA where applicable.

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