La. R.S. 9:4811
Louisiana's Notice of Contract (often called the Notice of Commencement in everyday usage) is the cornerstone of the state's Private Works Act. For any private works contract of $25,000 or more, recording the Notice of Contract before work begins is essential — it limits subcontractor lien exposure to the unpaid balance owed by the owner.
The general contractor (with the owner's signature) records the Notice of Contract before work begins.
Before the contractor begins work and before the contract is performed.
In the mortgage records of the parish (Louisiana's equivalent of a county) where the property is located.
Available for private works contracts of $25,000 or more between an owner and a general contractor.
Filing in the parish mortgage records constitutes constructive notice; physical posting on the jobsite is not required by statute, though some parishes recommend it.
Reference: La. R.S. 9:4811
A Notice of Intent to Lien is the final written demand for payment served before recording a Claim of Lien under La. R.S. 9:4811. It puts the owner, contractor, and lender on notice that they have a short window — usually 10 days — to pay the unpaid balance or a lien will be recorded. Most owners pay once they receive a properly served NOI, and serving one documents a good-faith effort to resolve the debt before filing.
Yes — for private works contracts of $25,000 or more, La. R.S. 9:4811 requires the contractor to record a Notice of Contract before beginning work. Skipping it can leave the contractor without a perfected privilege.
In the mortgage records of the parish (Louisiana's equivalent of a county) where the immovable property is located.
Yes. With a properly recorded Notice of Contract, subcontractor and supplier privileges are limited to the unpaid contract balance owed by the owner to the general contractor at the time their notices are received.
This page is general information about Louisiana's Notice of Commencement statute and is not legal advice. Statutes, recording fees, and local procedures change. Verify current requirements with the appropriate Louisiana recording office or a licensed Louisiana construction attorney before filing.