Idaho's 90 days don't start at the invoice

Idaho has no preliminary notice. That sounds like less to track, and it's partly why suppliers get caught: nothing early in the job reminds anyone the clock exists.

The clock is 90 days to record with the county recorder, counted from the day you last furnished materials or finished your work (Idaho Code § 45-507(1)-(2)). Not the invoice date, not the payment due date. Keep the delivery tickets that show that last furnishing.

Two more clocks follow. A copy of the recorded lien goes to the owner within 5 business days, by certified mail or through an officer authorized to serve process (§ 45-507(5)). And suit has to be filed within 6 months of recording, or the lien stops binding the property.

One wrinkle on that last one: if a payment on account or an extension of credit is noted on the lien record, the 6 months run from that payment or from the end of the credit extension (§ 45-510(1)).

We lay out each step in our Idaho mechanics lien deadline guide.