What is the deadline to register a construction lien in Ontario?
Under the Construction Act, you must preserve (register) your lien within 60 days of the last day you supplied services or materials, or of the date substantial performance of the contract is published. If you miss the 60-day preservation deadline, your lien expires.
What is the difference between preserving and perfecting a lien?
Preserving a lien means registering it on title within 60 days. Perfecting the lien means commencing a court action and registering a certificate of action within 90 days after the preservation deadline. Both steps are required — a preserved but unperfected lien expires.
Does substantial performance change my lien deadline?
Yes. Publication of a certificate of substantial performance starts a fresh 60-day period for work done up to that point and releases the accumulated holdback. It is a critical date for calculating both lien deadlines and holdback release.
What if my contract predates the current Construction Act?
Contracts entered into before the 2018 and 2019 amendments may fall under the former Construction Lien Act, which used a 45-day preservation period and different perfection rules. Confirm which regime governs your contract before relying on any deadline.