Public Improvement Liens
also known as Mechanic's Liens
Individuals and businesses that provide labor or materials to a contractor or subcontractor who is performing public improvement construction for the City, and who are not paid by the contractor or subcontractor as agreed upon, may file a notice of lien for the value of the labor and materials. When a lien has been filed, Finance will withhold 1.5 times the stated value of the lien from the City's payments to the contractor until the lienor (the individual or business that filed the notice of lien) has been paid.
The Lien Docket is available to the public to provide information on current public improvement liens that are filed against contractors who are doing business with the City. The Docket is current only as of the date posted.
Download Public Improvement Lien Docket
Encumbrance Code Definitions
Filing a Public Improvement Lien
To file a Public Improvement Lien complete the Public Improvement Lien Form.
Public Improvement Lien Form
Download Form
Mail to:
NYC Department of Finance
Vendor Restraint Unit
59 Maiden Lane, 24th Floor
New York, NY 10038
In-Person Delivery:
Visit the Manhattan Business Center.
Form Instructions
Complete all fields. Be especially careful to include the Comptroller’s contract registration number.
The Lien Form must be signed and notarized, and the Affidavit of Service must be signed and notarized separately.
Who Can File?
Finance only accepts liens against contractors doing public improvement projects with mayoral City agencies. Authorities such as Transit, Housing, School Construction, etc. handle their own liens, and documents should be filed directly with those entities.
To Withdraw a Lien
A lien can only be removed from the Docket (the list of active liens) when a valid Satisfaction of Lien is filed by the lienor (the party who filed the lien) or pursuant to court order. When the lien is removed from the Docket, the money being held is automatically released to the contractor.
Encumbrance Codes
| 0 | Other |
| 1 | Marshall Levy |
| 2 | Sheriff Levy |
| 3 | Mechanic’s Lien |
| 4 | IRS Levy |
| 5 | State Levy |
| 6 | Restraining Order |
| 7 | Stop Payment Order |
| 8 | Assignment |
| 9 | Department of Investigation |
Contact Information
Call 212-232-1957 or 212-232-1958
