ARTICLE 3. Amount of Lien [8430. - 8434.]

Cal. Civil Code - CIV 3.

in effect

Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 8430. Section 8430.

(a) The lien is a direct lien for the lesser of the following amounts: (1) The reasonable value of the work provided by the claimant. (2) The price agreed to by the claimant and the person that contracted for the work. (b) The lien is not limited in amount by the contract price for the work of improvement except as provided in Section 8600. (c) This section does not preclude the claimant from including in a claim of lien work performed based on a written modification of the contract, or as a result of rescission, abandonment, or breach of the contract. If there is a rescission, abandonment, or breach of the contract, the amount of the lien may not exceed the reasonable value of the work provided by the claimant.

Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 8432. Section 8432.

(a) A lien does not extend to work, whether or not the work is authorized by a direct contractor or subcontractor, if the work is not included in a direct contract or a modification of that contract, and the claimant had actual knowledge or constructive notice of the provisions of that contract or modification before providing the work. (b) The filing of a contract or modification of that contract with the county recorder, before the commencement of a work of improvement, is constructive notice of the provisions of the contract or modification to a person providing work on that work of improvement.

Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 8434. Section 8434.

A direct contractor or a subcontractor may enforce a lien only for the amount due pursuant to that contractor’s contract after deducting all lien claims of other claimants for work provided and embraced within that contract.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026