Contra Costa County Preliminary Notice Form
Last validated April 27, 2026 by our Forms Development Team
Contra Costa County Preliminary Notice Form
Fill in the blank Preliminary Notice form formatted to comply with all California recording and content requirements.

Contra Costa County Preliminary Notice Guide
Line by line guide explaining every blank on the form.

Contra Costa County Completed Example of the Preliminary Notice Document
Example of a properly completed form for reference.
All 3 documents above included • One-time purchase • No recurring fees
Immediate Download • Secure Checkout
Additional California and Contra Costa County documents included at no extra charge:
Where to Record Your Documents
Contra Costa Clerk-Recorder
Martinez, California 94553
Hours: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Monday through Friday
Phone: (925) 335-7910
Recording Tips for Contra Costa County:
- Verify all names are spelled correctly before recording
- Request a receipt showing your recording numbers
- Recorded documents become public record - avoid including SSNs
- Recording fees may differ from what's posted online - verify current rates
- Mornings typically have shorter wait times than afternoons
Cities and Jurisdictions in Contra Costa County
Properties in any of these areas use Contra Costa County forms:
- Alamo
- Antioch
- Bethel Island
- Brentwood
- Byron
- Canyon
- Clayton
- Concord
- Crockett
- Danville
- Diablo
- Discovery Bay
- El Cerrito
- El Sobrante
- Hercules
- Knightsen
- Lafayette
- Martinez
- Moraga
- Oakley
- Orinda
- Pinole
- Pittsburg
- Pleasant Hill
- Port Costa
- Richmond
- Rodeo
- San Pablo
- San Ramon
- Walnut Creek
Hours, fees, requirements, and more for Contra Costa County
How do I get my forms?
Forms are available for immediate download after payment. The Contra Costa County forms will be in your account ready to download to your computer. An account is created for you during checkout if you don't have one. Forms are NOT emailed.
Are these forms guaranteed to be recordable in Contra Costa County?
Yes. Our form blanks are guaranteed to meet or exceed the applicable formatting requirements used for recording in Contra Costa County, including margin requirements, font requirements, and other layout standards. This guarantee applies to formatting, not to the legal sufficiency of information entered by the user or the suitability of a form for a particular transaction.
Can I reuse these forms?
Yes. You can reuse the forms for your personal use. For example, if you have multiple properties in Contra Costa County you only need to order once.
What do I need to use these forms?
The forms are PDFs that you fill out on your computer. You'll need Adobe Reader (free software that most computers already have). You do NOT enter your property information online - you download the blank forms and complete them privately on your own computer.
Are there any recurring fees?
No. This is a one-time purchase. Nothing to cancel, no memberships, no recurring fees.
How much does it cost to record in Contra Costa County?
Recording fees in Contra Costa County vary. Contact the recorder's office at (925) 335-7910 for current fees.
Questions answered? Let's get started!
A claimant other than a laborer or direct contractor must serve preliminary notice under Civ. Code 8200 in order reserve the right to to claim a future mechanic's lien on a property. The notice must be served to the owner, direct contractor, and construction lender, if any.
California law requires notice to be served within 20 days of first furnishing labor, materials, services, or equipment in a work of improvement. A claimant may give late notice, but this limits the claimant's lien to only work performed within 20 days prior to giving the late notice, and work from that point forward (Civ. Code 8204).
Notices in relation to mechanic's liens must follow requirements under Civ. Code 8102, which include the names and addresses of the owners, direct contractor, and construction lender, if any, a description of the job site and job site address, and the name, address, and relationship to the parties of the claimant providing notice.
In addition to these requirements, the preliminary notice under Civ. Code 8200 requires a general description of the work provided by the potential claimant, an estimate of the total price of the work, and a verbatim notice to the property owner established by statute. If a preliminary notice is given by a subcontractor who has not paid all compensation due to a laborer, the notice also requires the name and address of all laborers to whom payment is due (Civ. Code 8202).
Pursuant to Civ. Code 8106, notice can be served by personal delivery, mail (as provided by Civ. Code 8110), or leaving a notice and mailing a copy according to the Code of Civil Procedure for service of summons in a civil action.
While this notice is typically not recorded, it may be filed with the county recorder for the limited purpose of facilitating the recorder's mailing of notices. When recorded, the preliminary notice does not constitute a recorded document and is maintained in a separate index. It does not function to provide constructive notice to third parties (Cal Civ. Code 8214).
Consult a lawyer with questions about preliminary notices, mechanic's lien laws, or any other issues related to real property in the State of California.
Important: Your property must be located in Contra Costa County to use these forms. Documents should be recorded at the office below.
This Preliminary Notice meets all recording requirements specific to Contra Costa County.
Our Promise
The documents you receive here are guaranteed to meet or exceed the applicable Contra Costa County recording format requirements. If there is a rejection caused by our formatting, we will correct the issue or refund your payment. This guarantee applies to document formatting only and does not extend to information entered by the user, the selection of the form, or the legal effect of the completed document.
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