Howard County Contractor Notice to Owner Form

Last validated August 25, 2026 by our Forms Development Team

Formatted for recording in Howard County, for property anywhere in the county: rural and unincorporated areas as well as Chester, Cresco, Elma, Lime Springs, Protivin, Riceville.

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Howard County Contractor Notice to Owner Form

Howard County Contractor Notice to Owner Form

Fill in the blank Contractor Notice to Owner form formatted to comply with all Iowa recording and content requirements.

Document last validated 6/24/2026
Howard County Contractor Notice to Owner Guide

Howard County Contractor Notice to Owner Guide

Line by line guide explaining every blank on the form.

Document last validated 8/25/2026
Howard County Completed Example of the Contractor Notice to Owner Document

Howard County Completed Example of the Contractor Notice to Owner Document

Example of a properly completed form for reference.

Document last validated 7/2/2026

All 3 documents above included • One-time purchase • No recurring fees

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Important: Your property must be located in Howard County to use these forms. Documents should be recorded at the office below.

Where to Record Your Documents

Howard County Recorder

Address:
Howard County Courthouse 137 N. Elm ST.
Cresco, Iowa 52136

Hours: 8:00am to 4:30pm.Monday through Friday

Phone: 563-547-9210

Recording Tips for Howard County:
  • Bring your driver's license or state-issued photo ID
  • Ensure all signatures are in blue or black ink
  • Bring extra funds - fees can vary by document type and page count
  • Check margin requirements - usually 1-2 inches at top
  • Leave recording info boxes blank - the office fills these

Cities and Jurisdictions in Howard County

Properties in any of these areas use Howard County forms:

  • Chester
  • Cresco
  • Elma
  • Lime Springs
  • Protivin
  • Riceville

View Complete Recorder Office Guide

Hours, fees, requirements, and more for Howard County

How do I get my forms?

Forms are available for immediate download after payment. The Howard 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 Howard County?

Yes. Our form blanks are guaranteed to meet or exceed the applicable formatting requirements used for recording in Howard 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 Howard 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. The free Adobe Acrobat Reader is recommended, and most PDF apps also work. 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 Howard County?

Recording fees in Howard County vary. Contact the recorder's office at 563-547-9210 for current fees.

Questions answered? Let's get started!

Liability of an Owner to the Original Contractor in Iowa

An owner of a building, land, or improvement upon which a subcontractor's mechanic's lien may be filed, is not required to pay the original contractor any compensation for work done or material furnished for the building, land, or improvement until the expiration of ninety (90) days after the completion of the building or improvement. I.C. 572.13(1). However, payment may be due sooner if the original contractor furnishes the owner with one of the following: a) receipts and waivers for any claims for mechanics' liens, signed by all persons who furnished material or performed labor for the building, land, or improvement; or b) good and sufficient bond to be approved by the owner, on the condition that the owner will be relieved from liability for any loss which the owner may sustain by reason of the filing of mechanics' liens by subcontractors. I.C. 572.13(1).

An original contractor entering into a contract for an owner-occupied dwelling and who has contracted or will contract with a subcontractor to provide labor or furnish material for the dwelling must include the following notice in any written contract with the owner and shall provide the owner with a copy of the written contract:

"Persons or companies furnishing labor or materials for the improvement of real property may enforce a lien upon the improved property if they are not paid for their contributions, even if the parties have no direct contractual relationship with the owner."

I.C. 572.13(2).

If there is no written contract between the original contractor and the dwelling owner, the original contractor must, within ten (10) days of commencement of work on the dwelling, provide a written notice to the dwelling owner stating the name and address of all subcontractors that the contractor intends to use for the construction and, that the subcontractors or suppliers may have lien rights in the event they are not paid for their labor or material used on this site. Id. The notice must be updated as additional subcontractors and suppliers are used from the names disclosed on any earlier notices. Id.

This notice is essential as any original contractor who fails to provide notice is not entitled to lien rights. Id.

This article is provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a substitute for the advice from a legal professional. Please contact an Iowa attorney with any questions about sending notice to a dwelling owner or anything else with regard to mechanic's liens.

Important: Your property must be located in Howard County to use these forms. Documents should be recorded at the county recording office listed above.

This Contractor Notice to Owner meets all recording requirements specific to Howard County.

Our Promise

The documents you receive here are guaranteed to meet or exceed the applicable Howard 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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