Portage County Notice of Commencement Form
Last validated October 2, 2026 by our Forms Development TeamFormatted for recording in Portage County, for property anywhere in the county: rural and unincorporated areas as well as Atwater, Aurora, Brady Lake, Deerfield, Diamond, Garrettsville, Hiram, Kent and 9 more.
- 3 documents included
- Immediate PDF download
- Formatting guarantee

Portage County Notice of Commencement Form
Fill in the blank Notice of Commencement form formatted to comply with all Ohio recording and content requirements.

Portage County Notice of Commencement Guide
Line by line guide explaining every blank on the form.

Portage County Completed Example of the Notice of Commencement Document
Example of a properly completed form for reference.
All 3 documents above included • One-time purchase • No recurring fees
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Additional Ohio and Portage County documents included at no extra charge:
Where to Record Your Documents
Portage County Recorder
Ravenna, Ohio 44266
Hours: 8:00am and 4:00pm M-F (last filing 3:45)
Phone: 330-297-3553
Recording Tips for Portage County:
- Bring your driver's license or state-issued photo ID
- Ensure all signatures are in blue or black ink
- Documents must be on 8.5 x 11 inch white paper
- Double-check legal descriptions match your existing deed
- Verify all names are spelled correctly before recording
Cities and Jurisdictions in Portage County
Properties in any of these areas use Portage County forms:
- Atwater
- Aurora
- Brady Lake
- Deerfield
- Diamond
- Garrettsville
- Hiram
- Kent
- Mantua
- Mogadore
- North Benton
- Randolph
- Ravenna
- Rootstown
- Streetsboro
- Wayland
- Windham
Hours, fees, requirements, and more for Portage County
How do I get my forms?
Forms are available for immediate download after payment. The Portage 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 Portage County?
Yes. Our form blanks are guaranteed to meet or exceed the applicable formatting requirements used for recording in Portage 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 Portage 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 Portage County?
Recording fees in Portage County vary. Contact the recorder's office at 330-297-3553 for current fees.
Questions answered? Let's get started!
Under Ohio Revised Code 1311.04, an owner of real property must serve notice on any potential lien claimant. The form of notice is called a Notice of Commencement. The purpose of the Notice of Commence is to protect property owners and provide notice to any potential lien claimant that the project is commencing.
Prior to the performance of any labor or work or the furnishing of any materials for an improvement on real property which may give rise to a mechanics lien under sections 1311.01 to 1311.22 of the Revised Code, the owner, part owner, or lessee who contracts for the labor, work, or materials shall record, in the office of the county recorder for each county in which the real property to be improved is located, a notice of commencement in substantially the form specified by 1311.04(A)(1).
The Notice of Commencement includes the names and addresses of all owners, part-owners, and lessees attached to the project, a description of the property, a description of the improvement, names and addresses of all contractors, and information for any lenders or sureties. Then complete the following steps:
1) File the notice of commencement with the county recorder's office in the county where the project is located;
2) Serve a copy of the notice to the original contractor(s) via certified or registered US mail, with return receipt requested;
3) Post the notice at the project site;
4) Amend the notice to add any additional original contractors during the project; and
5) Provide copies of the Notice of Commencement to any potential lien claimant who is requesting a copy.
Complete the notice correctly, using accurate information. If the notice of commencement contains incorrect details, that same owner, part owner, or lessee is liable for any loss of a claimant's lien rights, and any actual expenses incurred by the lien claimant in maintaining lien rights, including attorney's fees, if the loss and expenses incurred are a direct result of the lien claimant's reliance on the incorrect information. Ohio Rev. Code 1311.04(C). In addition, if a lien is eventually filed using the incorrect information provide in the notice, any lien claimant who has included the information in his or her lien affidavit by relying on incorrect information contained in the Notice of Commencement, is entitled to file an amended affidavit for a lien. 1311.04(C). Notices of Commencement expire after six years unless the notice or an amendment to the notice states otherwise. Ohio Rev. Code 1311.04(S)
Every case is unique, so contact an attorney for complex situations, with specific questions about the Notice of Commencement, or for any other issue related to mechanic's liens in Ohio.
Important: Your property must be located in Portage County to use these forms. Documents should be recorded at the county recording office listed above.
This Notice of Commencement meets all recording requirements specific to Portage County.
Our Promise
The documents you receive here are guaranteed to meet or exceed the applicable Portage 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.
Save Time and Money
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