How can a contractor enforce a lien on a property?

A contractor can enforce a lien on a property primarily by filing the lien with the appropriate government office within the statutory timeframe. In Florida, this involves preparing and submitting a claim of lien to the county clerk's office where the property is located. This formal process ensures that the lien is officially recorded and gives legal notice to the property owner and any other interested parties.

Filing within the statutory timeframe is crucial because failure to do so can invalidate the lien. The timeframe varies depending on the type of project and the contractor's relationship with the property owner or the general contractor. After this step, the contractor has the right to enforce the lien through legal proceedings if the payment remains unpaid, but it starts with the proper filing of the lien.

The other options, while important actions in their own right, do not constitute the primary method for enforcing a lien. For example, obtaining a court order or notifying the property owner may come into play later if the lien needs to be enforced through legal action, but these do not initiate the lien process itself. Submitting a complaint to a regulatory board is also a separate action that typically pertains to compliance or licensing issues, not the enforcement of a lien.