Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 572.1 (2026)

Definitions and rules of construction

✓ current as of July 2026

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For the purpose of this chapter: 1. “Administrator” means the secretary of state. 2. “Building” shall be construed as if followed by the words “erection, or other improvement upon land”. 3. “General contractor” includes every person who does work or furnishes materials by contract, express or implied, with an owner. “General contractor” does not include a person who does work or furnishes materials on contract with an owner-builder. 4. “Labor” means labor completed by the claimant. 5. “Material”, in addition to its ordinary meaning, includes machinery, tools, fixtures, trees, evergreens, vines, plants, shrubs, tubers, bulbs, hedges, bushes, sod, soil, dirt, mulch, peat, fertilizer, fence wire, fence material, fence posts, tile, and the use of forms, accessories, and equipment furnished by the claimant. 6. “Mechanics’ notice and lien registry” means a centralized computer database maintained on the internet by the administrator that provides a central repository for the submission and management of preliminary notices, notices of commencement of work on residential construction properties, and mechanics’ liens on all construction properties. 7. “Mechanics’ notice and lien registry number” means a number provided by the administrator for all residential construction properties posted to the mechanics’ notice and lien registry. 8. “Owner” means the legal or equitable titleholder of record. 9. “Owner-builder” means the legal or equitable titleholder of record who furnishes material for or performs labor upon a building, erection, or other improvement, or who\n\nTue Dec 09 22:00:42 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 572 (38, 0) §572.1, MECHANIC’S LIEN 2\n\ncontracts with a subcontractor to furnish material for or perform labor upon a building, erection, or other improvement and who offers or intends to offer to sell the owner-builder’s property without occupying or using the structures, properties, developments, or improvements for a period of more than one year from the date the structure, property, development, or improvement is substantially completed or abandoned. 10. “Residential construction” means construction on single-family or two-family dwellings occupied or used, or intended to be occupied or used, primarily for residential purposes, and includes real property pursuant to chapter 499B. 11. “Subcontractor” includes every person furnishing material or performing labor upon any building, erection, or other improvement, except those having contracts directly with the owner. “Subcontractor” shall include those persons having contracts directly with an owner-builder. [C51, §982; R60, §1866, 1871; C73, §2144, 2146; C97, §3096, 3097; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §10270; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §572.1; 81 Acts, ch 186, §1] 98 Acts, ch 1142, §1; 2007 Acts, ch 83, §1, 2; 2012 Acts, ch 1105, §2, 27, 28; 2012 Acts, ch 1138, §13, 40, 43 Referred to in §614.1

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 11 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1985–2025 · leading case: Winger Contracting Co. v. Cargill, Inc., 926 N.W.2d 526 (Iowa 2019).

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Winger Contracting Co. v. Cargill, Inc., 926 N.W.2d 526 (Iowa 2019). · cites it 10× “1105, § 2 (codified at Iowa Code § 572.1 (8) (2013)). As a result of the 2012 deletion, Cargill noted, the term "owner" is now limited to "the legal or equitable titleholder of record.”

Schaffer v. Frank Moyer Constr., Inc., 628 N.W.2d 11 (Iowa 2001). · cites it 6× “" Iowa Code § 572.1 (3). A "subcontractor" includes every person furnishing material or performing labor upon any building, erection, or other improvement, except those having contracts therefore directly with the owner, the owner's agent, or trustee.”

Stand. Water Control Sys., Inc., plaintiff-appellees/counterclaim-defendants v. Michael D. Jones & Cori Jones, defendants-appellants/counterclaim-plaintiffs., 888 N.W.2d 673 (Iowa Ct. App. 2016). “See Iowa Code § 572.1 . The parties have different interpretations of the statute.”

Baumhoefener Nursery, Inc. v. a & D P'ship, II, 618 N.W.2d 363 (Iowa 2000). · cites it 2× “Iowa Code § 572.1 (5). By definition, Baumhoe-fener was a sub-subcontractor.”

W.P. Barber Lumber Co. v. Celania, 674 N.W.2d 62 (Iowa 2003). “” Iowa Code § 572.1 (5) (emphasis added). Given this contractual use of “directly” in the definitional portion of the statute, we conclude the use of “directly” in the attorney fees section of the statute should be construed as legislative shorthand for privity of contract.”

Clemens Graf Droste Zu Vischering v. Kading, 368 N.W.2d 702 (Iowa 1985). “Iowa Code § 572.1 (1) (1981); Veale Lumber Co.”

Louie's Floor Covering, Inc. v. DePhillips Interests, Ltd., 378 N.W.2d 923 (Iowa 1985). · cites it 2× “Iowa Code § 572.1 (1) (1985). “Subcontractor” includes every person furnishing material or performing labor upon any building, erection, or other improvement, except those having contracts therefor directly with the owner, the owner’s agent, or trustee.”

Schaffer v. Frank Moyer Constr., Inc., 563 N.W.2d 605 (Iowa 1997). “Iowa Code § 572.1 (4). In Louie’s Floor Covering, Inc.”

David Nebel D/B/A Nebel Elec. v. David L. Lott & Julie A. Lott, Dubuque Bank & Trust, & Dubuque City of Hous. Servs. Dep't (Iowa Ct. App. 2017). “” Iowa Code § 572.1 (10). Neither subsection applies in this instance.”

LM Constr. LLC v. Altoona Hosp. LLC (Iowa Ct. App. 2018). “Iowa Code § 572.1 (9). Altoona Hospitality does not meet these requirements.”

Summer's Enter., Inc. v. Hudson Land Dev., LLC (Iowa Ct. App. 2025). “” Iowa Code § 572.1 (11). 9 A general contractor “includes every person who does work or furnishes materials by contract, express or implied, with an owner.”

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