Ohio Rev. Code » Chapter 1311 - Ohio Revised Code | Ohio Laws
Ohio Revised Code

Ohio Rev. Code § 1311.01 (2026)

Lien definitions

✓ current as of May 2026
Find cases: SyfertCases citing this section ORCcodes.ohio.gov (official) Justiaon Justia CornellLII Search CasesGoogle Scholar
Effective:
March 30, 2007
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 487 - 126th General Assembly
PDF:
Download Authenticated PDF
 

As used in sections 1311.01 to 1311.22 of the Revised Code:

(A) "Owner," "part owner," or "lessee" includes all the interests either legal or equitable, which such person may have in the real estate upon which the improvements are made, including the interests held by any person under contracts of purchase, whether in writing or otherwise.

(B) "Material supplier" includes any person by whom any materials are furnished in furtherance of an improvement.

(C) "Laborer" includes any mechanic, worker, artisan, or other individual who performs labor or work in furtherance of any improvement.

(D) "Subcontractor" includes any person who undertakes to construct, alter, erect, improve, repair, demolish, remove, dig, or drill any part of any improvement under a contract with any person other than the owner, part owner, or lessee.

(E) "Original contractor," except as otherwise provided in section 1311.011 of the Revised Code, includes a construction manager and any person who undertakes to construct, alter, erect, improve, repair, demolish, remove, dig, or drill any part of any improvement under a contract with an owner, part owner, or lessee.

(F) "Construction manager" means a person with substantial discretion and authority to manage or direct an improvement, provided that the person is in direct privity of contract with the owner, part owner, or lessee of the improvement.

(G) "Notice of commencement" means the notice specified in section 1311.04 of the Revised Code.

(H) "Notice of furnishing" means the notice specified in section 1311.05 of the Revised Code.

(I) "Materials" means all products and substances including, without limitation, any gasoline, lubricating oil, petroleum products, powder, dynamite, blasting supplies and other explosives, tools, equipment, or machinery furnished in furtherance of an improvement.

(J) "Improvement" means constructing, erecting, altering, repairing, demolishing, or removing any building or appurtenance thereto, fixture, bridge, or other structure, and any gas pipeline or well including, but not limited to, a well drilled or constructed for the production of oil or gas; the furnishing of tile for the drainage of any lot or land; the excavation, cleanup, or removal of hazardous material or waste from real property; the enhancement or embellishment of real property by seeding, sodding, or the planting thereon of any shrubs, trees, plants, vines, small fruits, flowers, or nursery stock of any kind; and the grading or filling to establish a grade.

(K) "Wages" means the basic hourly rate of pay and all other contractually owed benefits.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 63 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 1955–2025 · leading case: Guernsey Bank v. Milano Sports Enter., L.L.C., 894 N.E.2d 715 (Ohio Ct. App. 2008).
Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment
Guernsey Bank v. Milano Sports Enter., L.L.C., 894 N.E.2d 715 (Ohio Ct. App. 2008). · cites it 2× “The Mechanics' Lien Act, R.C. 1311.01 through 1311.32, underwent major revision in the early 1990s.”
Zara Constr., Inc. v. Belcastro, 2022 Ohio 788 (Ohio Ct. App. 2022). · cites it 3× “The relevant language of that section describes the required content of a mechanic’s lien and the deadline for filing it with the county recorder in the county in which the improved property is located: Any person, or the person's agent, who wishes to avail self (sic) of…”
Thompson Elec., Inc. v. Bank One, 525 N.E.2d 761 (Ohio 1988). · cites it 2× “Section 1311.01(E) of the Ohio Revised Code, which by its own terms applies to section 1311.”
Mid-Ohio Mech., Inc. v. Carden Metal Fabricators, Inc., 862 N.E.2d 543 (Ohio Ct. App. 2006). · cites it 4× “” {¶ 13} R.C. 1311.01 sets forth definitions: {¶ 14} “(D) ‘Subcontractor’ includes any person who undertakes to construct, alter, erect, improve, repair, demolish, remove, dig, or drill any part of an improvement under a contract any person other than the owner, part owner, or…”
Wayne Bldg. & Loan Co. v. Yarborough, 228 N.E.2d 841 (Ohio 1967). · cites it 2× “13, Revised Code, which provides as follows: “Liens under Sections 1311.01 to 1311.24, inclusive, of the Revised Code are effective from the date the first labor is performed, or the first machinery, materials, or fuel is furnished by the contractor under the original contract,…”
DiPasquale v. Costas, 926 N.E.2d 682 (Ohio Ct. App. 2010). “” See also R.C. 1311.01(J), defining “improvement” for lien purposes as “constructing, erecting, altering, repairing, demolishing, or removing any building or appurtenance thereto, fixture, bridge, or other structure.”
Crock Constr. Co. v. Stanley Miller Constr. Co., 66 Ohio St. 3d 588 (Ohio 1993). · cites it 2× “We proceed to the specific issue to be determined, which is: What is the consequence of a failure to itemize? In concluding that a failure to itemize was not fatal to appellees’ cause of action based on the mechanic’s lien, the court of appeals determined that R.C. 1311.26…”
Hoppes Builders & Dev. Co. v. Hurren Builders, Inc., 692 N.E.2d 622 (Ohio Ct. App. 1996). · cites it 3× “22 states as follows: “Section 1311.01 to 1311.22 of the Revised Code are to be construed liberally to secure the beneficial results, intents, and purposes thereof; and a substantial compliance with those sections is sufficient for the validity of the liens under those sections,…”
Gary Moderalli Excavating, Inc. v. Trimat Constr., Inc., 2013 Ohio 1701 (Ohio Ct. App. 2013). · cites it 2× “61(F)(1); R.C. §1311.01(D). {¶46} Therefore, pursuant to R.”
Wwsd, L.L.C. v. Woods, 2022 Ohio 952 (Ohio Ct. App. 2022). “The mechanic's liens were filed pursuant to R.C. 1311.01, et seq., and the validity of a mechanic's lien is an appropriate subject for declaratory judgment.”
Soloman v. Excel Mktg., Inc., 682 N.E.2d 724 (Ohio Ct. App. 1996). “Accordingly, Excel was a “subcontractor,” as defined by R.C. 1311.01, and Soloman was a “lower-tier subcontractor,” as defined by R.”
In Re Garden Inn Steak House, Inc., 22 B.R. 830 (Bankr. N.D. Ohio 1982). · cites it 2× “According to Ohio Revised Code Section 1311.01 et seq., Ohio mechanic’s lien perfection, like that of Illinois, authorizes the perfection to relate back to the time when the services were performed.”
Show all 63 citing cases →
— Ohio Rev. Code § 1311.01(1) — 1 case
Mid-Ohio Mech., Inc. v. Carden Metal Fabricators, Inc., 862 N.E.2d 543 (Ohio Ct. App. 2006). “” {¶ 13} R.C. 1311.01 sets forth definitions: {¶ 14} “(D) ‘Subcontractor’ includes any person who undertakes to construct, alter, erect, improve, repair, demolish, remove, dig, or drill any part of an improvement under a contract any person other than the owner, part owner, or…”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 1311.01(A) — 1 case
Baumgart v. Charms (In re Charms), 142 B.R. 186 (Bankr. N.D. Ohio 1992).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 1311.01(B) — 2 cases
Nichols v. Chicago Title Ins., 669 N.E.2d 323 (Ohio Ct. App. 1995).
West Virginia Elec. Supply Co. v. Ohio River Plaza Assocs. Ltd., 612 N.E.2d 1263 (Ohio Ct. App. 1992).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 1311.01(D) — 2 cases
Gary Moderalli Excavating, Inc. v. Trimat Constr., Inc., 2013 Ohio 1701 (Ohio Ct. App. 2013). “61(F)(1); R.C. §1311.01(D). {¶46} Therefore, pursuant to R.”
Graves Lumber Co. v. Borkey, 2009 Ohio 2786 (Ohio Ct. App. 2009).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 1311.01(E) — 1 case
Thompson Elec., Inc. v. Bank One, 525 N.E.2d 761 (Ohio 1988). “Section 1311.01(E) of the Ohio Revised Code, which by its own terms applies to section 1311.”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 1311.01(J) — 1 case
DiPasquale v. Costas, 926 N.E.2d 682 (Ohio Ct. App. 2010). “” See also R.C. 1311.01(J), defining “improvement” for lien purposes as “constructing, erecting, altering, repairing, demolishing, or removing any building or appurtenance thereto, fixture, bridge, or other structure.”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 1311.01(i) — 1 case
Mid-Ohio Mech., Inc. v. Carden Metal Fabricators, Inc., 862 N.E.2d 543 (Ohio Ct. App. 2006). “” {¶ 13} R.C. 1311.01 sets forth definitions: {¶ 14} “(D) ‘Subcontractor’ includes any person who undertakes to construct, alter, erect, improve, repair, demolish, remove, dig, or drill any part of an improvement under a contract any person other than the owner, part owner, or…”
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.