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Who Did What for Whom? Construction Lien Rights in Georgia Depend on the Contractor, Not the Cost

3/18/19

By: Jason Kamp

In 2013, the Georgia General Assembly expanded the scope of items covered under its construction lien statute, O.C.G.A. § 44-14-361, by amending subsections (c) and (d). The statute now allows contractors to claim liens for contract expenditures for general conditions or other costs that are not strictly for labor, services, or materials that become part of the property as traditionally required. For example, a general contractor can now claim a lien for insurance, security, or cleaning costs or interest owed on the principal amount due under its construction contract.
Importantly, the expansion of the type of costs entitled to lien rights does not translate into an expansion of the type of contractors entitled to lien rights. The expanded lien rights still depend on whether the contractor at issue fits into one of the nine categories laid out under subsection (a) of the statute. To illustrate, a general contractor can now claim a lien on costs for providing security services on site under its contract, because it furnishes other materials and services for the improvement of real estate under (a). However, a security services contractor is not entitled to a lien on the costs for providing security services on a construction site, because it does not fit within any of the (a) categories.
It is easy to see how Georgia’s expansion of lien rights to non-traditional costs may blur the distinction between actor and act in practice. Additional attention to “who did what for whom” may be warranted when undertaking lien waivers, organizing contractor relationships, or other activities touching on lien rights as a result.
If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Jason Kamp at jkamp@fmglaw.com.