{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/43-17.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/43-17.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/43-17.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/43-17.html"}],"law_id":68827,"edition_id":1,"section_id":68827,"structure_id":14160,"section_number":"43-17","catch_line":"Limitation on suit to enforce lien","history":"Code 1919, \u00a7 6433; 1926, p. 43; 1956, c. 399.","full_text":"No suit to enforce any lien perfected under \u00a7\u00a7 43-4, 43-5 and 43-7 to 43-10 shall be brought after six months from the time when the memorandum of lien was recorded or after sixty days from the time the building, structure or railroad was completed or the work thereon otherwise terminated, whichever time shall last occur; provided, however, that the filing of a petition to enforce any such lien in any suit wherein such petition may be properly filed shall be regarded as the institution of a suit under this section; and, provided further, that nothing herein shall extend the time within which such lien may be perfected.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":249142,"text":"No suit to enforce any lien perfected under \u00a7\u00a7 43-4, 43-5 and 43-7 to 43-10 shall be brought after six months from the time when the memorandum of lien was recorded or after sixty days from the time the building, structure or railroad was completed or the work thereon otherwise terminated, whichever time shall last occur; provided, however, that the filing of a petition to enforce any such lien in any suit wherein such petition may be properly filed shall be regarded as the institution of a suit under this section; and, provided further, that nothing herein shall extend the time within which such lien may be perfected.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":14160,"edition_id":1,"name":"Mechanics' and Materialmen's Liens","identifier":"1","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":14159,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:47:04","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:47:04","permalink":{"id":221267,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14160,"identifier":"1","token":"43\/1","url":"\/43\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":14159,"edition_id":1,"name":"Mechanics' and Certain Other Liens","identifier":"43","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:47:04","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:47:04","permalink":{"id":221265,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14159,"identifier":"43","token":"43","url":"\/43\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":81902,"structure_id":14160,"section_number":"43-1","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/43-1\/","token":"43\/1\/43-1","metadata":false},{"id":72410,"structure_id":14160,"section_number":"43-10","catch_line":"Sufficiency of memorandum, affidavit and notice required by \u00a7 43-9","url":"\/43-10\/","token":"43\/1\/43-10","metadata":false},{"id":55337,"structure_id":14160,"section_number":"43-11","catch_line":"How owner or general contractor made personally liable to subcontractor, laborer or materialman","url":"\/43-11\/","token":"43\/1\/43-11","metadata":false},{"id":79868,"structure_id":14160,"section_number":"43-12","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/43-12\/","token":"43\/1\/43-12","metadata":false},{"id":64540,"structure_id":14160,"section_number":"43-13","catch_line":"Funds paid to general contractor or subcontractor must be used to pay persons performing labor or furnishing material","url":"\/43-13\/","token":"43\/1\/43-13","metadata":false},{"id":69845,"structure_id":14160,"section_number":"43-13.1","catch_line":"Use of lien waiver form; forgery or signing without authority","url":"\/43-13.1\/","token":"43\/1\/43-13.1","metadata":false},{"id":86055,"structure_id":14160,"section_number":"43-13.2","catch_line":"When an affidavit or a signed statement of payment required of owner prior to sale","url":"\/43-13.2\/","token":"43\/1\/43-13.2","metadata":false},{"id":80570,"structure_id":14160,"section_number":"43-13.3","catch_line":"An affidavit or a signed statement of payment required of owner prior to sale or refinance; penalty","url":"\/43-13.3\/","token":"43\/1\/43-13.3","metadata":false},{"id":79181,"structure_id":14160,"section_number":"43-14","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/43-14\/","token":"43\/1\/43-14","metadata":false},{"id":71794,"structure_id":14160,"section_number":"43-14.1","catch_line":"Service of notices","url":"\/43-14.1\/","token":"43\/1\/43-14.1","metadata":false},{"id":66035,"structure_id":14160,"section_number":"43-15","catch_line":"Inaccuracies in memorandum or description not affecting lien","url":"\/43-15\/","token":"43\/1\/43-15","metadata":false},{"id":55414,"structure_id":14160,"section_number":"43-16","catch_line":"What owner may do when contractor fails or refuses to complete building, etc","url":"\/43-16\/","token":"43\/1\/43-16","metadata":false},{"id":68827,"structure_id":14160,"section_number":"43-17","catch_line":"Limitation on suit to enforce lien","url":"\/43-17\/","token":"43\/1\/43-17","metadata":false},{"id":71472,"structure_id":14160,"section_number":"43-17.1","catch_line":"Hearing on validity of lien","url":"\/43-17.1\/","token":"43\/1\/43-17.1","metadata":false},{"id":57819,"structure_id":14160,"section_number":"43-18","catch_line":"Lien of general contractor to inure to benefit of subcontractor","url":"\/43-18\/","token":"43\/1\/43-18","metadata":false},{"id":58965,"structure_id":14160,"section_number":"43-19","catch_line":"Validity and priority of lien not affected by assignments","url":"\/43-19\/","token":"43\/1\/43-19","metadata":false},{"id":61935,"structure_id":14160,"section_number":"43-2","catch_line":"Structures, materials, etc., deemed permanently annexed to freehold","url":"\/43-2\/","token":"43\/1\/43-2","metadata":false},{"id":66681,"structure_id":14160,"section_number":"43-20","catch_line":"Extent of lien where owner has less than fee in land","url":"\/43-20\/","token":"43\/1\/43-20","metadata":false},{"id":66928,"structure_id":14160,"section_number":"43-21","catch_line":"Priorities between mechanics' and other liens","url":"\/43-21\/","token":"43\/1\/43-21","metadata":false},{"id":68364,"structure_id":14160,"section_number":"43-22","catch_line":"How liens enforced","url":"\/43-22\/","token":"43\/1\/43-22","metadata":false},{"id":72370,"structure_id":14160,"section_number":"43-23","catch_line":"Priority among liens perfected under this chapter","url":"\/43-23\/","token":"43\/1\/43-23","metadata":false},{"id":67717,"structure_id":14160,"section_number":"43-23.1","catch_line":"Forfeiture of lien","url":"\/43-23.1\/","token":"43\/1\/43-23.1","metadata":false},{"id":55321,"structure_id":14160,"section_number":"43-23.2","catch_line":"Remedies cumulative","url":"\/43-23.2\/","token":"43\/1\/43-23.2","metadata":false},{"id":75637,"structure_id":14160,"section_number":"43-3","catch_line":"Lien for work done and materials furnished; waiver of right to file or enforce lien","url":"\/43-3\/","token":"43\/1\/43-3","metadata":false},{"id":75853,"structure_id":14160,"section_number":"43-4","catch_line":"Perfection of lien by general contractor; recordation and notice","url":"\/43-4\/","token":"43\/1\/43-4","metadata":false},{"id":73387,"structure_id":14160,"section_number":"43-4.01","catch_line":"Posting of building permit; identification of mechanics' lien agent in building permit; notice to mechanics' lien agent; effect of notice","url":"\/43-4.01\/","token":"43\/1\/43-4.01","metadata":false},{"id":66257,"structure_id":14160,"section_number":"43-4.1","catch_line":"Liens to be recorded in deed books and indexed in general index of deeds","url":"\/43-4.1\/","token":"43\/1\/43-4.1","metadata":false},{"id":83985,"structure_id":14160,"section_number":"43-5","catch_line":"Sufficiency of memorandum and affidavit required by \u00a7 43-4","url":"\/43-5\/","token":"43\/1\/43-5","metadata":false},{"id":61637,"structure_id":14160,"section_number":"43-6","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/43-6\/","token":"43\/1\/43-6","metadata":false},{"id":79054,"structure_id":14160,"section_number":"43-7","catch_line":"Perfection of lien by subcontractor; extent of lien; affirmative defense; provisions relating to time-share estates","url":"\/43-7\/","token":"43\/1\/43-7","metadata":false},{"id":81789,"structure_id":14160,"section_number":"43-8","catch_line":"Sufficiency of memorandum, affidavit and notice required by \u00a7 43-7","url":"\/43-8\/","token":"43\/1\/43-8","metadata":false},{"id":66394,"structure_id":14160,"section_number":"43-9","catch_line":"Perfection of lien by person performing labor or furnishing materials for a subcontractor; extent of lien","url":"\/43-9\/","token":"43\/1\/43-9","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":55414,"structure_id":14160,"section_number":"43-16","catch_line":"What owner may do when contractor fails or refuses to complete building, etc","url":"\/43-16\/","token":"43\/1\/43-16","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":71472,"structure_id":14160,"section_number":"43-17.1","catch_line":"Hearing on validity of lien","url":"\/43-17.1\/","token":"43\/1\/43-17.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/43-17\/","history_text":"<p>The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 1 time. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. That modification is as follows: in 1956, chapter 399.<\/p>","references":[{"id":73584,"section_number":"43-68","catch_line":"Releases made by court","order_by":null,"url":"\/43-68\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":72410,"section_number":"43-10","catch_line":"Sufficiency of memorandum, affidavit and notice required by \u00a7 43-9","order_by":null,"url":"\/43-10\/"},{"id":75853,"section_number":"43-4","catch_line":"Perfection of lien by general contractor; recordation and notice","order_by":null,"url":"\/43-4\/"},{"id":83985,"section_number":"43-5","catch_line":"Sufficiency of memorandum and affidavit required by \u00a7 43-4","order_by":null,"url":"\/43-5\/"},{"id":79054,"section_number":"43-7","catch_line":"Perfection of lien by subcontractor; extent of lien; affirmative defense; provisions relating to time-share estates","order_by":null,"url":"\/43-7\/"}],"permalink":{"id":221317,"object_type":"law","relational_id":68827,"identifier":"43-17","token":"43\/1\/43-17","url":"\/43-17\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/43-17\/","token":"43\/1\/43-17","dublin_core":{"Title":"Limitation on suit to enforce lien","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 43-17","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>No suit to enforce any <span class=\"dictionary\">lien<\/span> perfected under \u00a7\u00a7&nbsp;<a class=\"law\" title=\"Perfection of lien by general contractor; recordation and notice\" href=\"\/43-4\/\">43-4<\/a>, <a class=\"law\" title=\"Sufficiency of memorandum and affidavit required by \u00a7 43-4\" href=\"\/43-5\/\">43-5<\/a> and <a class=\"law\" title=\"Perfection of lien by subcontractor; extent of lien; affirmative defense; provisions relating to time-share estates\" href=\"\/43-7\/\">43-7<\/a> to <a class=\"law\" title=\"Sufficiency of memorandum, affidavit and notice required by \u00a7 43-9\" href=\"\/43-10\/\">43-10<\/a> shall be brought after six months from the time when the <span class=\"dictionary\">memorandum<\/span> of <span class=\"dictionary\">lien<\/span> was recorded or after sixty days from the time the building, structure or railroad was completed or the work thereon otherwise terminated, whichever time shall last occur; provided, however, that the filing of a <span class=\"dictionary\">petition<\/span> to enforce any such <span class=\"dictionary\">lien<\/span> in any suit wherein such <span class=\"dictionary\">petition<\/span> may be properly filed shall be regarded as the institution of a suit under this section; and, provided further, that nothing herein shall extend the time within which such <span class=\"dictionary\">lien<\/span> may be perfected.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nLIMITATION ON SUIT TO ENFORCE LIEN (\u00a7 43-17)\n\nNo suit to enforce any lien perfected under \u00a7\u00a7 43-4, 43-5 and 43-7 to 43-10\nshall be brought after six months from the time when the memorandum of lien was\nrecorded or after sixty days from the time the building, structure or railroad\nwas completed or the work thereon otherwise terminated, whichever time shall\nlast occur; provided, however, that the filing of a petition to enforce any such\nlien in any suit wherein such petition may be properly filed shall be regarded\nas the institution of a suit under this section; and, provided further, that\nnothing herein shall extend the time within which such lien may be perfected.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1919, \u00a7 6433; 1926, p. 43; 1956, c. 399.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}