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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>66928</law_id><section_number>43-21</section_number><catch_line>Priorities between mechanics&amp;#8217; and other liens</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>43-20</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="43">Mechanics' and Certain Other Liens</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="1">Mechanics' and Materialmen's Liens</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>No <span class="dictionary">lien</span> or encumbrance upon the land created before the work was commenced or <span class="dictionary">materials</span> furnished shall operate upon the building or structure erected thereon, or <span class="dictionary">materials</span> furnished for and used in the same, until the <span class="dictionary">lien</span> in favor of the person doing the work or furnishing the <span class="dictionary">materials</span> shall have been satisfied; nor shall any <span class="dictionary">lien</span> or encumbrance upon the land created after the work was commenced or <span class="dictionary">materials</span> furnished operate on the land, or such building or structure, until the <span class="dictionary">lien</span> in favor of the person doing the work or furnishing the <span class="dictionary">materials</span> shall have been satisfied.
		Unless otherwise provided in the <span class="dictionary">subordination</span> agreement, if the holder of the prior recorded <span class="dictionary">lien</span> of a purchase money deed of trust subordinates to the <span class="dictionary">lien</span> of a construction money deed of trust, such <span class="dictionary">subordination</span> shall be limited to the construction money deed of trust and said prior <span class="dictionary">lien</span> shall not be subordinate to mechanics&#x2019; and materialmen&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">liens</span> to the extent of the value of the land by virtue of such agreement.
		In the enforcement of the <span class="dictionary">liens</span> acquired under the previous sections of this chapter, any <span class="dictionary">lien</span> or encumbrance created on the land before the work was commenced or <span class="dictionary">materials</span> furnished shall be preferred in the distribution of the proceeds of sale only to the extent of the value of the land estimated, exclusive of the buildings or structures, at the time of sale, and the residue of the proceeds of sale shall be applied to the satisfaction of the <span class="dictionary">liens</span> provided for in the previous sections of this chapter. Provided that <span class="dictionary">liens</span> filed for performing labor or furnishing <span class="dictionary">materials</span> for the repair or improvement of any building or structure shall be subject to any encumbrance against such land and building or structure of record prior to the commencement of the improvements or repairs or the furnishing of <span class="dictionary">materials</span> or supplies therefor. Nothing contained in the foregoing proviso shall apply to <span class="dictionary">liens</span> that may be filed for the construction or removal of any building or structure.
		Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection C of &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Lien for work done and materials furnished; waiver of right to file or enforce lien" href="/43-3/">43-3</a>, a general contractor may, prior to or after providing any labor, services, or <span class="dictionary">materials</span>, <span class="dictionary">contract</span> to subordinate his <span class="dictionary">lien</span> rights to prior recorded and later recorded deeds of trust, provided that such <span class="dictionary">contract</span> is (i) in writing and (ii) signed by any general contractor whose <span class="dictionary">lien</span> rights are subordinated pursuant to such <span class="dictionary">contract</span>.</p></section></text><history>Code 1919, &#xA7; 6436; 1924, p. 413; 1968, c. 568; 2018, cc. 79, 325.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
