What is a Notice of Commencement?
A Notice of Commencement (NOC) is a legal document that establishes the official start date of a construction project. NOCs are required in certain states, most commonly in Florida, to help protect property owners and contractors.
By filing an NOC, all parties involved in the project are encouraged to identify themselves and their role early in the process. This reduces the risk of unexpected “surprise” liens being placed on your property.
Only 11 states have formal processes for Notices of Commencement: Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, and Utah.
Why do any NOC liens need to be cleared from title to get funds from Point?
When construction work is completed, contractors or suppliers may file a lien against your property if they have not been paid in full. Once payment is complete, they must issue a lien release (also called a lien satisfaction or release of lien).
A lien release is proof that the contractor no longer has a claim to your property. Point requires this documentation to ensure there are no outstanding claims on your home equity. The lien must be removed before our Underwriting team can review your file and provide final approval.
How can I show that an NOC lien has been removed?
To remove an NOC lien from your property’s title, you must provide both of the following:
- Notice of Termination – Confirms that the construction project has been completed and the NOC is no longer valid.
- Contractor’s Final Payment Affidavit – Confirms the contractor has been paid in full.
What you should do:
- Contact the contractor or construction company that completed the work.
- Request copies of both documents.
- Make sure these documents are recorded with your county’s records office so they appear on your title report.
- Provide copies of the recorded documents to Point.
Example of Notice of Commencement lien release documents:
