SUBPART C. WORK PERFORMED BY GENERAL CONTRACTORS

§4811. Notice of a contract with a general contractor to be filed

A. Written notice of a contract between a general contractor and an owner shall be filed as provided in R.S. 9:4831 before the contractor begins work, as defined by R.S. 9:4820, on the immovable. The notice:

(1) Shall be signed by the owner and contractor.

(2) Shall contain the legal property description of the immovable upon which the work is to be performed and the name of the project.

(3) Shall identify the parties and give their mailing addresses.

(4) Shall state the price of the work or, if no price is fixed, describe the method by which the price is to be calculated and give an estimate of it.

(5) Shall state when payment of the price is to be made.

(6) Shall describe in general terms the work to be done.

B. A notice of contract is not improperly filed because of an error in or omission from the notice in the absence of a showing of actual prejudice by a claimant or other person acquiring rights in the immovable. An error or omission of the identity of the parties or their mailing addresses or the improper identification of the immovable shall be prima facie proof of actual prejudice.

C. A notice of contract is not improperly filed because a proper bond is not attached.

D. A general contractor shall not enjoy the privilege granted by R.S. 9:4801 if the price of the work stipulated or reasonably estimated in his contract exceeds twenty-five thousand dollars unless notice of the contract is timely filed.

E. If a notice of contract is mutually released by the owner and contractor, then the contract will have no effect, provided no work has begun on the land or materials placed on the site. The recorder of mortgages shall immediately cancel the contract upon the filing of the mutual release and an affidavit made by a registered or certified engineer or surveyor, licensed architect, or building inspector employed by the city or parish or by a lending institution chartered under federal or state law, that states he inspected the immovable at a specified time subsequent to the filing of the contract and work had not been commenced and no materials placed at the site. If the contract, or a certified copy, is then refiled, the refiling date shall become the effective date for privilege for work done pursuant to the contract in accordance with R.S. 9:4820(A)(1).

Acts 1988, No. 685, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1989; Acts 2003, No. 729, §1.