(A)

(1) All liens under sections 1311.01 to 1311.22 of the Revised Code for labor or work performed or materials furnished to the same improvement prior to the recording of the notice of commencement pursuant to section 1311.04 of the Revised Code are effective from the date the first visible work or labor is performed or the first materials are furnished by the first original contractor, subcontractor, material supplier, or laborer to work, labor on, or provide materials to the improvement.

(2) Except as provided in division (A)(3) of this section, liens under sections 1311.01 to 1311.22 of the Revised Code for labor or work performed or materials furnished after the recording of a notice of commencement pursuant to section 1311.04 of the Revised Code are effective from the date of the recording of the notice of commencement.

(3) Notwithstanding division (A)(2) of this section, if there is a valid and recorded lien with an effective date described in division (A)(1) of this section which has not been released at the time a lien is filed by a laborer after the recording of the notice of commencement or if a valid lien against the improvement pursuant to division (A)(1) of this section is filed subsequent to the filing of a laborer's lien, the lien of the laborer is effective from the date the first visible labor or work was performed or materials were furnished by the original contractor, subcontractor, material supplier, or laborer at the site of the improvement.

(B)

(1) Except for the liens of laborers as provided in division (B)(2) of this section, a lien securing the claim of a claimant who has performed labor or work or furnished materials both prior to and after the recording of the notice of commencement pursuant to section 1311.04 of the Revised Code has two effective dates. That portion of the lien which arises from labor or work performed or materials furnished prior to the filing of the notice of commencement has the effective date described in division (A)(1) of this section and that portion of the lien which arises from labor or work performed or materials furnished on or after the filing of the notice of commencement has the effective date described in division (A)(2) of this section. Any payment received by the lien claimant both before and after the filing of a lien shall be applied first to the labor or work performed or materials furnished prior to the filing of the notice of commencement, and then to labor or work performed or materials furnished on and after the filing of the notice of commencement.

(2) A lien filed by a laborer for labor or work performed both prior to and after the recording of the notice of commencement pursuant to section 1311.04 of the Revised Code has one effective date as described in division (A)(1) of this section.

(C) Liens under sections 1311.01 to 1311.22 of the Revised Code continue in force for six years after an affidavit is filed in the office of the county recorder under section 1311.06 of the Revised Code. If an action is brought to enforce the lien within that time, the lien continues in force until final adjudication thereof.

(D) If several liens are obtained by several persons upon the same improvement they have no priority among themselves, except as follows:

(1) Liens which have an effective date described in division (A)(1) of this section have priority over all other liens, except for liens described in divisions (A)(3), (B)(2), or (D)(2) of this section, to the extent of the value of the work and labor performed and materials furnished prior to the recording of the notice of commencement pursuant to section 1311.04 of the Revised Code.

(2) Liens filed by laborers have priority over all other liens whether the labor or work was performed before or after the recording of the notice of commencement pursuant to section 1311.04 of the Revised Code.

(E)

(1) Except as provided in division (E)(2) of this section, liens which have an effective date described in division (A)(1) of this section shall be preferred to the extent of the value of the labor or work performed or materials furnished prior to the recording of the notice of commencement, to all other titles, liens, or encumbrances which may attach to or upon the improvement or to or upon the land upon which it is situated, which either shall be given or recorded subsequent to the effective date of the liens described in division (A)(1) of this section.

(2) Liens recorded by laborers which have an effective date described in division (A)(1) or (3) of this section shall be preferred to all other titles, liens, or encumbrances which may attach to or upon the improvement or to or upon the land upon which it is situated which are given or recorded subsequent to the effective date of such laborers' liens.

(F) Liens which have an effective date described in division (A)(2) of this section shall be preferred to all other titles, liens, or encumbrances which may attach to or upon such improvement or to or upon the land upon which it is situated, which either are given or recorded subsequent to the recording of the notice of commencement.

(G) Unless otherwise stipulated in a mortgage securing financing for the construction of an improvement, if a mortgage securing financing for the construction of an improvement and notice of commencement for said improvement are recorded on the same day, the mortgage shall be considered recorded before the notice of commencement for purposes of priority described in this section.

(H) The recorder may destroy the record of all mechanics' liens which have been recorded for a period of ten years or longer.

Effective Date: 04-16-1993; 03-30-2007 .