A Notice of Commencement (NOC) is a legal document that officially declares the start date of a construction project. It is typically filed before any work begins and contains important information about the project, including:

• The legal name and address of the property owner
• The property's legal description and address
• A brief description of the work being done
• Contact information for the general contractor and other key stakeholders
• Details about bonds, lenders, and the property owner's legal representatives
• Expiration date of the notice
• Signatures by the property owner

The NOC serves several purposes:

• It notifies the local government and all parties involved that construction is starting
• It establishes the official start date of the project
• It helps set deadlines for lien rights and legal actions related to the project
• It provides transparency to protect property owners and contractors from surprise liens or payment issues

The notice is usually recorded with the county clerk or appropriate government office and posted at the construction site. Subcontractors and suppliers use the NOC to understand their lien rights and the timeline for submitting notices or claims related to payments. Essentially, a Notice of Commencement acts as the formal announcement and legal recognition that a construction project has begun, outlining the project scope and participants to all relevant parties. Filing it properly is crucial to protect legal and financial interests in construction projects. This document must be filed before work starts, is often required for projects over a certain size or value, and contains detailed project and stakeholder information for record-keeping and legal purposes. Failure to file can result in costly delays or legal disputes.