That portion of such lien in excess of two hundred fifty dollars ($250) for work or services rendered or performed at the request of any person other than the holder of the legal title is invalid, unless prior to commencing such work or service the person claiming the lien gives actual notice to the legal owner and the mortgagee, if any, of the aircraft, and the written consent of the legal owner and the mortgagee of the aircraft is obtained before such work or services are performed. For the purposes of this chapter the person named in the federal aircraft registration certificate issued by the Administrator of Civil Aeronautics shall be deemed to be the legal owner.
§ 1208.62.Notice and Consent Prior to Commencing Work Or Service
Title 4. Of the Enforcement of Liens · Chapter 5. Liens on Aircraft · Enacted 1953 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 29, 2026
In one sentenceSection 1208.62 caps at $250 the enforceable lien for work done at the request of someone other than the aircraft's legal owner, unless the lienholder gave the legal owner and any mortgagee actual notice and got their written consent before starting the work, treating the person named on the federal registration certificate as the legal owner.
Full Text of § 1208.62
Plain-English Summary
Aircraft often pass through the hands of renters, borrowers, or other people who aren't the actual legal owner, and this section protects owners from being stuck with a large lien for work they never authorized. If work or services are performed at the request of someone other than the legal titleholder, the portion of the resulting lien above $250 is invalid — unless the lienholder gave the legal owner and any mortgagee actual notice and obtained their written consent before starting the work.
For purposes of this chapter, the legal owner is whoever is named on the federal aircraft registration certificate. That bright-line rule lets a repair shop or service provider check a single document to know who needs to consent before performing more than $250 worth of work for someone who isn't that owner.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I do repair work for someone who isn't the aircraft's legal owner?
Anything above $250 of the resulting lien is invalid unless you gave the legal owner and any mortgagee actual notice and got their written consent before starting the work.
How do I know who the legal owner of an aircraft is?
Section 1208.62 treats the person named in the federal aircraft registration certificate as the legal owner.
Does the mortgagee need to consent too, or just the owner?
Both. The section requires notice to, and written consent from, the legal owner and the mortgagee, if there is one.
Amendment History
Added by Stats. 1953, Ch. 52.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
the Deering's California Codes Annotated / vLex. Enacted by the California Legislature.
Last verified July 29, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: aircraft lien limit non-owner work californiaaircraft lien consent requirement