§ 35-27-09 — Payment to contractors withheld

The owner may withhold from the owner's contractor so much of the contract price as may
be necessary to meet the demands of all persons, other than such contractor, having a lien
upon the premises for labor, skill, or material furnished for the improvement, and for which the
contractor is liable, and the owner may pay and discharge all such liens and deduct the cost
thereof from such contract price. Any such person having a lien under the contractor in
accordance with section 35-27-02 may serve upon the owner at any time a notice of that
person's claim. The owner, within fifteen days after the completion of the contract, may require
any person having a lien hereunder, by written request therefor, to furnish to the owner an
itemized and verified account of the person's claim, the amount thereof, and the person's name
and address, and no action or other proceeding may be commenced for the enforcement of
such lien until ten days after such statement is so furnished. The word "owner", as used in this
section, includes any person interested in the premises otherwise than as a lienor thereunder.