If no governmental approval has been obtained, what happens to the lien?

A lien typically requires governmental approval to be valid and enforceable. In many jurisdictions, if no approval has been obtained, the lien is considered invalid and cannot be imposed on the property. Liens are legal claims against a property for unpaid debts, often related to construction or repair work, and the process to file a lien usually involves specific legal requirements, which include obtaining necessary permits or approvals from governmental authorities. Without such approval, the lien lacks the legal standing needed to enforce a claim against the property.

In contrast, the other options suggest scenarios that do not align with how liens function when governmental approval is absent. For instance, the idea that a lien can be recorded later without prior approval would misrepresent the requirement for valid liens. The enforcement of a lien without proper approval contradicts the legal processes governing liens. Additionally, the option indicating that the property owner must be notified does not address the core issue of the lien's validity in the absence of government sanctioning. Therefore, the correct understanding is that without governmental approval, the lien simply cannot be imposed.