Arizona Statute of Limitations: Filing Deadlines by Case Type

A. A prosecution for any homicide, any conspiracy to commit homicide that results in the death of a person, any offense that is listed in chapter 14 or 35.1 of this title and that is a class 2 felony, any violent sexual assault pursuant to section 13-1423, any violation of section 13-2308.01, 13-2308.03 or 13-3212, any misuse of public monies or a felony involving falsification of public records or any attempt to commit an offense listed in this subsection may be commenced at any time. B. Except as otherwise provided in this section and sections 28-672, 28-1381 and 28-1382, prosecutions for other offenses must be commenced within the following periods after actual discovery by the state or the political subdivision having jurisdiction of the offense or discovery by the state or the political subdivision that should have occurred with the exercise of reasonable diligence, whichever first occurs: 1. For a class 2 through a class 6 felony, seven years. 2. For a misdemeanor, one year. 3. For a petty offense, six months. C. For the purposes of subsection B of this section, a prosecution is commenced when an indictment, information or complaint is filed. D.

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-08-04 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at azleg.gov

Also relied on in: Arizona Hit and Run Laws: Penalties and What to Do

Except as provided in section 12-551 there shall be commenced and prosecuted within two years after the cause of action accrues, and not afterward, the following actions: 1. For injuries done to the person of another including causes of action for medical malpractice as defined in section 12-561. 2. For injuries done to the person of another when death ensues from such injuries, which action shall be considered as accruing at the death of the party injured. 3. For trespass for injury done to the estate or the property of another. 4. For taking or carrying away the goods and chattels of another. 5. For detaining the personal property of another and for converting such property to one's own use. 6. For forcible entry or forcible detainer, which action shall be considered as accruing at the commencement of the forcible entry or detainer.

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-08-04 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at azleg.gov

Also relied on in: Arizona Medical Recording Laws: Patient Rights and HIPAA Rules, Arizona Dog Bite Laws: Liability and Victim Rights, Arizona Car Accident Laws: Fault, Insurance, and Your Claim

There shall be commenced and prosecuted within three years after the cause of action accrues, and not afterward, the following actions: 1. For debt where the indebtedness is not evidenced by a contract in writing. 2. Upon stated or open accounts other than such mutual and current accounts as concern the trade of merchandise between merchant and merchant, their factors or agents, but no item of a stated or open account shall be barred so long as any item thereof has been incurred within three years immediately prior to the bringing of an action thereon. 3. For relief on the ground of fraud or mistake, which cause of action shall not be deemed to have accrued until the discovery by the aggrieved party of the facts constituting the fraud or mistake.

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-08-04 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at azleg.gov

Also relied on in: Arizona Debt Collection Laws: The 10% Garnishment Cap, Statute of Limitations, and Repossession

A. An action for debt shall be commenced and prosecuted within six years after the cause of action accrues, and not afterward, if the indebtedness is evidenced by or founded on either of the following: 1. A contract in writing that is executed in this state. 2. A credit card as defined in section 13-2101, paragraph 3, subdivision (a). B. If there is a conflict between another jurisdiction and this state relating to the statute of limitations for a debt action as described in subsection A of this section, this section applies.

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-08-04 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at azleg.gov

There shall be commenced and prosecuted within one year after the cause of action accrues, and not afterward, the following actions: 1. For malicious prosecution, or for false imprisonment, or for injuries done to the character or reputation of another by libel or slander. 2. For damages for seduction or breach of promise of marriage. 3. For breach of an oral or written employment contract including contract actions based on employee handbooks or policy manuals that do not specify a time period in which to bring an action. 4. For damages for wrongful termination. 5. Upon a liability created by statute, other than a penalty or forfeiture.

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-08-04 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at azleg.gov

Also relied on in: Arizona Defamation Laws: Libel, Slander & Suing (2026)

Actions other than for recovery of real property for which no limitation is otherwise prescribed shall be brought within four years after the cause of action accrues, and not afterward.

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-08-04 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at azleg.gov

There shall be commenced and prosecuted within four years after the cause of action accrues, and not afterward, the following actions: 1. For the penalty or for damages on the penal clause of a bond to convey real property. 2. By one partner against his copartner for a settlement of the partnership account, or upon mutual and current accounts concerning the trade of merchandise between merchant and merchant, their factors or agents, and the cause of action shall be considered as having accrued upon a cessation of the dealings in which they were interested together. 3. Upon a judgment or decree of a court rendered without the state, or upon an instrument in writing executed without the state. This paragraph does not apply to a judgment for support, as defined in section 25-500, and to associated costs and attorney fees. 4. An action arising under the provisions of title 47, chapter 2, for breach of any contract of sale, which action shall be governed by section 47-2725, notwithstanding any other provision of this section or of section 12-543 or 12-548.

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-08-04 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at azleg.gov

A product liability action as defined in section 12-681 shall be commenced and prosecuted within the period prescribed in section 12-542, except that no product liability action may be commenced and prosecuted if the cause of action accrues more than twelve years after the product was first sold for use or consumption, unless the cause of action is based upon the negligence of the manufacturer or seller or a breach of an express warranty provided by the manufacturer or seller.

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-08-04 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at azleg.gov

A. Notwithstanding any other statute, an action or arbitration based in contract may not be instituted or maintained against a person who develops or develops and sells real property, or performs or furnishes the design, specifications, surveying, planning, supervision, testing, construction or observation of construction of an improvement to real property more than eight years after substantial completion of the improvement to real property. B. Notwithstanding any other statute, a municipality or a county may not institute or maintain an action or arbitration against a person who develops or develops and sells real property or performs or furnishes the design, specifications, surveying, planning, supervision, testing, construction or observation of construction of an improvement to real property that is dedicated to the municipality or county more than eight years after the improvement to real property has been accepted by the municipality or county for ownership, operation and maintenance if the action or arbitration is based on either: 1. A municipal or county code, ordinance or other legal requirement. 2. A permit that is required as a condition of development. C.

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-08-04 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at azleg.gov

A. An action for breach of any contract for sale must be commenced within four years after the cause of action has accrued. By the original agreement the parties may reduce the period of limitation to not less than one year but may not extend it. B. A cause of action accrues when the breach occurs, regardless of the aggrieved party's lack of knowledge of the breach. A breach of warranty occurs when tender of delivery is made, except that where a warranty explicitly extends to future performance of the goods and discovery of the breach must await the time of such performance the cause of action accrues when the breach is or should have been discovered. C. Where an action commenced within the time limited by subsection A is so terminated as to leave available a remedy by another action for the same breach such other action may be commenced after the expiration of the time limited and within six months after the termination of the first action unless the termination resulted from voluntary discontinuance or from dismissal for failure or neglect to prosecute. D.

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-08-04 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at azleg.gov

All actions against any public entity or public employee shall be brought within one year after the cause of action accrues and not afterward.

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-08-04 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at azleg.gov

Also relied on in: Arizona Slip and Fall Laws: Proving Premises Liability

A. Persons who have claims against a public entity, public school or a public employee shall file claims with the person or persons authorized to accept service for the public entity, public school or public employee as set forth in the Arizona rules of civil procedure within one hundred eighty days after the cause of action accrues. The claim shall contain facts sufficient to permit the public entity, public school or public employee to understand the basis on which liability is claimed. The claim shall also contain a specific amount for which the claim can be settled and the facts supporting that amount. Any claim that is not filed within one hundred eighty days after the cause of action accrues is barred and no action may be maintained thereon. B. For the purposes of this section, a cause of action accrues when the damaged party realizes he or she has been damaged and knows or reasonably should know the cause, source, act, event, instrumentality or condition that caused or contributed to the damage. C.

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-08-04 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at azleg.gov

If a person entitled to bring an action other than those set forth in article 2 of this chapter is at the time the cause of action accrues either under eighteen years of age or of unsound mind, the period of such disability shall not be deemed a portion of the period limited for commencement of the action. Such person shall have the same time after removal of the disability which is allowed to others.

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-08-04 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at azleg.gov