{"data":{"id":"us-dc/d.c.-code-12-301","jurisdiction":"us-dc","citation":"D.C. Code § 12-301","heading":"Limitation of time for bringing actions.","body":"[(a)]\nExcept as otherwise specifically provided by law, actions for the following purposes may not be brought after the expiration of the period specified below from the time the right to maintain the action accrues:\n(1)\nfor the recovery of lands, tenements, or hereditaments— 15 years;\n(2)\nfor the recovery of personal property or damages for its unlawful detention— 3 years;\n(3)\nfor the recovery of damages for an injury to real or personal property— 3 years;\n(4)\nfor libel, slander, assault, battery, mayhem, wounding, malicious prosecution, false arrest or false imprisonment— 1 year;\n(5)\nfor a statutory penalty or forfeiture— 1 year;\n(6)\non an executor’s or administrator’s bond— 5 years; on any other bond or single bill, covenant, or other instrument under seal— 12 years;\n(7)\non a simple contract, express or implied— 3 years;\n(8)\nfor which a limitation is not otherwise specially prescribed— 3 years;\n(9)\nfor a violation of § 7-1201.01(11)— 1 year;\n(10)\nfor the recovery of damages for an injury to real property from toxic substances including products containing asbestos— 5 years from the date the injury is discovered or with reasonable diligence should have been discovered;\n(11)\nfor the recovery of damages arising out of sexual abuse that occurred while the victim was less than 35 years of age— the date the victim attains the age of 40 years, or 5 years from when the victim knew, or reasonably should have known, of any act constituting sexual abuse, whichever is later;\n(12)\nfor the recovery of damages arising out of sexual abuse that occurred while the victim was 35 years of age or older—5 years, or 5 years from when the victim knew, or reasonably should have known, of any act constituting sexual abuse, whichever is later.\n\n[(b)]\nThis section does not apply to actions for breach or contracts for sale governed by § 28:2-725, nor to actions brought by the District of Columbia government.","path":["Title 12. Right to Remedy. [Enacted title]","Chapter 3. Limitation of Actions."],"source_url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/12-301","current_through":"2026-08-20 (D.C. Law 26-175)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-29T05:44:07Z","sha256":"86a691675102fa41e8da82aa78734f19142dee0c9f6b43f4a684d824e246a397","source_id":"us-dc","stale":false,"prev":"us-dc/d.c.-code-12-104","next":"us-dc/d.c.-code-12-302"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}