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 Dog Bite Laws: Liability and Victim Rights, Arizona Recording Laws (2026): One-Party Consent Rules, Arizona Medical Recording Laws: Patient Rights and HIPAA Rules

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, Arizona Scam and Fraud Laws: Where to Report, Your Right to Sue (2026)

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), Arizona Jury Duty Laws: Pay, Exemptions and Employer Rules

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 Car Accident Laws: Fault, Insurance, and Your Claim, 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

A. A person is guilty of violent sexual assault if in the course of committing an offense under section 13-1404, 13-1405, 13-1406 or 13-1410 the offense involved the discharge, use or threatening exhibition of a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument or involved the intentional or knowing infliction of serious physical injury and the person has a historical prior felony conviction for a sexual offense under this chapter or any offense committed outside this state that if committed in this state would constitute a sexual offense under this chapter. B. Notwithstanding section 13-703, section 13-704, section 13-705, section 13-706, subsection A and section 13-708, subsection D, a person who is guilty of a violent sexual assault shall be sentenced to life imprisonment and the court shall order that the person not be released on any basis for the remainder of the person's natural life.

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

A. It is unlawful for a person to intentionally or knowingly do any of the following: 1. Engage in an act of terrorism. 2. Organize, manage, direct, supervise or finance an act of terrorism. 3. Solicit, incite or induce others to promote or further an act of terrorism. 4. Without lawful authority or when exceeding lawful authority, manufacture, sell, deliver, display, use, make accessible to others, possess or exercise control over a weapon of mass destruction knowing or having reason to know that the device or object involved is a weapon of mass destruction. 5. Make property available to another, by transaction, transportation or otherwise, knowing or having reason to know that the property is intended to facilitate an act of terrorism. 6. Provide advice, assistance or direction in the conduct, financing or management of an act of terrorism knowing or having reason to know that an act of terrorism has occurred or may result by: (a) Harboring or concealing any person or property.

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

A. It is unlawful for a person to intentionally cause injury to another person by means of an infectious biological substance or a radiological agent. B. It is unlawful for a person to intentionally or knowingly do any of the following: 1. Possess, with the intent to injure another person, an infectious biological substance or a radiological agent. 2. Manufacture, sell, give, distribute or use an infectious biological substance or a radiological agent with the intent to injure another person. 3. Destroy or damage or attempt to destroy or damage any facility, equipment or material involved in the sale, manufacture, storage or distribution of an infectious biological substance or a radiological agent with the intent to injure another by the release of the substance or agent. 4. Give or send to another person or place in a public or private place a simulated infectious biological substance or a radiological agent with the intent to terrify, intimidate, threaten or harass.

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

A. A person commits child sex trafficking by knowingly: 1. Causing any minor to engage in prostitution. 2. Using any minor for the purposes of prostitution. 3. Permitting a minor who is under the person's custody or control to engage in prostitution. 4. Receiving any benefit for or on account of procuring or placing a minor in any place or in the charge or custody of any person for the purpose of prostitution. 5. Receiving any benefit pursuant to an agreement to participate in the proceeds of prostitution of a minor. 6. Financing, managing, supervising, controlling or owning, either alone or in association with others, prostitution activity involving a minor. 7. Transporting or financing the transportation of any minor with the intent that the minor engage in prostitution. 8. Providing a means by which a minor engages in prostitution. 9. Enticing, recruiting, harboring, providing, transporting, making available to another or otherwise obtaining a minor with the intent to cause the minor to engage in prostitution or any sexually explicit performance. 10.

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

A. A person commits luring a minor for sexual exploitation by offering or soliciting sexual conduct with another person knowing or having reason to know that the other person is a minor. B. It is not a defense to a prosecution for a violation of this section that the other person is not a minor. C. Luring a minor for sexual exploitation is a class 3 felony, and if the minor is under fifteen years of age it is punishable pursuant to section 13-705.  A person who is convicted of a violation of this section is not eligible for suspension of sentence, probation, pardon or release from confinement on any basis except as specifically authorized by section 31-233, subsection A or B until the sentence imposed by the court has been served or commuted.

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 Sexting Laws: Legal Consequences and Penalties