The periods in California
| Claim | Period | Statute | From March 15, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written contract | 4 years | Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 337 | March 15, 2030 |
| Oral contract | 2 years | Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 339 | March 15, 2028 |
| Property damage | 3 years | Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 338 | March 15, 2029 |
In California, the time limit to sue is 4 years for a written contract, 2 years for an oral contract and 3 years for damage to property. Each period runs from the date the claim arises, which statutes usually call the date the cause of action accrues; in the ordinary case that is the day of the breach or the damage.
A written contract: Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 337 reads “Breach of a written contract: 4 years from the date the contract was broken.”
An oral contract: Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 339 reads “Breach of an oral contract: 2 years from the date the contract was broken.”
Damage to property: Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 338 reads “Property damage: 3 years from the date the damage occurred.”
Putting the agreement in writing adds 2 years: 4 years for a written contract against 2 years for an oral one, a ratio of 2 to 1.
Worked dates for a claim that arose on March 15, 2026: a written contract reaches its 4 years on March 15, 2030, an oral contract reaches its 2 years on March 15, 2028 and damage to property reaches its 3 years on March 15, 2029. Tolling rules (for example while a defendant is out of state, or for a minor) can extend a period, and some claims run from when the harm was discovered; the dates show the plain count only.
Among the 34 jurisdictions verified here, 27 allow longer than 4 years on a written contract and 6 allow less (median 6 years). For property damage, 8 of 33 give less than California's 3 years (median 3 years). No other verified state has the same combination of periods.
Neighbouring states with verified periods (written / oral / property): Arizona 6 / 3 / 2, Nevada 6 / 4 / 3 and Oregon 6 / 6 / 6. Which state's period applies to a dispute that crosses a border is itself a legal question.
The California figures are quoted from the state courts' self-help guide, which names the Code of Civil Procedure section for each; the code site itself could not be read on 21 Oct 2026. The guide also points to Commercial Code § 2725 for contracts for the sale of goods.
The time limit is the same whichever court hears the case. A claim of $12,500 or less can be filed in California small claims (small claims limit), and it must still be filed inside the period above.
Sources: Judicial Council of California, Self-Help Guide "Deadlines to sue someone" · last checked October 21, 2026.
Before the deadline
A limitation period is a cut-off for filing, not a measure of whether a claim is good. The guide on how limitation periods work explains accrual, tolling and the difference between written and oral contracts, and the small claims filing guide covers the next step.
Questions
What is the statute of limitations for breach of contract in California?
4 years for a written contract (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 337) and 2 years for an oral one (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 339).
How long do I have to sue for property damage in California?
3 years under Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 338.
When does the clock start?
When the cause of action accrues, usually the date of the breach or the damage. A claim that arose on March 15, 2026 reaches the California periods on March 15, 2030 (a written contract), March 15, 2028 (an oral contract) and March 15, 2029 (damage to property).