Statute of limitations in Maryland

The periods in Maryland

In Maryland, the time limit to sue is 3 years for a written contract, 3 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, an oral contract and damage to property: Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101 reads “A civil action at law shall be filed within three years from the date it accrues unless another provision of the Code provides a different period of time within which an action shall be commenced.”

Maryland gives written and oral contracts the same 3 years, so whether the deal was put on paper does not change the deadline here.

Worked dates for a claim that arose on March 15, 2026: a written contract reaches its 3 years on March 15, 2029, an oral contract reaches its 3 years on March 15, 2029 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, 28 allow longer than 3 years on a written contract and 0 allow less (median 6 years). For property damage, 8 of 33 give less than Maryland's 3 years (median 3 years). District of Columbia, New Hampshire, North Carolina and South Carolina have the same three periods.

Neighbouring states with verified periods (written / oral / property): Delaware 3 / 3 / 2, Virginia 5 / 3 / 5, West Virginia 10 / 5 / 2 and District of Columbia 3 / 3 / 3. Which state's period applies to a dispute that crosses a border is itself a legal question.

Three years is Maryland's general period; § 5-101 yields to any other Code provision that sets a different one, such as for contracts under seal.

The time limit is the same whichever court hears the case. A claim of $5,000 or less can be filed in Maryland small claims (small claims limit), and it must still be filed inside the period above.

Sources: Maryland General Assembly, Courts and Judicial Proceedings § 5-101 · 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.