The periods in Ohio
| Claim | Period | Statute | From March 15, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written contract | 6 years | Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.06 | March 15, 2032 |
| Oral contract | 4 years | Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.07(A) | March 15, 2030 |
| Property damage | 2 years | Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.10(A) | March 15, 2028 |
In Ohio, the time limit to sue is 6 years for a written contract, 4 years for an oral contract and 2 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: Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.06 reads “an action upon a specialty or an agreement, contract, or promise in writing shall be brought within six years after the cause of action accrued.”
An oral contract: Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.07(A) reads “an action upon a contract not in writing, express or implied, shall be brought within four years after the cause of action accrued.”
Damage to property: Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.10(A) reads “an action for bodily injury or injuring personal property shall be brought within two years after the cause of action accrues.”
Putting the agreement in writing adds 2 years: 6 years for a written contract against 4 years for an oral one, a ratio of 1.5 to 1.
Worked dates for a claim that arose on March 15, 2026: a written contract reaches its 6 years on March 15, 2032, an oral contract reaches its 4 years on March 15, 2030 and damage to property reaches its 2 years on March 15, 2028. 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, 6 allow longer than 6 years on a written contract and 12 allow less (median 6 years). For property damage, 0 of 33 give less than Ohio's 2 years (median 3 years). No other verified state has the same combination of periods.
Neighbouring states with verified periods (written / oral / property): Kentucky 10 / 5 / 2, Michigan 6 / 6 / 3 and West Virginia 10 / 5 / 2. Which state's period applies to a dispute that crosses a border is itself a legal question.
The time limit is the same whichever court hears the case. A claim of $6,000 or less can be filed in Ohio small claims (small claims limit), and it must still be filed inside the period above.
Sources: Ohio Laws, R.C. 2305.06; Ohio Laws, R.C. 2305.07; Ohio Laws, R.C. 2305.10 · 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 Ohio?
6 years for a written contract (Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.06) and 4 years for an oral one (Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.07(A)).
How long do I have to sue for property damage in Ohio?
2 years under Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.10(A).
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 Ohio periods on March 15, 2032 (a written contract), March 15, 2030 (an oral contract) and March 15, 2028 (damage to property).