1. [(a)] Except 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:

   1. (1) for the recovery of lands, tenements, or hereditaments— 15 years;
   2. (2) for the recovery of personal property or damages for its unlawful detention— 3 years;
   3. (3) for the recovery of damages for an injury to real or personal property— 3 years;
   4. (4) for libel, slander, assault, battery, mayhem, wounding, malicious prosecution, false arrest or false imprisonment— 1 year;
   5. (5) for a statutory penalty or forfeiture— 1 year;
   6. (6) on an executor’s or administrator’s bond— 5 years; on any other bond or single bill, covenant, or other instrument under seal— 12 years;
   7. (7) on a simple contract, express or implied— 3 years;
   8. (8) for which a limitation is not otherwise specially prescribed— 3 years;
   9. (9) for a violation of § 7-1201.01(11)— 1 year;
   10. (10) for 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;
   11. (11) for 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;
   12. (12) for 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.
2. [(b)] This 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.

History

Dec. 23, 1963, 77 Stat. 510, Pub. L. 88-241, § 1

Aug. 30, 1964, 78 Stat. 677, Pub. L. 88-509, § 2

Mar. 3, 1979, D.C. Law 2-136, § 805(c), 25 DCR 5055

Feb. 28, 1987, D.C. Law 6-202, § 3, 34 DCR 527

Apr. 30, 1988, D.C. Law 7-104, § 2(a), 35 DCR 147

Mar. 13, 2004, D.C. Law 15-105, § 99, 51 DCR 881

Mar. 25, 2009, D.C. Law 17-368, § 2, 56 DCR 1338

May 3, 2019, D.C. Law 22-311, § 3

Effect of Amendments

D.C. Law 17-368 added par. (11).

D.C. Law 15-105, in par. (9), substituted “§ 7-1201.01(11)” for “the District of Columbia Mental Health Information Act of 1978 (D.C. Official Code, sec. 7-1201.01 et seq.)”.

Prior Codifications

1973 Ed., § 12-301.

1981 Ed., § 12-301.

Section References

This section is referenced in § 8-634.10, § 12-308, and § 28-3905.

Cross References

Wrongful death actions, limitation of actions, see § 16-2702.

Viaduct costs, absence of limitation on recovery action, see § 9-315.

Usury, commencement of action, see § 28-3304.

Unpaid wages or liquidated damages, limitation of actions, see § 32-1013.

Subways and viaducts, absence of limitation on action to recover part of costs, see § 9-1201.15.

Return of property by Property Clerk, see § 5-119.06.

Quo warranto, commencement of action for usurpation of office, see § 16-3548.

Mechanics lien, limitation of enforcement action, see § 40-303.13.

Income tax, limitation upon assessment and collection, see § 47-1812.10.

Hospital lien, limitation of enforcement, see § 40-303.

Consumer protection procedures, limitation of actions, see § 28-3905.

Common carrier, commencement of action against for injury or death of employee, see § 35-304.

Breach of contract for sale, commencement of action after breach, see § 28:2-725.

Adverse possession, limitation of actions, see § 16-3301.

Applicability

Section 5(a)(2) of D.C. Law 22-311 provided that notwithstanding any other provision of law, a claim for the recovery of damages that would be time-barred under this section before May 3, 2019, but that would not be time-barred under the amendments made to this section by D.C. Law 22-311, is revived and, in that case, a cause of action may be commenced within 2 years after May 3, 2019.

Section 5(a)(1) of D.C. Law 22-311 provided that the amendments made to this section by D.C. Law 22-311 shall apply to an action that accrues before, on, or after May 3, 2019, unless the statute of limitations for the action expired before May 3, 2019.