# California statute of limitations on debt

> In California, the statute of limitations on a written contract is 4 years under Code Civ. Proc., §§ 337, 339. Periods for oral contracts, open accounts and promissory notes.

- Source: https://ottoforfirms.com/statute-of-limitations/california/
- Publisher: Otto — https://ottoforfirms.com
- Updated: 2026-09-01

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In California, the statute of limitations on a written contract is 4 years under Code Civ. Proc., §§ 337, 339.

**Rule.** A written contract claim in California must be brought within 4 years.

**Authority.** [Code Civ. Proc., §§ 337, 339](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CCP&sectionNum=337)

| Contract type | Limitations period |
| --- | --- |
| Written contract | 4 yr |
| Oral contract | 2 yr |
| Open account | 4 yr |
| Promissory note | 6 yr |

## What the statute says

> (b) An action to recover (1) upon a book account whether consisting of one or more entries; (2) upon an account stated based upon an account in writing, but the acknowledgment of the account stated need not be in writing; (3) a balance due upon a mutual, open and current account, the items of which are in writing

— [Code Civ. Proc., §§ 337, 339](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CCP&sectionNum=337)

## When does the clock start?

From breach; on an account stated based on more than one item, and on a book account, the time begins to run from the date of the last item.

## What pauses it?

Code Civ. Proc., § 351 excludes the defendant's time out of state; § 352 excludes minority or lack of legal capacity at accrual.

Last reviewed 2026-07-26

## Related

- [Arizona statute of limitations](https://ottoforfirms.com/statute-of-limitations/arizona/) — Neighbouring jurisdiction — written contract, oral contract, open account and promissory note.
- [Nevada statute of limitations](https://ottoforfirms.com/statute-of-limitations/nevada/) — Neighbouring jurisdiction — written contract, oral contract, open account and promissory note.
- [Oregon statute of limitations](https://ottoforfirms.com/statute-of-limitations/oregon/) — Neighbouring jurisdiction — written contract, oral contract, open account and promissory note.

## About Otto

This table is a free reference and it is not the product. Otto is case management for US collections law firms; the rules engine ships all fifty states configured — four shown in end-to-end depth in the demo — and it checks a date like this one before a file moves rather than after.

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This is an informational reference, not legal advice, and using it creates no attorney-client relationship. Limitations periods turn on facts this page cannot know — which state's law governs, the contract type, when the claim accrued, and whether anything tolled or revived it. Confirm against the primary source and your own counsel before acting.