Statute of Limitations for Class B Misdemeanor in Arizona

Overview

Run this scenario in DocketMath using the Statute Of Limitations calculator.

In Arizona, the statute of limitations (often shortened to “SOL”) for most criminal charges is 2 years under A.R.S. § 13-107(A). That means—when no special exception or tolling applies—the State generally has up to 24 months from the relevant triggering event to file a criminal complaint or indictment for an offense, including Class B misdemeanor cases.

People often search for “Class B misdemeanor SOL in Arizona” because misdemeanor cases typically proceed faster than felonies. But the timing rules still depend on what counts as the start date for the SOL clock. SOL is not automatically tied only to the arrest date; it is tied to the legal event that starts the limitations period (and that can be fact-dependent).

As a practical matter, the best workflow is to (1) calculate the baseline deadline using the general rule, then (2) check whether any statutory exceptions or tolling concepts could extend the deadline for that specific case.

Limitation period

Arizona’s general SOL period is 2 years for covered criminal offenses under A.R.S. § 13-107(A). For purposes of this page, treat that general rule as the baseline for Class B misdemeanors because no separate Class B-specific sub-rule was identified.

How the 2-year deadline is usually framed

You can think of the limitations clock in two steps:

1. Start date (trigger): The event date the law uses to begin the SOL clock (often associated with the alleged offense date, but the exact trigger can be fact-dependent).
2. End date (outside deadline): The date that is 2 years after the start date, unless an exception/tolling event applies.

What affects the outcome in real cases

Even with a baseline of “2 years,” the practical computed deadline can change when:

• statutory tolling pauses the clock,
• the law treats certain procedural or jurisdictional events as extending time, or
• the parties dispute the proper trigger theory (i.e., which date legally starts the clock).

Because SOL timing can be technical, the most actionable approach is:

• calculate a baseline “start date + 24 months,” then
• evaluate whether any exception or tolling theory might apply.

Quick reference table (baseline rule)

Key exceptions

Arizona’s criminal SOL framework can include exceptions and tolling concepts that effectively extend the time for prosecution. While this page centers on the general 2-year rule, you should consider whether your situation includes facts that could affect timing.

Common categories to check include:

• Tolling (pauses) events: Certain legal circumstances can pause the SOL clock.
• Trigger-date disputes: The “start” point may be contested based on how the offense date is treated for SOL purposes.
• Additional statutory rules beyond the baseline: Arizona’s SOL statutes may include time adjustments tied to specific circumstances.

Practical checklist to prepare for a deadline calculation

If you’re working through whether a filing might be time-barred, gather:

This checklist helps avoid one of the most common issues: comparing the charging date to the wrong start date or overlooking events that can change SOL timing.

Statute citation

Arizona general criminal SOL: A.R.S. § 13-107(A)
General SOL period: 2 years

For background, an Arizona law summary (FindLaw compilation) reflects that general 2-year limitations period and associates it with A.R.S. § 13-107(A):
https://www.findlaw.com/state/arizona-law/arizona-criminal-statute-of-limitations-laws.html

Use the calculator

Use DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations calculator to convert the baseline rule into a specific deadline you can compare to the charging date: /tools/statute-of-limitations.

What to input (and why it matters)

Because this page uses Arizona’s general/default SOL period of 2 years under A.R.S. § 13-107(A), the calculator generally needs:

• Start date (the SOL trigger date you’re using for the analysis)
• Jurisdiction: US-AZ
• Offense category: Class B misdemeanor (so the tool applies the general rule since no separate Class B-specific sub-rule was identified here)
• Optional: Charge filing date (to check whether the filing was within the deadline)

What you get back (and how to interpret it)

Typically, the output includes:

• a computed SOL deadline based on the 2-year baseline, and
• (if you enter a filing date) whether the filing falls before or after the calculated deadline.

The tool’s assumptions may matter—so treat the result as a baseline unless you confirm that no exception/tolling applies.

How outputs change when you adjust inputs

In practical terms:

• Changing the start date by 1 day generally shifts the computed deadline by about 1 day (because the baseline is fixed).
• Entering a different filing date can flip the “within/outside” comparison if you cross the deadline boundary.
• If your facts suggest tolling/exception, update your assumptions accordingly and rerun rather than relying on the baseline calculation alone.

Related reading

• Choosing the right statute of limitations tool for Vermont — Tool comparison
• Statute of limitations in Singapore: how to estimate the deadline — How-to guide
• Choosing the right statute of limitations tool for Connecticut — Tool comparison