Statute of Limitations for Class B Misdemeanor in Utah

Overview

In Utah, the statute of limitations (SOL) sets a deadline for the State to bring criminal charges after an alleged offense. For a Class B misdemeanor, Utah generally uses a 4-year limitation period, which is codified at Utah Code § 76-1-302.

This post explains:

• What that 4-year window means in practice
• How the clock starts and ends (in general terms)
• The key exceptions that can change the timeline
• How to run the calculation using DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations tool

Limitation period

For Class B misdemeanors in Utah, the default SOL period is 4 years under Utah Code § 76-1-302.

What “4 years” usually means

• The State must file charges within 4 years of the relevant triggering date.
• If charges are filed after the SOL expires, the defense can typically raise the SOL as a bar to prosecution (procedurally, this usually happens through a motion practice framework).

Practical timing checklist

To calculate the deadline accurately, you’ll usually need dates such as:

• Date of the alleged offense (or the date the incident occurred)
• The date charges were filed (the charging document date, such as when the case was initiated in court)
• Any date that may affect tolling (pauses) or extension (rare in misdemeanor contexts, but exceptions exist)

Because SOL calculations are date-driven, small differences in facts matter. For example, two cases with the same offense type may still produce different outcomes if the triggering date is disputed or if an exception applies.

Key exceptions

Utah’s general SOL framework includes exceptions that can extend, toll, or otherwise alter the SOL period. The most relevant item called out for Utah’s SOL rules in this context is:

• Utah Code § 76-1-302 — 4 years — exception P4

The presence of “exception P4” means you should not treat the 4-year number as an automatic one-size-fits-all answer. Instead, treat it as the starting point, then check whether any statutory exception is implicated by the case facts.

How exceptions affect your deadline

In practical terms, exceptions can:

• Extend the time the State has to bring charges
• Pause the SOL clock (tolling) during certain periods
• Change the relevant triggering date used for calculation

What to look for before you rely on the 4-year figure

When reviewing a Class B misdemeanor scenario, confirm whether there are facts indicating:

• A statutory exception might apply (per Utah Code § 76-1-302’s exception structure, including the referenced P4)
• Any timeline interruptions or statutory conditions occurred that could affect counting

Statute citation

The governing statute for Utah’s criminal statute of limitations in this category is:

• Utah Code § 76-1-302

  • General SOL: 4 years
  • Exception: P4 (as reflected in Utah’s SOL guidance)

For Utah’s public legal help summary of SOL procedures, Utah courts provide a reference page at:
https://www.utcourts.gov/en/legal-help/legal-help/procedures/statute-limitation.html

Use the calculator

You can calculate the SOL deadline quickly with DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations tool here:
**DocketMath Statute of Limitations tool

Inputs to enter

In most SOL workflows, the calculator will prompt you for date inputs like:

• Offense date (the incident date or the date used as the SOL trigger)
• Jurisdiction (select Utah (US-UT))
• Charge type (use the option corresponding to Class B misdemeanor)
• Comparison date (commonly: charge filing date) so the tool can determine whether the deadline is met

How outputs change

Your output will typically do three things:

1. Compute the SOL expiration date by adding the applicable SOL period (default 4 years) to the SOL trigger date.
2. Flag whether charges were filed before/after expiration, based on the comparison date you provide.
3. If the tool supports exceptions, it may allow you to account for an exception scenario such as exception P4 under Utah Code § 76-1-302—which can shift the expiration date or effective counting period.

Quick example (illustrative only)

If the offense date is June 1, 2020, a basic 4-year SOL framework points to an expiration around June 1, 2024.
If the State filed charges on May 30, 2024, that would be within the window; if charges were filed on June 2, 2024, that would be outside the window—unless an exception applies (including the statutory exception referenced as P4).

Calculation sanity-check table

Use this checklist to verify the numbers you enter:

Related reading

• Choosing the right statute of limitations tool for Vermont — How to choose the right calculator
• Statute of limitations in Singapore: how to estimate the deadline — Full how-to guide with jurisdiction-specific rules
• Choosing the right statute of limitations tool for Connecticut — How to choose the right calculator