Statute of Limitations for Class D / 4th Degree Felony in Ohio

5 min read

Published March 22, 2026 • By DocketMath Team

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws change frequently — verify all citations with current official sources.

Overview

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

In Ohio, the statute of limitations (often called “SOL”) controls how long the state can wait to file criminal charges after an offense occurs. For a Class D felony (commonly referred to as a 4th degree felony in everyday practice), the general rule is short enough that deadlines can matter in real time—especially when evidence is gathered, witnesses are located, or reports are being updated.

This page focuses on Ohio’s SOL framework under Ohio Rev. Code § 2901.13, including the baseline limitation period and how specific exceptions can extend or restart the timeline. You can also use DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations calculator to translate the statute into a clear date-based result: /tools/statute-of-limitations.

Note: This guide explains the statute and typical calculations at a high level. It’s not legal advice. For case-specific questions (like which exception applies), courts and prosecutors may rely on additional facts not covered here.

Limitation period

General SOL for a Class D / 4th degree felony in Ohio

Under the SOL scheme in Ohio Rev. Code § 2901.13, the limitation period for a Class D felony is:

0.5 years (i.e., 6 months)

That means, as a starting point, the state must file the charge within about 6 months of the relevant triggering date used by the statute.

How the “time window” shows up in calculations

In practical terms, your calculation will usually depend on what “date the offense occurred” means for the case timeline. When you use DocketMath, you’ll be asked for the date that starts the clock, and the calculator applies the SOL length (6 months for Class D / 4th degree).

If you change inputs, the output changes immediately:

Earlier start date → earlier deadline
Later start date → later deadline
Different felony category → different SOL length (DocketMath uses the relevant SOL table logic from the Ohio statute)

To use the tool, go to: /tools/statute-of-limitations.

Quick example (illustrative only)

If the offense date you provide is January 10, 2026, then a 0.5-year period (6 months) would produce a deadline around July 10, 2026. If the offense date shifts to January 20, the deadline shifts accordingly.

Because the statute includes exceptions, the “about 6 months” baseline may not be the end of the analysis.

Key exceptions

Ohio’s SOL statute includes exceptions that can lengthen the timeline or otherwise affect whether the SOL bars prosecution. One exception is identified as exception V3 in the jurisdiction data used for this calculator.

Exception V3 (as reflected in DocketMath jurisdiction data)

Your DocketMath calculator may apply exception V3 depending on additional case details you select or enter. When an exception applies, the “effective” limitation period may differ from the baseline 0.5 years.

Because exceptions are fact-sensitive, the most practical way to handle them is to:

Use the calculator to run the baseline SOL first, then
Re-run with the exception conditions enabled, and
Compare the resulting deadlines side-by-side.

Here’s a checklist you can use while preparing inputs:

Warning: SOL exceptions can be triggered by details such as procedural posture, the nature of the allegation, or statutory conditions described in Ohio Rev. Code § 2901.13. Incorrectly assuming an exception applies (or doesn’t apply) can lead to a dramatically wrong deadline.

“Best practice” for deadline accuracy

If you’re working from reports or records, consider capturing the exact date you’re using as the clock start and keeping that date consistent across runs. Then, document what exception selection you used in DocketMath. That approach makes it easier to spot calculation errors and reduces confusion when deadlines change after additional facts are clarified.

Statute citation

The controlling Ohio statute is:

Ohio Rev. Code § 2901.13 (statute of limitations for criminal offenses)

Jurisdiction data used here:

SOL Period: 0.5 years for Class D / 4th degree felony
Exception referenced: V3 (calculator sub-rule)

Source document:

https://codes.ohio.gov/assets/laws/revised-code/authenticated/29/2901/2901.13/7-16-2015/2901.13-7-16-2015.pdf

Use the calculator

DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations calculator is designed to turn Ohio’s SOL rule into a concrete deadline you can compare against a charge filing date.

Primary CTA: /tools/statute-of-limitations

What to enter (inputs)

To generate a deadline for a Class D / 4th degree felony, you typically provide:

Jurisdiction: Ohio (US-OH)
Offense type/category: Class D / 4th degree felony
Clock start date: the date you’re using for the offense timeline trigger
Exception selection: whether exception V3 should be applied (if your scenario matches the exception’s statutory conditions)

What the calculator returns (outputs)

You should expect the calculator to produce:

A baseline SOL deadline using **0.5 years (6 months)
Optionally, an exception-adjusted deadline if an exception is applied
A clear indication of which rule path was used

How outputs change when you adjust inputs

Use the calculator like a “what-if” tool:

If your offense date changes by 10 days, the deadline will generally move by ~10 days as well.
If you enable exception V3, the deadline may extend (or be recalculated) under the statute’s exception logic.
If you accidentally select the wrong felony category, the limitation period will be wrong from the start—so double-check the offense level before relying on the result.