## How the limitation period applies

The controlling primary authority for construction-defects is **Minn. Stat. § 541.051**.

> **Minn. Stat. § 541.051.** (a) Except where fraud is involved, no action by any person in contract, tort, or otherwise to recover damages for any injury to property, real or personal, or for bodily injury or wrongful death, arising out of the defective and unsafe condition of an improvement to real property, shall be brought against any person performing or furnishing the design, planning, supervision, materials, or observation of construction or construction of the improvement to real property or against the owner of the real property more than two years after the cause of action accrues, as specified in paragraph (c), nor in any event shall such a cause of action accrue more than ten years after substantial completion of the construction. Date of substantial completion shall be determined by the date when construction is sufficiently completed so that the owner or the owner's representative can occupy or use the improvement for the intended purpose.

## Use the calculator

DocketMath's statute-of-limitations tool can model these timelines once you identify the controlling claim type and accrual date. Use the source panel for the verified primary-source citations.

[Open the Statute of Limitations calculator](/tools/statute-of-limitations)

## Sources

- [Minn. Stat. § 541.051 — undefined](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/541.051)

All sources are official primary law published by `revisor.mn.gov`.

**Corroboration method:** government_primary_source_direct_fetch.


In Minnesota, time limits for bringing claims tied to construction defects are governed by the state’s general statute of limitations framework. For mos...

Statute of Limitations for Construction Defects in Minnesota

Wave-12 surgery (2026-04-21) caught 6 fabrications. Medical malpractice period had been shipped as 2yr, justified by an invented note citing 'SF 3489 Aug 2025' — no such bill exists; § 541.076(b) on live revisor.mn.gov still reads 4yr. New sub-pattern flagged: fake bill numbers used to justify wrong values. sub_rules[0] § 541.07 (2yr assault/libel/slander/battery) had been miscited as wrongful death (real wrongful-death authority is § 573.02, 3yr). sub_rules[1] § 541.073 had been miscited as 'hazardous substance exposure' — real § 541.073 is Minnesota's Child Victims Act (sexual abuse). Top-level raw_text carried an invented (1)/(2) six-year structure. Re-verification 2026-04-25 against live revisor.mn.gov confirmed all wave-12 corrections intact: med-mal § 541.076(b) reads 4yr, § 541.07 covers libel/slander/assault/battery (2yr), § 541.073 is Child Victims Act, § 573.02 wrongful death is 3yr (6yr outer), § 336.2-725 UCC is 4yr. Backfilled 14 null source_url fields with primary-source revisor.mn.gov URLs. Stamp bumped to 2026-04-25 to clear ANO-831 trust gate. ANO-831 DEEPEN (2026-04-29): per-claim raw_statute_text + precise subdivision citations (subd. 1(1) contracts, subd. 1(3) trespass real, subd. 1(4) personal property, subd. 1(5) general injury / legal-mal / product / premises, subd. 1(6) fraud) populated on top-level claim_types map, matching CA reference schema. Verified all primary text live against revisor.mn.gov for §§ 541.05, 541.07, 541.076, 573.02, 336.2-725. Legal-mal audit per ANO-831: Minnesota uses 6yr under § 541.05 subd. 1(5) (general injury to person or rights), confirmed by Antone v. Mirviss, 720 N.W.2d 791 (Minn. 2006); existing file value of 6yr is correct (NO correction needed, unlike NJ 2y→6y and VA 2y→5y misclassifications). Confidence on legal_malpractice, product_liability, premises_liability, property_damage, trespass raised from 'inferred' to 'verified'. Top-level sub_rules expanded from 1 entry to 3 (added § 541.07 carve-out and § 541.076 med-mal carve-out).

upon a contract or other obligation, express or implied, as to which no other limitation is expressly prescribed

for relief on the ground of fraud, in which case the cause of action shall not be deemed to have accrued until the discovery by the aggrieved party of the facts constituting the fraud.

for criminal conversation, or for any other injury to the person or rights of another, not arising on contract, and not hereinafter enumerated

for libel, slander, assault, battery, false imprisonment, or other tort resulting in personal injury

An action by a patient or former patient against a health care provider alleging malpractice, error, mistake, or failure to cure, whether based on a contract or tort, must be commenced within four years from the date the cause of action accrued.

for taking, detaining, or injuring personal property, including actions for the specific recovery thereof

An action for breach of any contract for sale must be commenced within four years after the cause of action has accrued.

Any other action under this section may be commenced within three years after the date of death provided that the action must be commenced within six years after the act or omission.

the following actions shall be commenced within six years: (2) upon a liability created by statute, other than those arising upon a penalty or forfeiture or where a shorter period is provided by section 541.07

the following actions shall be commenced within two years: (1) for libel, slander, assault, battery, false imprisonment, or other tort resulting in personal injury

541.05 VARIOUS CASES, SIX YEARS. Subdivision 1. Six-year limitation. Except where the Uniform Commercial Code otherwise prescribes, the following actions shall be commenced within six years: (1) upon a contract or other obligation, express or implied, as to which no other limitation is expressly prescribed; (2) upon a liability created by statute, other than those arising upon a penalty or forfeiture or where a shorter period is provided by section 541.07; (3) for a trespass upon real estate; (4) for taking, detaining, or injuring personal property, including actions for the specific recovery thereof; (5) for criminal conversation, or for any other injury to the person or rights of another, not arising on contract, and not hereinafter enumerated; (6) for relief on the ground of fraud, in which case the cause of action shall not be deemed to have accrued until the discovery by the aggrieved party of the facts constituting the fraud; (9) for assault, battery, false imprisonment, or other tort resulting in personal injury, if the conduct that gives rise to the cause of action also constitutes domestic abuse as defined in section 518B.01. Subd. 2. Strict liability. Unless otherwise provided by law, any action based on the strict liability of the defendant and arising from the manufacture, sale, use or consumption of a product shall be commenced within four years.

Subd. 2. Strict liability. Unless otherwise provided by law, any action based on the strict liability of the defendant and arising from the manufacture, sale, use or consumption of a product shall be commenced within four years.

Subdivision 1. Six-year limitation. Except where the Uniform Commercial Code otherwise prescribes, the following actions shall be commenced within six years: (1) upon a contract or other obligation, express or implied, as to which no other limitation is expressly prescribed; (2) upon a liability created by statute, other than those arising upon a penalty or forfeiture or where a shorter period is provided by section 541.07 ; (3) for a trespass upon real estate; (4) for taking, detaining, or injuring personal property, including actions for the specific recovery thereof;

(a) A claim of an unfair discriminatory practice must be brought as a civil action pursuant to section 363A.33, subdivision 1, filed in a charge with a local commission pursuant to section 363A.07, subdivision 3, or filed in a charge with the commissioner within one year after the occurrence of the practice.

(b) The running of the one-year limitation period is suspended during the time a potential charging party and respondent are voluntarily engaged in a dispute resolution process involving a claim of unlawful discrimination under this chapter, including arbitration, conciliation, mediation or grievance procedures pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement or statutory, charter, ordinance provisions for a civil service or other employment system or a school board sexual harassment or sexual violence policy. A potential respondent who participates in such a process with a potential charging party before a charge is filed or a civil action is brought shall notify the department and the charging party in writing of the participation in the process and the date the process commenced and shall also notify the department and the charging party of the ending date of the process. A respondent who fails to provide this notification is barred from raising the defense that the statute of limitations has run unless one year plus a period of time equal to the suspension period has passed.

(c) The running of the one-year limitation period is suspended during the applicable time period under section 363A.331, subdivision 2, during which a civil action may not be brought.

VARIOUS CASES, SIX YEARS. § Subdivision 1. Six-year limitation. Except where the Uniform Commercial Code otherwise prescribes, the following actions shall be commenced within six years: (1) upon a contract or other obligation, express or implied, as to which no other limitation is expressly prescribed; (2) upon a liability created by statute, other than those arising upon a penalty or forfeiture or where a shorter period is provided by section 541.07 ; (3) for a trespass upon real estate; (4) for taking, detaining, or injuring personal property, including actions for the specific recovery thereof;

following actions shall be commenced within two years: (1) for libel, slander, assault, battery, false imprisonment, or other tort resulting in personal injury, and all actions against veterinarians as defined in chapter 156, for malpractice, error, mistake, or failure to cure, whether based on contract or tort; provided a counterclaim may be pleaded as a defense to any action for services brought by a veterinarian after the limitations period if it was the property of the party pleading it at the time it became barred and was not barred at the time the claim sued on originated, but no judgment thereof except for costs can be rendered in favor of the party so pleading it; (2) upon a statute for a penalty or forfeiture, except as provided in sections 541.074 and 541.075 ; (3) for damages caused by a dam, other than a dam used for commercial purposes; but as against one holding under the preemption or homestead laws, the limitations shall not begin to run until a patent has been issued for the land so damaged; (4) against a master for breach of an indenture of apprenticeship; the limitation runs from the expiration of the term of service; (5) for the recovery of wages or overtime or damages, fees, or penalties accruing under any federal or state law respecting the payment of wages or overtime or damages, fees, or penalties

Except where the Uniform Commercial Code otherwise prescribes, the following actions shall be commenced within six years: (1) upon a contract or other obligation, express or implied, as to which no other limitation is expressly prescribed; ... (3) for a trespass upon real estate; (4) for taking, detaining, or injuring personal property, including actions for the specific recovery thereof; (5) for criminal conversation, or for any other injury to the person or rights of another, not arising on contract, and not hereinafter enumerated; (6) for relief on the ground of fraud, in which case the cause of action shall not be deemed to have accrued until the discovery by the aggrieved party of the facts constituting the fraud.

Per the verbatim text of Minn. Stat. § 363A.28, subd. 3(a), an MHRA claim of an unfair discriminatory practice (including state employment discrimination under § 363A.08) must be brought as a civil action under § 363A.33, subd. 1, filed in a charge with a local commission under § 363A.07, subd. 3, or filed in a charge with the commissioner, in each case within one year after the occurrence of the practice. Tolling under subd. 3(b) (voluntary dispute resolution) and subd. 3(c) (the § 363A.331, su

Under Minn. Stat. § 541.05, subd. 1(5), an action 'for criminal conversation, or for any other injury to the person or rights of another, not arising on contract, and not hereinafter enumerated' must be commenced within six (6) years. Minnesota courts have construed this 6-year limit as the controlling SOL for negligence-based personal-injury actions (auto accidents, slip-and-fall, general negligence). Minnesota is one of the few states with a 6-year general PI SOL. Note: intentional torts (assa

Under Minn. Stat. § 541.05, subd. 2, any action based on the strict liability of the defendant and arising from the manufacture, sale, use, or consumption of a product must be commenced within four years (unless otherwise provided by law). This is the controlling SOL for product liability actions in Minnesota — distinct from the general 6-year negligence-PI rule in § 541.05 subd. 1(5).

Statute of limitations for wrongful death in US-MN is 3 years under Minn. Stat. § 573.02 subd. 1.

Statute of limitations for medical malpractice in US-MN is 4 years under Minn. Stat. § 541.076(b).

Statute of limitations for legal malpractice in US-MN is 6 years under Minn. Stat. § 541.05 subd. 1(5).

Statute of limitations for premises liability in US-MN is 6 years under Minn. Stat. § 541.05 subd. 1(5).

Statute of limitations for breach written contract in US-MN is 6 years under Minn. Stat. § 541.05 subd. 1(1).

Statute of limitations for breach oral contract in US-MN is 6 years under Minn. Stat. § 541.05 subd. 1(1).

Statute of limitations for ucc sale of goods in US-MN is 4 years under Minn. Stat. § 336.2-725(1).

Statute of limitations for fraud in US-MN is 6 years under Minn. Stat. § 541.05 subd. 1(6).

Statute of limitations for libel in US-MN is 2 years under Minn. Stat. § 541.07(1).

Statute of limitations for slander in US-MN is 2 years under Minn. Stat. § 541.07(1).

Statute of limitations for property damage in US-MN is 6 years under Minn. Stat. § 541.05 subd. 1(4).

Statute of limitations for trespass in US-MN is 6 years under Minn. Stat. § 541.05 subd. 1(3).

Statute of limitations for personal injury in US-MN is 6 years under Minn. Stat. § 541.05, subd. 1(5).

Statute of limitations for product liability in US-MN is 4 years under Minn. Stat. § 541.05, subd. 2.

Under Minn. Stat. § 541.05 subd. 1(4), an action for taking, detaining, or injuring personal property, including an action for the specific recovery thereof, must be commenced within six years.

Minnesota libel/written defamation claims must be brought within 2 years of accrual under Minn. Stat. § 541.07(1).

Minnesota actions upon a contract, express or implied, with no other limitation prescribed must be commenced within 6 years under Minn. Stat. § 541.05, subd. 1(1).

An action for taking, detaining, or injuring personal property in Minnesota must be commenced within six years under Minn. Stat. § 541.05, subdivision 1(4).

An action for the recovery of wages or overtime under state or federal wage law in Minnesota must be commenced within two years under Minn. Stat. § 541.07(5).