Statute of Limitations for Construction Defects in Ohio

5 min read

Published April 8, 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.

Ohio’s general/default statute of limitations (SOL) for certain claims based on injury or harm generally runs 6 months (0.5 years) under Ohio Rev. Code § 2901.13.

In construction-defect disputes, the “construction defect” label can cover different legal theories—for example, claims framed as property damage, personal injury, or contract-related disputes. This page focuses on the general/default SOL period reflected in § 2901.13. As noted in the brief, no claim-type-specific sub-rule was found, so this content discusses only the general/default period.

Note: DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations calculator can help you model deadlines, but it cannot replace legal analysis about which statute (or claim theory) applies to your facts.

Limitation period

General/default SOL: 6 months (0.5 years) under Ohio Rev. Code § 2901.13.

What this means in practice

If § 2901.13 applies to your situation, you generally need to file within 6 months of the legally relevant trigger/accrual event. Importantly, the deadline usually turns on when the claim accrues—not simply when the construction project was completed.

Because accrual rules can depend on how a claim is framed, treat the 6-month figure as a starting point and confirm your accrual/trigger date aligns with the way § 2901.13 is being applied to your situation.

Quick timeline examples (using the 6-month default)

These examples use a simple “start date + 6 months” sanity check:

Start/accrual on Jan 10, 2026 → deadline around July 10, 2026 (subject to filing-day rules and the precise accrual mechanics)
Start/accrual on Feb 28, 2026 → deadline around Aug 28, 2026
Start/accrual on Aug 1, 2026 → deadline around Feb 1, 2027

If your start/accrual date changes by even a short period, the deadline will shift accordingly.

Key exceptions

Ohio Rev. Code § 2901.13 provides the general framework that can affect when the SOL begins to run and how (or whether) it may be altered. While this page explains common areas people look at, it is not legal advice.

1) Accrual can control the clock

SOL deadlines usually don’t automatically start on “project completion.” Instead, the clock can start based on the event that triggers accrual under the statute.

In construction-related disputes, parties may argue about whether the trigger is tied to events such as:

when the damage occurs,
when the damage is discovered, or
when it reasonably could have been discovered.

Practical takeaway: if your accrual/trigger date differs from the one you assumed, your calculated deadline changes.

2) Tolling or extensions may apply (case-specific)

Some legal doctrines can pause (toll) a deadline or extend timing, depending on the statute’s operation and the underlying facts.

Practical takeaway: even with the same 6-month baseline, tolling/extension issues can produce different outcomes across similar-looking situations.

3) Check whether another SOL regime fits better

Construction disputes often involve multiple potential legal theories. If your claim is better characterized under a different statutory scheme, the § 2901.13 default period may not be the right limitation period at all.

Pitfall: Treating a claim as a “construction defect” matter to automatically select § 2901.13 can be risky if your actual legal theory falls under another SOL rule.

4) Contract vs. tort/statutory framing can matter

Some construction disputes are pursued primarily as contract claims, while others are pursued as tort or statutory claims. The limitation period can vary depending on framing and the statute applicable to that theory.

Practical takeaway: confirm your claim theory matches the statute you’re using for the SOL calculation.

Statute citation

The general/default SOL period discussed on this page is:

Ohio Rev. Code § 2901.13 (default limitation framework)
Source: https://codes.ohio.gov/assets/laws/revised-code/authenticated/29/2901/2901.13/7-16-2015/2901.13-7-16-2015.pdf

Default SOL period used here: 6 months (0.5 years).

Use the calculator

Use DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations calculator to model your deadline:

Primary CTA: /tools/statute-of-limitations

How to use it effectively

Confirm your start/accrual date: Enter the date that best matches the statute’s trigger/accrual event for your claim theory.
Use the correct SOL period: This page is based on the § 2901.13 default 6-month period. If your case involves a different SOL regime or a different claim theory, the calculator result may not be accurate.
Review the output deadline: Compare the calculated deadline with your real-world timeline (drafting, internal review, and filing logistics).

What to expect from the output

Because the default SOL period here is 6 months, the output should generally be about 6 months after your input start/accrual date.

If the output seems inconsistent, double-check:

the start date you entered,
that the month/day/year is correct, and
whether § 2901.13 is truly the statute governing your claim theory.

Warning: SOL deadlines are often strict. Use the calculator as a scheduling tool to reduce uncertainty—not as a guarantee that your claim fits § 2901.13 without legal review.