Civil actions, without exception, can only be commenced within the periods prescribed in this title, after the cause of action shall have accrued, unless where, in special cases, a different limitation is prescribed by statute.
§ 312.Generally
Title 2. Of the Time of Commencing Civil Actions · Chapter 1. The Time of Commencing Actions in General · Last amended 1897 · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentenceSection 312 establishes the general rule for Title 2: every civil action must be commenced within the time limits set out in this title after the claim accrues, unless a specific statute prescribes a different limitations period.
Full Text of § 312
Plain-English Summary
Section 312 is the umbrella statement for California's statute-of-limitations title. Every civil action, with no exception stated in this section, must be filed within the period Title 2 assigns to it, measured from when the cause of action accrues.
The section also builds in the flexibility the rest of the code depends on: when a special statute sets its own, different limitations period for a particular kind of claim, that specific period controls instead of the general rules found in this title.
Read together with § 350, which fixes commencement as the date the complaint is filed, Section 312 is the starting point for analyzing whether any California civil claim was filed on time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a single statute of limitations for all California civil actions?
No single period applies to everything, but Section 312 requires every action to be commenced within whatever period Title 2 or a special statute prescribes, measured from when the claim accrued.
What happens if a specific statute sets a different limitations period than the general rules in this title?
Section 312 defers to it. A different limitations period prescribed by statute for special cases controls over the general provisions of this title.
When does the limitations clock start?
Section 312 measures the period from when the cause of action accrues; § 350 separately defines when an action is considered commenced, which is the filing of the complaint.
Amendment History
Amended by Stats. 1897, Ch. 21.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
the Deering's California Codes Annotated / vLex. Enacted by the California Legislature.
Last verified July 28, 2026.
· Official source
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