§ 337.5.General Obligation Bonds; Judgment Or Decree

Title 2. Of the Time of Commencing Civil Actions · Chapter 3. The Time of Commencing Actions Other Than for the Recovery of Real Property · Last amended 2010 · Last verified July 28, 2026

In one sentenceSection 337.5 gives a 10-year deadline for actions on unsecured general obligation bonds issued by a county, city, or other local political subdivision, and for actions on any judgment or decree of a United States or state court.

Full Text of § 337.5

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b)

Within 10 years:

(a) An action upon any general obligation bonds or coupons, not secured in whole or in part by a lien on real property, issued by any county, city and county, municipal corporation, district (including school districts), or other political subdivision of the State of California.

(b) An action upon a judgment or decree of any court of the United States or of any state within the United States.

Plain-English Summary

Section 337.5 groups two categories of claim under one 10-year period. The first is an action on general obligation bonds or coupons issued by a county, city and county, municipal corporation, school or other district, or other California political subdivision — but only bonds not secured, in whole or in part, by a lien on real property; secured bonds fall elsewhere.

The second, unrelated category is an action on a judgment or decree of any court in the United States, federal or state. That gives a judgment creditor 10 years to bring a fresh action on the judgment itself, separate from whatever enforcement remedies (like renewal of judgment) may also be available.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a judgment creditor have to sue on a judgment in California?

10 years under § 337.5(b), for an action on a judgment or decree of any United States or state court.

What bonds does the 10-year period in § 337.5 cover?

General obligation bonds or coupons issued by a county, city, municipal corporation, district, or other California political subdivision, so long as they aren’t secured by a lien on real property.

Amendment History

Amended by Stats 2010 ch 719 (SB 856),s 7, eff. 10/19/2010.

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

Also known as: statute of limitations to sue on a judgment Californiageneral obligation bond statute of limitations