Indiana Code

Ind. Code § 32-30-1-5 (2026)

Statute of limitations; general rule

✓ current as of May 2026
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     Sec. 5. (a) As used in this section, "designer" means a person who:

(1) designs, plans, supervises, or observes the construction of an improvement to real property; or

(2) constructs an improvement to real property.

     (b) As used in this section, "possessor" means a person having ownership, possession, or control of real property at the time an alleged deficiency in an improvement to the real property causes injury or wrongful death.

     (c) As used in this section, "deficiency" does not mean a failure by a possessor to use reasonable care to maintain an improvement to real property following a substantial completion of an improvement.

     (d) An action to recover damages, whether based upon contract, tort, nuisance, or another legal remedy, for:

(1) a deficiency or an alleged deficiency in the design, planning, supervision, construction, or observation of construction of an improvement to real property;

(2) an injury to real or personal property arising out of a deficiency; or

(3) an injury or wrongful death of a person arising out of a deficiency;

may not be brought against a designer or possessor unless the action is commenced within the earlier of ten (10) years after the date of substantial completion of the improvement or twelve (12) years after the completion and submission of plans and specifications to the owner if the action is for a deficiency in the design of the improvement.

[Pre-2002 Recodification Citation: 32-15-1-2.]

As added by P.L.2-2002, SEC.15. Amended by P.L.79-2005, SEC.1.

 

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 14 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 2003–2024 · leading case: Sharon Gill, on her own behalf & on behalf of the Est. of Gale Gill v. Evansville Sheet Metal Works, Inc., 970 N.E.2d 633 (Ind. 2012).
Sharon Gill, on her own behalf & on behalf of the Est. of Gale Gill v. Evansville Sheet Metal Works, Inc., 970 N.E.2d 633 (Ind. 2012). · cites it 12× “Ind.Code § 32-30-1-5 (2004). 5 Parsing the statute’s plain language indicates that a defendant is entitled to immunity under the statute only if four criteria are established.”
Perdue v. Greater Lafayette Health Servs., Inc., 951 N.E.2d 235 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011). · cites it 10× “I.C. § 32-30-1-5. And subsection (c) of the statute provides: “As used in this section, ‘deficiency’ does not mean a failure by a possessor to use reasonable care to maintain an improvement to real property following a substantial completion of an improvement.”
New Riegel Local Sch. Dist. Bd. of Edn. v. Buehrer Grp. Architecture & Eng., Inc. (Slip Opinion), 2019 Ohio 2851 (Ohio 2019). “5/13-214(a) (“Actions based upon tort, contract or otherwise against any person for an act or omission of such person in the design, planning, supervision, observation or management of construction, or construction of an improvement to real property * * *”); Ind.Code Ann.…”
Russo v. S. Developers, Inc., 868 N.E.2d 46 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007). · cites it 2× “See Ind.Code § 32-30-1-5. The Russos’ Complaint alleges that the Developers built the House "[o]n or about 1995,” Appellants’ App.”
Gill v. Evansville Sheet Metal Works, Inc., 940 N.E.2d 328 (Ind. Ct. App. 2010). · cites it 4× “In the instant case, ESMW took advantage of local rule 714 and filed an initial motion for summary judgment in the stayed case claiming that its cause falls within the protection of CSOR, I.C. § 32-30-1-5(d), which provides (d) An action to recover damages, whether based upon…”
Pentony v. Valparaiso Dep't of Parks & Rec., 865 F. Supp. 2d 947 (N.D. Ind. 2012). · cites it 8× “After reviewing the parties’ summary judgment submissions the Court set the motions for oral argument and gave the parties notice under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56(f) that they should discuss the applicability of the statute of repose found in Indiana Code § 32-30-1-5 at…”
Pentony v. Valparaiso Dep't of Parks & Rec., 866 F. Supp. 2d 1002 (N.D. Ind. 2012). · cites it 8× “After reviewing the parties’ summary judgment submissions the Court set the motions for oral argument and gave the parties notice under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56(f) that they should discuss the applicability of the statute of repose found in Indiana Code § 32-30-1-5 at…”
In Re Asbestos Prods. Liab. Litig., 837 F.3d 231 (3rd Cir. 2016). “Ind. Code § 32-30-1-5 . But the Indiana Supreme Court has declined to apply this statute to every contractor that installs or removes asbestos materials, recognizing that “not everything a contractor does constitutes an improvement to real property.”
Powers & Sons Constr. Co. v. Healthy East Chicago, 919 N.E.2d 137 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009). · cites it 6× “Indiana Code section 32-30-1-5 provides: An action to recover damages, whether based upon contract, tort, nuisance, or another legal remedy, for .”
CSX Transp., Inc. v. Zayo Grp. LLC (S.D. Ind. 2024). · cites it 6× “5/13-214; IC § 32-30-1-5"; • 4. "Zayo's installations are authorized by third parties who have superior rights to [CSX] in the locations where Zayo's installations reside, including private landowners, Zayo's customers, and other railroads"; • 6.”
Eastgate Investments I, LLC v. MW Builders, Inc. (N.D. Ind. 2022). · cites it 4× “Ind. Code § 32-30-1-5 (d). The parties do not dispute that Calumet is a “designer” for purposes of this statute.”
Eastgate Investments I, LLC v. MW Builders, Inc. (N.D. Ind. 2022). · cites it 4× “Ind. Code § 32-30-1-5 (d). The parties do not dispute that Gluth is a “designer” for purposes of this statute.”
— Ind. Code § 32-30-1-5(c) — 1 case
Pentony v. Valparaiso Dep't of Parks & Rec., 866 F. Supp. 2d 1002 (N.D. Ind. 2012). “After reviewing the parties’ summary judgment submissions the Court set the motions for oral argument and gave the parties notice under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56(f) that they should discuss the applicability of the statute of repose found in Indiana Code § 32-30-1-5 at…”
— Ind. Code § 32-30-1-5(d) — 2 cases
New Riegel Local Sch. Dist. Bd. of Edn. v. Buehrer Grp. Architecture & Eng., Inc. (Slip Opinion), 2019 Ohio 2851 (Ohio 2019). “5/13-214(a) (“Actions based upon tort, contract or otherwise against any person for an act or omission of such person in the design, planning, supervision, observation or management of construction, or construction of an improvement to real property * * *”); Ind.Code Ann.…”
Gill v. Evansville Sheet Metal Works, Inc., 940 N.E.2d 328 (Ind. Ct. App. 2010). “In the instant case, ESMW took advantage of local rule 714 and filed an initial motion for summary judgment in the stayed case claiming that its cause falls within the protection of CSOR, I.C. § 32-30-1-5(d), which provides (d) An action to recover damages, whether based upon…”
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