{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/8.01-250.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/8.01-250.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/8.01-250.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/8.01-250.html"}],"law_id":377038,"edition_id":2,"section_id":377038,"structure_id":53588,"section_number":"8.01-250","catch_line":"Limitation on certain actions for damages arising out of defective or unsafe condition of improvements to real property","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 8-24.2; 1964, c. 333; 1968, c. 103; 1973, c. 247; 1977, c. 617.","full_text":"No action to recover 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, nor any action for contribution or indemnity for damages sustained as a result of such injury, shall be brought against any person performing or furnishing the design, planning, surveying, supervision of construction, or construction of such improvement to real property more than five years after the performance or furnishing of such services and construction.\n\nThe limitation prescribed in this section shall not apply to the manufacturer or supplier of any equipment or machinery or other articles installed in a structure upon real property, nor to any person in actual possession and in control of the improvement as owner, tenant or otherwise at the time the defective or unsafe condition of such improvement constitutes the proximate cause of the injury or damage for which the action is brought; rather each such action shall be brought within the time next after such injury occurs as provided in \u00a7\u00a7 8.01-243 and 8.01-246.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1407376,"text":"No action to recover 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, nor any action for contribution or indemnity for damages sustained as a result of such injury, shall be brought against any person performing or furnishing the design, planning, surveying, supervision of construction, or construction of such improvement to real property more than five years after the performance or furnishing of such services and construction.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":""},"1":{"id":1407377,"text":"The limitation prescribed in this section shall not apply to the manufacturer or supplier of any equipment or machinery or other articles installed in a structure upon real property, nor to any person in actual possession and in control of the improvement as owner, tenant or otherwise at the time the defective or unsafe condition of such improvement constitutes the proximate cause of the injury or damage for which the action is brought; rather each such action shall be brought within the time next after such injury occurs as provided in \u00a7\u00a7 8.01-243 and 8.01-246.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":""}},"ancestry":[{"id":53588,"edition_id":2,"name":"Personal Actions Generally","identifier":"3","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":3,"parent_id":53584,"metadata":{"child_laws":12,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:19:03","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:28:15","permalink":{"id":1508199,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":53588,"identifier":"3","token":"8.01\/4\/3","url":"\/8.01\/4\/3\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":53584,"edition_id":2,"name":"Limitations of Actions","identifier":"4","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":7,"parent_id":53558,"metadata":{"child_laws":36,"child_structures":5},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:19:01","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:28:15","permalink":{"id":1508129,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":53584,"identifier":"4","token":"8.01\/4","url":"\/8.01\/4\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":53558,"edition_id":2,"name":"Civil Remedies and Procedure","identifier":"8.01","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":12,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":1095,"child_structures":142},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:18:32","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:28:09","permalink":{"id":1504031,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":53558,"identifier":"8.01","token":"8.01","url":"\/8.01\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":377028,"structure_id":53588,"section_number":"8.01-243","catch_line":"Personal action for injury to person or property generally; extension in actions for malpractice against health care provider","url":"\/8.01-243\/","token":"8.01\/4\/3\/8.01-243","metadata":false},{"id":377026,"structure_id":53588,"section_number":"8.01-243.1","catch_line":"Actions for medical malpractice; minors","url":"\/8.01-243.1\/","token":"8.01\/4\/3\/8.01-243.1","metadata":false},{"id":377027,"structure_id":53588,"section_number":"8.01-243.2","catch_line":"Limitations of actions by confined persons; exhaustion","url":"\/8.01-243.2\/","token":"8.01\/4\/3\/8.01-243.2","metadata":false},{"id":377029,"structure_id":53588,"section_number":"8.01-244","catch_line":"Actions for wrongful death; limitation","url":"\/8.01-244\/","token":"8.01\/4\/3\/8.01-244","metadata":false},{"id":377030,"structure_id":53588,"section_number":"8.01-245","catch_line":"Limitation on actions upon the bond of any fiduciaries or as to suits against fiduciaries themselves; accrual of cause of action where execution sustained","url":"\/8.01-245\/","token":"8.01\/4\/3\/8.01-245","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":"In re Lewis","case_number":"Case No. 12-35815-KLP","citation":"517 B.R. 615","date":"2014-09-26","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/8525051\/in-re-lewis\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. Chapter 11 .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"United States Bankruptcy Court, E.D. Virginia"},"1":{"name":" .\u202f.\u202f. Delon Hampton & Associates, Chartered Envirodyne Engineers, .\u202f.\u202f. ","case_number":"90-2047","citation":"943 F.2d 355","date":"1991-08-06","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/567622\/delon-hampton-associates-chartered-envirodyne-engineers-incorporated-v\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. OPINION .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"},"2":{"name":"Katz v. Odin, Feldman & Pittleman, P.C.","case_number":"1:04CV735","citation":"332 F. Supp. 2d 909","date":"2004-08-26","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/2504512\/katz-v-odin-feldman-pittleman-pc\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 332 F.Supp.2d 909 (2004) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"District Court, E.D. Virginia"},"3":{"name":"School Board v. United States Gypsum Co.","case_number":"Record 870265","citation":"360 S.E.2d 325","date":"1987-09-04","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1323220\/school-board-v-united-states-gypsum-co\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. *43WHITING, J., .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"},"4":{"name":"In Re Varona","case_number":"07-71761","citation":"388 B.R. 705","date":"2008-05-22","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1544614\/in-re-varona\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 388 B.R. 705 (2008) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"United States Bankruptcy Court, E.D. Virginia"},"5":{"name":"Kerns v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.","case_number":"Record 171068","citation":"818 S.E.2d 779","date":"2018-09-27","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/4538729\/kerns-v-wells-fargo-bank-na\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. OPINION BY JUSTICE D. ARTHUR KELSEY .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"},"6":{"name":" .\u202f.\u202f. Hensel Phelps Constr. Co. v. Thompson Masonry Contractor, .\u202f.\u202f. ","case_number":"Record 151780","citation":"791 S.E.2d 734","date":"2016-11-03","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/4317958\/hensel-phelps-constr-co-v-thompson-masonry-contractor-inc\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. OPINION BY SENIOR JUSTICE LEROY F. MILLETTE, JR. .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"},"7":{"name":"Penn v. 1st S. Ins. Servs., Inc.","case_number":"Civil Action No. 3:17-cv-758","citation":"324 F. Supp. 3d 703","date":"2018-07-18","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/7331460\/penn-v-1st-s-ins-servs-inc\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. Robert E. Payne, Senior United States District Judge .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"District Court, E.D. Virginia"},"8":{"name":" .\u202f.\u202f. Thorsen v. Richmond Soc'y for the Prevention of Cruelty to .\u202f.\u202f. ","case_number":"Record 150528","citation":"786 S.E.2d 453","date":"2016-06-02","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/3208959\/thorsen-v-richmond-socy-for-the-prevention-of-cruelty-to-animals\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. OPINION BY SENIOR JUSTICE LEROY F. MILLETTE, JR. .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"},"9":{"name":"Keller v. Denny","case_number":"Record 831869","citation":"352 S.E.2d 327","date":"1987-01-16","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1340582\/keller-v-denny\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. RUSSELL, J., .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"}}}},{"id":377031,"structure_id":53588,"section_number":"8.01-246","catch_line":"Personal actions based on contracts","url":"\/8.01-246\/","token":"8.01\/4\/3\/8.01-246","metadata":false},{"id":377033,"structure_id":53588,"section_number":"8.01-247","catch_line":"When action on contract governed by the law of another state or country barred in Virginia","url":"\/8.01-247\/","token":"8.01\/4\/3\/8.01-247","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":"Hunter Innovations v. Travelers Indem. Co. of Ct.","case_number":"Case 1:10cv832","citation":"753 F. Supp. 2d 597","date":"2010-11-19","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/2477108\/hunter-innovations-v-travelers-indem-co-of-ct\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 753 F.Supp.2d 597 (2010) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"District Court, E.D. Virginia"},"1":{"name":"Johnson v. Brown","case_number":"1:04CV634JCC","citation":"372 F. Supp. 2d 501","date":"2005-06-02","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/2431719\/johnson-v-brown\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 372 F.Supp.2d 501 (2005) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"District Court, E.D. Virginia"},"2":{"name":"Hansen v. Stanley Martin Companies, Inc.","case_number":"Record 022591","citation":"585 S.E.2d 567","date":"2003-09-12","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1059189\/hansen-v-stanley-martin-companies-inc\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. JUSTICE AGEE .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"},"3":{"name":"In re Franklin","case_number":"Civ. A. No. 88-1201-A","citation":"709 F. Supp. 109","date":"1989-03-24","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/8912170\/in-re-franklin\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. MEMORANDUM OPINION .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"District Court, E.D. Virginia"},"4":{"name":"Veitz v. Unisys Corp.","case_number":"Civ. A. 87-24-N","citation":"676 F. Supp. 99","date":"1987-11-17","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1626171\/veitz-v-unisys-corp\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 676 F.Supp. 99 (1987) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"District Court, E.D. Virginia"},"5":{"name":"School Board v. United States Gypsum Co.","case_number":"Record 870265","citation":"360 S.E.2d 325","date":"1987-09-04","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1323220\/school-board-v-united-states-gypsum-co\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. *43WHITING, J., .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"},"6":{"name":" .\u202f.\u202f. Steven J. Hatfill v. The New York Times Company, and .\u202f.\u202f. ","case_number":"04-2561","citation":"416 F.3d 320","date":"2005-07-28","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/791150\/steven-j-hatfill-v-the-new-york-times-company-and-nicholas-kristof\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 416 F.3d 320 .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"},"7":{"name":"Edwards v. Schwartz","case_number":"Case No. 7:18-cv-378","citation":"378 F. Supp. 3d 468","date":"2019-03-19","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/7335743\/edwards-v-schwartz\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. Michael F. Urbanski, Chief United States District Judge .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"District Court, W.D. Virginia"},"8":{"name":" .\u202f.\u202f. Blue Cross & Blue Shield Ass'n v. Group Hospitalization & .\u202f.\u202f. ","case_number":"Civ. A. 89-0999-A","citation":"744 F. Supp. 700","date":"1990-03-30","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1797428\/blue-cross-blue-shield-assn-v-group-hospitalization-medical-services\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 744 F.Supp. 700 (1990) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"District Court, E.D. Virginia"},"9":{"name":"Galustian v. Peter","case_number":"Action 2:08cv59","citation":"570 F. Supp. 2d 836","date":"2008-08-11","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1433141\/galustian-v-peter\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. (2008) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"District Court, E.D. Virginia"}}}},{"id":377032,"structure_id":53588,"section_number":"8.01-247.1","catch_line":"Limitation on action for defamation, etc","url":"\/8.01-247.1\/","token":"8.01\/4\/3\/8.01-247.1","metadata":false},{"id":377034,"structure_id":53588,"section_number":"8.01-248","catch_line":"Personal actions for which no other limitation is specified","url":"\/8.01-248\/","token":"8.01\/4\/3\/8.01-248","metadata":false},{"id":377035,"structure_id":53588,"section_number":"8.01-249","catch_line":"When cause of action shall be deemed to accrue in certain personal actions","url":"\/8.01-249\/","token":"8.01\/4\/3\/8.01-249","metadata":false},{"id":377038,"structure_id":53588,"section_number":"8.01-250","catch_line":"Limitation on certain actions for damages arising out of defective or unsafe condition of improvements to real property","url":"\/8.01-250\/","token":"8.01\/4\/3\/8.01-250","metadata":false},{"id":377037,"structure_id":53588,"section_number":"8.01-250.1","catch_line":"Limitation on actions involving removal of asbestos","url":"\/8.01-250.1\/","token":"8.01\/4\/3\/8.01-250.1","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":377035,"structure_id":53588,"section_number":"8.01-249","catch_line":"When cause of action shall be deemed to accrue in certain personal actions","url":"\/8.01-249\/","token":"8.01\/4\/3\/8.01-249","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":377037,"structure_id":53588,"section_number":"8.01-250.1","catch_line":"Limitation on actions involving removal of asbestos","url":"\/8.01-250.1\/","token":"8.01\/4\/3\/8.01-250.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/8.01-250\/","history_text":"<p>The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 4 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1964, chapter 333; in 1968, chapter 103; in 1973, chapter 247; in 1977, chapter 617.<\/p>","references":[{"id":377011,"section_number":"8.01-230","catch_line":"Accrual of right of action","order_by":null,"url":"\/8.01-230\/"},{"id":377238,"section_number":"8.01-39","catch_line":"Completion or acceptance of work not bar to action against independent contractor for personal injury, wrongful death or damage to property","order_by":null,"url":"\/8.01-39\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":377028,"section_number":"8.01-243","catch_line":"Personal action for injury to person or property generally; extension in actions for malpractice against health care provider","order_by":null,"url":"\/8.01-243\/"},{"id":377031,"section_number":"8.01-246","catch_line":"Personal actions based on contracts","order_by":null,"url":"\/8.01-246\/"}],"permalink":{"id":1508241,"object_type":"law","relational_id":377038,"identifier":"8.01-250","token":"8.01\/4\/3\/8.01-250","url":"\/8.01-250\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/8.01-250\/","token":"8.01\/4\/3\/8.01-250","dublin_core":{"Title":"Limitation on certain actions for damages arising out of defective or unsafe condition of improvements to real property","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 8.01-250","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>No <span class=\"dictionary\">action<\/span> to recover 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, nor any <span class=\"dictionary\">action<\/span> for contribution or indemnity for <span class=\"dictionary\">damages<\/span> sustained as a result of such injury, shall be brought against any <span class=\"dictionary\">person<\/span> performing or furnishing the design, planning, surveying, supervision of construction, or construction of such improvement to real property more than five years after the performance or furnishing of such services and construction.<\/p><p>The limitation prescribed in this section shall not apply to the manufacturer or supplier of any equipment or machinery or other articles installed in a structure upon real property, nor to any <span class=\"dictionary\">person<\/span> in actual <span class=\"dictionary\">possession<\/span> and in control of the improvement as owner, tenant or otherwise at the time the defective or unsafe condition of such improvement constitutes the proximate cause of the injury or damage for which the <span class=\"dictionary\">action<\/span> is brought; rather each such <span class=\"dictionary\">action<\/span> shall be brought within the time next after such injury occurs as provided in \u00a7\u00a7&nbsp;<a class=\"law\" title=\"Personal action for injury to person or property generally; extension in actions for malpractice against health care provider\" href=\"\/8.01-243\/\">8.01-243<\/a> and <a class=\"law\" title=\"Personal actions based on contracts\" href=\"\/8.01-246\/\">8.01-246<\/a>.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nLIMITATION ON CERTAIN ACTIONS FOR DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF DEFECTIVE OR UNSAFE\nCONDITION OF IMPROVEMENTS TO REAL PROPERTY (\u00a7 8.01-250)\n\nNo action to recover for any injury to property, real or personal, or for bodily\ninjury or wrongful death, arising out of the defective and unsafe condition of\nan improvement to real property, nor any action for contribution or indemnity\nfor damages sustained as a result of such injury, shall be brought against any\nperson performing or furnishing the design, planning, surveying, supervision of\nconstruction, or construction of such improvement to real property more than\nfive years after the performance or furnishing of such services and\nconstruction.\n\nThe limitation prescribed in this section shall not apply to the manufacturer or\nsupplier of any equipment or machinery or other articles installed in a\nstructure upon real property, nor to any person in actual possession and in\ncontrol of the improvement as owner, tenant or otherwise at the time the\ndefective or unsafe condition of such improvement constitutes the proximate\ncause of the injury or damage for which the action is brought; rather each such\naction shall be brought within the time next after such injury occurs as\nprovided in \u00a7\u00a7 8.01-243 and 8.01-246.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 8-24.2; 1964, c. 333; 1968, c. 103; 1973, c. 247; 1977,\nc. 617.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}