Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Chapter 55 - Limitation of Time
Section 5551 - No limitation applicable


A prosecution for the following offenses may be commenced at any time:
(1) Murder.
(2) Voluntary manslaughter.
(3) Conspiracy to commit murder or solicitation to commit murder if a murder results from the conspiracy or solicitation.
(4) Any felony alleged to have been perpetrated in connection with a murder of the first or second degree, as set forth in 18 Pa.C.S. § 2502(a) or (b) and (d) (relating to murder).
(5) A violation of 75 Pa.C.S. § 3742 (relating to accidents involving death or personal injury) or 3732 (relating to homicide by vehicle) if the accused was the driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in the death of any person.
(6) A violation of 18 Pa.C.S. § 2702(a)(1), (2), (4) or (7) (relating to aggravated assault) if the accused knew the victim was a law enforcement officer and the law enforcement officer was acting within the scope of the officer's duties.
(7) An offense under any of the following provisions of 18 Pa.C.S. (relating to crimes and offenses), or a conspiracy or solicitation to commit an offense under any of the following provisions of 18 Pa.C.S. if the offense results from the conspiracy or solicitation, if the victim was under 18 years of age at the time of the offense:
Section 3011(b) (relating to trafficking in individuals).
Section 3012 (relating to involuntary servitude) as it relates to sexual servitude.
Section 3121 (relating to rape).
Section 3122.1 (relating to statutory sexual assault).
Section 3123 (relating to involuntary deviate sexual intercourse).
Section 3124.1 (relating to sexual assault).
Section 3124.2 (relating to institutional sexual assault).
Section 3125 (relating to aggravated indecent assault).
Section 4302 (relating to incest).
(Oct. 5, 1980, P.L.693, No.142, eff. 60 days; Dec. 14, 1984, P.L.986, No.199, eff. 60 days; Dec. 19, 1984, P.L.1089, No.218, eff. imd.; Apr. 5, 1990, P.L.113, No.27, eff. 60 days; July 17, 2007, P.L.123, No.37, eff. 60 days; Nov. 26, 2019, P.L.641, No.87, eff. Nov. 26, 2019)

2019 Amendment. Act 87 added par. (7). See sections 9 and 10(1) of Act 87 in the appendix to this title for special provisions relating to severability and applicability.
2007 Amendment. Act 37 amended the entire section. Section 5 of Act 37 provided that the addition of par. (6) which provides for a new statute of limitations for certain violations of 18 Pa.C.S. § 2702(a)(1), (2), (4) or (7) shall apply to such aggravated assaults committed after the effective date of section 5.
Cross References. Section 5551 is referred to in sections 5552, 8522, 8542 of this title.

Structure Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes

Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes

Title 42 - JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE

Chapter 55 - Limitation of Time

Extra - Chapter Notes

Section 5501 - Scope of chapter

Section 5502 - Method of computing periods of limitation generally

Section 5503 - Commencement of matters

Section 5504 - Judicial extension of time

Section 5505 - Modification of orders

Section 5521 - Limitations on foreign claims

Section 5522 - Six months limitation

Section 5523 - One year limitation

Section 5524 - Two year limitation

Section 5524.1 - Limitation and application for asbestos claims (Unconstitutional)

Section 5525 - Four year limitation

Section 5526 - Five year limitation

Section 5527 - Six year limitation

Section 5527.1 - Ten year limitation

Section 5527.2 - Mesne profits

Section 5527.3 - Reimbursement

Section 5528 - Fifteen year limitation

Section 5529 - Twenty year limitation

Section 5530 - Twenty-one year limitation

Section 5531 - No limitation

Section 5532 - Absence or concealment

Section 5533 - Infancy, insanity or imprisonment

Section 5534 - War

Section 5535 - Effect of other actions and proceedings

Section 5536 - Construction projects

Section 5537 - Land surveying

Section 5538 - Landscape architecture

Section 5539 - Real estate appraisals

Section 5551 - No limitation applicable

Section 5552 - Other offenses

Section 5553 - Summary offenses involving vehicles

Section 5554 - Tolling of statute

Section 5571 - Appeals generally

Section 5571.1 - Appeals from ordinances, resolutions, maps, etc

Section 5572 - Time of entry of order

Section 5573 - Effect of application for rehearing

Section 5574 - Effect of application for amendment to qualify for interlocutory appeal