28 USC § 1658 - Time limitations on the commencement of civil actions arising under Acts of Congress

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t28/s1658"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "28 USC § 1658 - Time limitations on the commencement of civil actions arising under Acts of Congress"
title_number: 28
title_name: "JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE"
section_number: "1658"
section_name: "Time limitations on the commencement of civil actions arising under Acts of Congress"
chapter_number: 111
chapter_name: "GENERAL PROVISIONS"
part_number: "V"
part_name: "PROCEDURE"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Added Pub. L. 101–650, title III, § 313(a), Dec. 1, 1990, 104 Stat. 5114; amended Pub. L. 107–204, title VIII, § 804(a), July 30, 2002, 116 Stat. 801.)"
---


# § 1658. Time limitations on the commencement of civil actions arising under Acts of Congress

**(a)** Except as otherwise provided by law, a civil action arising under an Act of Congress enacted after the date of the enactment of this section may not be commenced later than 4 years after the cause of action accrues.

**(b)** Notwithstanding subsection (a), a private right of action that involves a claim of fraud, deceit, manipulation, or contrivance in contravention of a regulatory requirement concerning the securities laws, as defined in section 3(a)(47) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(47)), may be brought not later than the earlier of—

**(1)** 2 years after the discovery of the facts constituting the violation; or

**(2)** 5 years after such violation.

---

**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 101–650, title III, § 313(a), Dec. 1, 1990, 104 Stat. 5114; amended Pub. L. 107–204, title VIII, § 804(a), July 30, 2002, 116 Stat. 801.)

## Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The date of the enactment of this section, referred to in subsec. (a), is the date of enactment of , which was approved .

### Amendments

2002— designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and added subsec. (b).

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2002 Amendment

> “The limitations period provided by
> 
> , United States Code, as added by this section, shall apply to all proceedings addressed by this section that are commenced on or after the date of enactment of this Act [
> 
> ].”

, , , provided that:

### Effective Date

> “The amendments made by this section [enacting this section] shall apply with respect to causes of action accruing on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [
> 
> ].”

, , , provided that:

### No Creation of Actions

> “Nothing in this section [amending this section and enacting provisions set out as a note under this section] shall create a new, private right of action.”

, , , provided that: