| Alabama | 30 days | Ala. Code § 41-22-20 | Circuit Court | Unemployment: 10 days (§ 25-4-95); Workers’ comp: 30 days; Driver’s license: 30 days | Filed in circuit court of county where petitioner resides or where agency’s principal office is located. Must exhaust all administrative remedies before filing judicial review petition. |
| Alaska | 30 days | Alaska Stat. § 44.62.305(a) | Superior Court | Workers’ comp: 30 days (§ 23.30.125); Unemployment: 30 days; Oil & Gas Conservation: 30 days | Petition filed with superior court. Agency must file certified copy of record within 30 days of being served. Must exhaust all administrative remedies first. |
| Arizona | 35 days | A.R.S. § 12-904(A) | Superior Court (most); Court of Appeals (specified agencies) | Racing Commission: 15 days; Unemployment: 30 days; Workers’ comp: 30 days; Corporation Commission: Court of Appeals direct | Most agency orders go to superior court. Select agencies bypass directly to Court of Appeals under A.R.S. § 12-913. The 35-day deadline is strictly enforced. |
| Arkansas | 30 days | Ark. Code Ann. § 25-15-212(b) | Circuit Court | Workers’ comp: 20 days (§ 11-9-711); Unemployment: 20 days (§ 11-10-525); Board of Education: 30 days | Filed in circuit court of county where agency maintains principal office or where petitioner resides. Some agencies require administrative reconsideration before judicial filing. |
| California | 30 days | Cal. Gov’t Code § 11523; CCP § 1094.5 | Superior Court (writ of administrative mandamus) | CEQA: 30–35 days (Pub. Res. Code § 21167); Workers’ comp: 20 days; Driver’s license: 90 days (Veh. Code § 14401); Professional license: 30 days | CCP § 1094.5 writ of mandate is the primary vehicle. CCP § 1094.6 provides 90-day alternative SOL for local agency decisions. If no formal hearing was held, regular mandate (CCP § 1085) may apply. Strict exhaustion rule. |
| Colorado | 30 days | C.R.S. § 24-4-106(2) | District Court | Unemployment: 20 days (§ 8-74-107); Workers’ comp: 30 days; PUC orders: 30 days (§ 40-6-115) | Filed in district court of county where petitioner resides or where agency has principal office. Court reviews on administrative record without taking new evidence. |
| Connecticut | 45 days | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 4-183(c) | Superior Court | Unemployment: 30 days (§ 31-249b); Workers’ comp: 30 days; DMV: 30 days | One of the longer default deadlines at 45 days. Filed in Superior Court. Exhaustion of administrative remedies required. Court may not substitute its judgment on policy matters. |
| Delaware | 30 days | Del. Code Ann. tit. 29 § 10142(a) | Superior Court | Unemployment: 10 days (tit. 19 § 3323) ⚠️; Workers’ comp: 30 days; Merit Employee Relations Board: 30 days | Filed in Superior Court. Many agencies require exhaustion through an internal appeals board first. Unemployment’s 10-day window is among the shortest in the nation — act immediately upon receipt. |
| Florida | 30 days | Fla. Stat. § 120.68(2) | District Court of Appeal (direct — no trial court) | Professional licensing: 30 days; Workers’ comp: 30 days; PSC: 30 days; Driver’s license: 30 days | Unique structure: petition filed directly in the District Court of Appeal, bypassing trial court entirely. ‘Rendition’ means signed and filed with agency clerk. Formal DOAH hearing typically required first. DCA review is on the record. |
| Georgia | 30 days | O.C.G.A. § 50-13-19(b) | Superior Court | Workers’ comp: 20 days (§ 34-9-105); Unemployment: 15 days (§ 34-8-223); Professional license: 30 days | Filed in superior court of county where petitioner resides or where agency’s principal office is located. Exhaustion required. Scope of review limited to agency record. |
| Hawaii | 30 days | Haw. Rev. Stat. § 91-14(b) | Circuit Court | Land Use Commission: 20 days; Workers’ comp: 20 days (§ 386-88); Unemployment: 30 days | Filed in circuit court. Strict exhaustion requirement. Court reviews on the agency record. Intermediate Court of Appeals hears appeals from circuit court. |
| Idaho | 28 days | Idaho Code § 67-5273(1) | District Court | Driver’s license: 7 days (§ 49-209(4)) ⚠️; Workers’ comp: 30 days (§ 72-724); Professional license: 28 days | ⚠️ CRITICAL: One of the shortest default deadlines in the country at 28 days. Filed in district court of petitioner’s residence or in Ada County (Boise). Driver’s license revocations carry an extraordinary 7-day window. |
| Illinois | 35 days | 735 ILCS 5/3-103 | Circuit Court | Workers’ comp: 20 days (820 ILCS 305/19(f)); Tax: 35 days; Unemployment: 35 days; Environmental permits: 35 days | Administrative Review Law governs. Filing a petition for rehearing with the agency may toll the period. Circuit court reviews on the agency record; no new evidence taken. |
| Indiana | 30 days | Ind. Code § 4-21.5-5-5(b) | Court of Appeals (direct — most state agencies) | Unemployment: 30 days (§ 22-4-32-3); Workers’ comp: 30 days; Bureau of Motor Vehicles: 30 days | Most final state agency orders go directly to the Court of Appeals without trial court review, providing efficient but limited review. Some local agency decisions go to circuit/superior court. |
| Iowa | 30 days | Iowa Code § 17A.19(3) | District Court | Unemployment: 20 days (§ 96.6(9)); Workers’ comp: 30 days (§ 86.26); Driver’s license: 30 days | Filed in district court of county where petitioner resides, conducts business, or where agency has principal office. Strict exhaustion required. Court reviews agency record. |
| Kansas | 30 days | Kan. Stat. Ann. § 77-613(a) | District Court | Unemployment: 16 days (§ 44-709(i)); Workers’ comp: 30 days; KCC utilities: 30 days | Filed in district court. Every issue must be specifically identified in the petition or it is waived on appeal. Kansas uses a modified MSAPA approach. |
| Kentucky | 30 days | Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 13B.140(1) | Circuit Court | Workers’ comp: 30 days (§ 342.285); Public Service Commission: 30 days; Unemployment: 30 days | Filed in Franklin Circuit Court (Frankfort) or circuit court of petitioner’s residence. KRS ch. 13B governs formal hearings. Some agencies have their own specific APA provisions. |
| Louisiana | 30 days | La. R.S. § 49:964(B) | District Court (19th JDC, Baton Rouge, or petitioner’s parish) | Unemployment: 15 days (§ 23:1634); Workers’ comp: 30 days; Board of Cosmetology: 30 days | Filed in 19th JDC (East Baton Rouge Parish) or district court where petitioner resides. Louisiana uses civil law tradition; liberative prescription concepts apply alongside APA provisions. |
| Maine | 30 days | Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 5 § 11002(3) | Superior Court | Unemployment: 15 days (tit. 26 § 1194(7)); Workers’ comp: 20 days; PUC: 30 days | Filed in Superior Court. M.R. Civ. P. 80C governs the procedure. Agency must transmit the record to court within 30 days of service of the petition. |
| Maryland | 30 days | Md. Rule 7-203(a) | Circuit Court | Workers’ comp: 30 days (Lab. & Empl. § 9-726); MVA: 30 days; Unemployment: 30 days | Clock runs from the later of: (1) date of order; (2) date agency mailed notice; or (3) date petitioner received notice. A second petitioner may file within 10 days of agency’s mailing of notice of the first petition. Treated as a statute of limitations. |
| Massachusetts | 30 days | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30A § 14(1) | Superior Court | Unemployment: 30 days (ch. 151A § 42); Workers’ comp: 30 days; Appellate Tax Board: 30 days; Sex offender registry: 30 days | Court may extend time upon application filed within 30-day period for good cause. Filed in Superior Court of petitioner’s county, agency’s principal office county, or Suffolk County. |
| Michigan | 60 days | MCL 24.304(1) | Circuit Court | Unemployment: 30 days (MCL 421.38); Workers’ comp: 30 days (MCL 418.861a); Tax Tribunal: 35 days; Driver’s license: 63 days | One of the longest default APA deadlines in the country at 60 days. Filed in circuit court of county where petitioner resides or has principal place of business. Circuit court reviews on the record. |
| Minnesota | 30 days | Minn. Stat. §§ 14.63, 14.64 | Court of Appeals (direct — most state agencies) | Unemployment: 20 days (§ 268.105 subd. 7); Workers’ comp: 30 days; Tax: 60 days from Tax Court order; Driver’s license: 30 days | Direct review to Court of Appeals without trial court review. Petitioner must file with both the Court and the agency simultaneously. Parties must preserve issues during agency proceeding or they are waived. |
| Mississippi | 30 days | Miss. Code Ann. § 25-43-4.105(1) | Circuit Court | Unemployment: 10 days (§ 71-5-531) ⚠️; Workers’ comp: 20 days (§ 71-3-51); Driver’s license: 30 days | Filed in circuit court of county where petitioner resides. Mississippi APA (MAPA) governs most agencies. Some specialized agencies have separate statutes. Unemployment 10-day window is jurisdictional. |
| Missouri | 30 days | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 536.110(1) | Circuit Court | Unemployment: 30 days (§ 288.210); Workers’ comp: 20 days (§ 287.495); PSC: 30 days | 30 days runs from the date the agency decision becomes final. A petition for rehearing may toll the period. Filed in circuit court of county where petitioner’s place of business is located or where cause of action arose. |
| Montana | 30 days | Mont. Code Ann. § 2-4-702(2)(a) | District Court | Unemployment: 30 days (§ 39-51-2410); Workers’ comp: 30 days; PSC: 30 days | Filed in district court of county where petitioner resides or where agency has principal office. Montana APA is modeled on the revised MSAPA. |
| Nebraska | 30 days | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 84-917(2) | District Court | Unemployment: 30 days (§ 48-660); Workers’ comp: 30 days; PSC: 30 days (§ 75-136) | Filed in district court of county where petitioner resides or has principal place of business. Exhaustion required. Court reviews de novo on questions of law; substantial evidence standard on facts. |
| Nevada | 30 days | Nev. Rev. Stat. § 233B.130(2) | District Court | Unemployment: 11 days (§ 612.530(1)) ⚠️; Workers’ comp: 30 days; Gaming Control Board: 30 days; Driver’s license: 30 days | Filed in district court of county where agency is located or where petitioner resides. Unemployment’s 11-day window is one of the nation’s shortest. Gaming decisions may go to district court in Carson City (Washoe County). |
| New Hampshire | 30 days | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 541:6 | Supreme Court (direct — most agencies) | Unemployment: 30 days (§ 282-A:67); Workers’ comp: 30 days; PUC: 30 days | Unusual structure: most agency appeals go directly to the NH Supreme Court, bypassing all intermediate courts. Some agencies allow appeal to Superior Court first under specific statutes. |
| New Jersey | 45 days | N.J. Ct. R. 2:2-3(a)(2) | Appellate Division, Superior Court (direct) | Unemployment: 21 days (N.J.S.A. 43:21-6.3); Workers’ comp: 30 days; Tax Court: 90 days from mailing; Casino Control: 45 days | Like Florida, NJ provides direct appellate review with no trial-level review. No default right to an administrative record at trial level. One of only two states (with Florida) with direct appellate review as the default path. |
| New Mexico | 30 days | N.M. Stat. Ann. § 39-3-1.1(A) | Court of Appeals (direct — most state agencies) | Unemployment: 30 days (§ 51-1-8(U)); Workers’ comp: 30 days; Environment Dept.: 30 days | Direct review in Court of Appeals for most state agency final orders. Trial-level review in district court for certain local agency decisions and specified exceptions. |
| New York | 4 months (120 days) | CPLR § 217(1) | Supreme Court (Article 78 Proceeding) | Workers’ comp: 30 days (WCL § 23); State Tax: 30 days (Tax Law § 2016); DHCR rent orders: 60 days; DMV: 60 days; Zoning Board: 30 days (Town Law § 267-c); NYC agencies: 30 days (NYC Charter § 25); School personnel dismissal: 30 days (Educ. Law § 310) | New York’s Article 78 proceeding has the longest default deadline of any state — but MANY specialized agencies carry much shorter jurisdictional periods. The 4-month period runs from the date the determination ‘becomes final and binding.’ It is a hard jurisdictional limit with extremely limited tolling. |
| North Carolina | 30 days | N.C. Gen. Stat. § 150B-45(a) | Superior Court (Wake County or petitioner’s county) | Unemployment: 10 days (§ 96-15(i)) ⚠️; Workers’ comp: 14 days; DMV: 30 days (§ 20-25); DENR permits: 30 days | Contested cases first heard by OAH (Office of Administrative Hearings). Agency issues final decision after OAH recommended decision. The 30-day clock runs from the agency’s final decision, not the OAH recommendation. Workers’ comp 14-day window is very tight. |
| North Dakota | 30 days | N.D. Cent. Code § 28-32-42(1) | District Court | Unemployment: 30 days (§ 52-06-27); Workers’ comp: 30 days; PSC: 30 days | Filed in district court of county where petitioner resides or where agency is located. North Dakota APA is modeled on the MSAPA. Record transmitted to court within 30 days. |
| Ohio | 15 days | Ohio Rev. Code § 119.12(B) | Court of Common Pleas | Public Utilities Commission: 60 days (§ 4903.11); Unemployment: 30 days (§ 4141.282(D)); Workers’ comp: 30 days; Liquor Control: 15 days | ⚠️ CRITICAL: SHORTEST default deadline in the nation at only 15 days from mailing of notice. Courts have dismissed appeals filed on day 16. Some agencies (PUC, Board of Tax Appeals) have their own longer deadlines that supersede § 119.12. Always verify whether the specific agency has a different statute. |
| Oklahoma | 30 days | Okla. Stat. tit. 75 § 322(1) | District Court | Unemployment: 20 days (tit. 40 § 2-610); Workers’ comp: 20 days; Corporation Commission: Court of Civil Appeals (direct) | Filed in district court of county where petitioner resides. Oklahoma APA governs most agencies. Corporation Commission (oil, gas, utilities) decisions bypass trial court and go directly to Court of Civil Appeals. |
| Oregon | 60 days | ORS § 183.482(1) | Court of Appeals (direct — most state agencies) | Land Use (LUBA): 21 days from LUBA final order (ORS 197.830); Workers’ comp: 30 days (ORS 656.298); Unemployment: 30 days; Driver’s license: 90 days | Direct review to Court of Appeals for most state agencies. Land use decisions go first to LUBA (Land Use Board of Appeals), then separately to Court of Appeals within 21 days of the LUBA order. Oregon has one of the longer default deadlines at 60 days. |
| Pennsylvania | 30 days | 2 Pa.C.S. § 702; Pa. R.A.P. 1512(a)(1) | Commonwealth Court (state agencies); Court of Common Pleas (local agencies) | Unemployment: 15 days (43 P.S. § 874); Workers’ comp: 20 days (77 P.S. § 853); PUC: 30 days; Environmental hearings: 30 days | Unique: Pennsylvania has a dedicated Commonwealth Court that handles all state agency appeals — no other state has this structure. Local agency decisions go to Common Pleas, not Commonwealth Court. Unemployment 15-day window is very tight. |
| Rhode Island | 30 days | R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-35-15(b) | Superior Court | Unemployment: 10 days (§ 28-44-53) ⚠️; Workers’ comp: 30 days; DMV: 30 days | Filed in Superior Court. Petition must include a copy of the final order. Unemployment 10-day window is jurisdictional — consider fax or hand delivery to clerk’s office. Rhode Island APA closely follows the MSAPA model. |
| South Carolina | 30 days | S.C. Code Ann. § 1-23-380(A) | Circuit Court | Unemployment: 30 days; Workers’ comp: 30 days (§ 42-17-60); Professional license: 30 days | Some state agency decisions first go to Administrative Law Court (ALC) before circuit court review. Circuit court then reviews ALC orders. This two-tier system means some parties are at their third hearing level by the time they reach circuit court. |
| South Dakota | 30 days | S.D. Codified Laws § 1-26-30 | Circuit Court | Unemployment: 30 days (§ 61-6-35); Workers’ comp: 30 days (§ 62-7-18); Driver’s license: 30 days | Filed in circuit court of county where petitioner resides or where the agency action was taken. South Dakota APA is modeled on MSAPA. Exhaustion of administrative remedies required. |
| Tennessee | 60 days | Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-5-322(b)(1)(A) | Chancery Court or Circuit Court (Davidson County or petitioner’s county) | Unemployment: 15 days (§ 50-7-304(c)); Workers’ comp: 60 days; Professional license: 60 days | Second-longest default deadline at 60 days. Filed in chancery court or circuit court. Tennessee uses contested case hearings before administrative judges; agency head makes final decision after ALJ recommendation. Unemployment window of 15 days is dramatically shorter than the default. |
| Texas | 30 days | Tex. Gov’t Code § 2001.176(a) | District Court (Travis County / Austin, or petitioner’s county) | Unemployment: 14 days (Lab. Code § 212.202); Workers’ comp: 20 days (Lab. Code § 410.255); TCEQ permits: 30 days; PUC: 30 days | Default venue is Travis County (Austin/state capital). Petitioner may also file in county of residence or where cause arose. SOAH (State Office of Administrative Hearings) conducts hearings; agency issues final order; 30 days runs from that final order. |
| Utah | 30 days | Utah Code Ann. § 63G-4-401(3)(a) | District Court | Unemployment: 30 days (§ 35A-4-508); Workers’ comp: 30 days (§ 34A-2-801); DABC: 30 days | Filed in district court of county where petitioner resides or where agency action was taken. Utah APA generally tracks MSAPA. Some agencies provide internal reconsideration rights that must be exhausted first before judicial review. |
| Vermont | 30 days | Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 3 § 815(a) | Superior Court (Civil Division); Environmental Division for land use | Unemployment: 30 days (tit. 21 § 1348); Workers’ comp: 30 days (tit. 21 § 672); Environmental permits: Environmental Division | Environmental and land use decisions are reviewable by the Environmental Division of Superior Court — a specialized tribunal. General agency orders go to the Civil Division. Vermont APA closely follows MSAPA model. |
| Virginia | 30 days | Va. Code Ann. § 2.2-4026; § 2.2-4029 | Circuit Court; Court of Appeals (SCC orders direct) | Unemployment: 30 days (§ 60.2-625); Workers’ comp: 30 days (§ 65.2-706); DMV: 30 days; SCC orders: Court of Appeals direct (§ 12.1-39) | For rule-making challenges: 30 days from effective date. For contested case orders: 30 days from entry. State Corporation Commission (SCC — utilities, insurance, banking) orders go directly to the Court of Appeals, bypassing circuit courts. |
| Washington | 30 days | RCW 34.05.542(2) | Superior Court (Thurston County / Olympia, or petitioner’s county) | Unemployment: 30 days (RCW 50.32.070); Workers’ comp: 30 days (RCW 51.52.110); Growth Management Hearings Board (GMHB): 21 days | Default venue is Thurston County (state capital/Olympia). Petitioner may file in county of residence. GMHB handles land-use/growth management decisions; separate 21-day window to appeal GMHB orders to Court of Appeals. |
| West Virginia | 30 days | W. Va. Code § 29A-5-4(b) | Circuit Court | Unemployment: 30 days (§ 21A-7-14); Workers’ comp: 30 days (§ 23-5-15); PSC: 30 days | Filed in circuit court of county where administrative body is located, where petitioner resides, or where cause of action arose. West Virginia APA closely tracks MSAPA. Exhaustion required. |
| Wisconsin | 30 days | Wis. Stat. § 227.53(1)(a)2 | Circuit Court | Unemployment: 21 days (§ 108.09(7)(b)); Workers’ comp: 30 days (§ 102.23); Tax Appeals Commission: 60 days; Driver’s license: 30 days | Filed in circuit court of county where petitioner resides or has principal place of business, or where subject matter of action is located. Wisconsin APA is one of the more detailed in the country. |
| Wyoming | 30 days | Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 16-3-114(a) | District Court | Unemployment: 30 days (§ 27-3-404); Workers’ comp: 30 days (§ 27-14-616); Oil & Gas: 30 days | Filed in district court of county where petitioner resides or where agency action occurred. Wyoming APA tracks MSAPA model. Some boards (e.g., Board of Parole) have specific statutes that supersede the general APA. |