How long does an eviction take in California?
For unpaid rent, expect about 8.5 weeks from the first notice to the lockout, and anywhere from 4.5 to 17.5 weeks if the tenant fights it or the court is busy.
Not legal advice. Estimates from public sources, checked Oct 17, 2026. Laws vary by county and city; talk to a local attorney before you act.
What would a rental in California actually earn?
We'll prefill California's numbers and include the eviction cost from this page.
- Median rent $2,104/mo
- Property tax 0.7%–0.71%
- Insurance $1,194–$1,697/yr
- Vacancy 4.3%
The California eviction timeline
Each step comes from California's rules, with the source linked. The typical case adds up to about 8.5 weeks; a contested hearing adds about 3 more. Timeline model.
- 1
Notice to pay or leave
5 days3 days to pay or quit, excluding weekends and court holidays (Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 1161(2))
- 2
File and get a judgment
21–75 days · typical 4010 court days after personal service to respond
- 3
Judgment to lockout
6–21 daysSheriff serves a 5-day notice to vacate after the writ of possession, then locks out
- 4
If the tenant appeals
30-day window30 days after notice of entry of judgment (max 90 days) to appeal a limited civil eviction (Cal. Rules of Court 8.822); an appeal does not automatically stop the eviction (CCP § 1176)
Can the tenant pay and stay? Can pay in full during the notice period. official source Source ↗
Evicting in Los Angeles? City rules add to the state rules. Los Angeles eviction timeline, fees and protections →
Evicting in San Francisco? City rules add to the state rules. San Francisco eviction timeline, fees and protections →
What an eviction costs in California
Court fees come from the fee schedules we found; most are set by county, so each one says where it applies. The calculator above adds them to your lost rent.
Court filing fee
Statewide$240–$385$240 for claims up to $10,000; $385 for $10,000-$25,000
Serving the tenant
Santa Barbara County Sheriff$50Sheriff service of an unlawful detainer summons and complaint $50 (Santa Barbara County Sheriff 2026 schedule)
Sheriff or marshal lockout
Santa Barbara County Sheriff$180Sheriff writ of possession, real property (eviction) $180; re-posting $105 (Santa Barbara County Sheriff 2026 schedule)
Lawyer, uncontested case
National estimate$500–$1,500Flat fees commonly charged when the tenant doesn't fight it. Not specific to this state; big-city rates run higher.
Lawyer, contested case
National estimate$2,000–$5,000+When the tenant contests the case. Not specific to this state.
Median gross rent
Census ACS 2024, 1-year$2,104/moCalifornia median gross rent, ±$9. The calculator starts here; change it to your rent.
Statewide rules that can slow things down
Statewide rent control: Yes
Statewide cap (AB 1482): 5% + CPI, max 10%
Statewide just-cause rules: Yes
Just cause required after 12 months of tenancy (AB 1482)
Right to counsel for tenants: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Seasonal or weather limits: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Required mediation or pre-filing program: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Local rules: Many cities add stricter local rent control and just-cause rules; San Francisco and Los Angeles have a tenant right to counsel.
California scores 49 out of 100
Faster timelines, fewer chances to pay-and-stay and fewer statewide tenant protections score higher.
California eviction FAQ
How long does an eviction take in California?
A nonpayment eviction in California typically takes about 8.5 weeks from notice to lockout, with a range of roughly 4.5 to 17.5 weeks. Contested cases, court backlogs and appeals can take longer. This is an LandlordCost estimate built from the state's notice period and court deadlines, last checked Oct 17, 2026.
How much notice does a landlord have to give for unpaid rent in California?
3 days to pay or quit, excluding weekends and court holidays (Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 1161(2)).
Can a tenant stop an eviction in California by paying the rent?
Can pay in full during the notice period.
How much does it cost to file an eviction in California?
The court filing fee is $240-$385 statewide. Service and lockout fees are extra. Lawyer fees commonly run about $500-$1,500 for an uncontested case (a national estimate).
How much does it cost to evict a tenant in California?
A typical uncontested nonpayment eviction in California costs a landlord roughly $5,100 to $6,200: about 8.5 weeks of lost rent at the median rent of $2,104/month (about $4,100), court and service fees of about $470-$615, and lawyer fees of about $500-$1,500 (a national estimate). A contested case running about 17.5 weeks can pass $11,100. These are LandlordCost estimates (Census ACS 2024 rent); they leave out rent owed before the notice, turnover and re-rent time.
Is California landlord-friendly for evictions?
California scores 49 out of 100 on the LandlordCost landlord-friendliness score (timeline 22.9/50, right to cure 14/20, statewide tenant protections 12/30). The formula is on our methodology page.
Sources and last-checked dates
Every field on this page has a source. Download the data: states.json · states.csv.
- Notice periodofficial sourceleginfo.legislature.ca.gov ↗
- Notice period (backup)secondary sourcenolo.com ↗
- Court deadlinesofficial sourceselfhelp.courts.ca.gov ↗
- Judgment to lockoutofficial sourceselfhelp.courts.ca.gov ↗
- Appealofficial sourcecourts.ca.gov ↗
- Filing feeofficial sourcecourts.ca.gov ↗
- Service feeofficial sourcesbsheriff.org ↗
- Lockout feeofficial sourcesbsheriff.org ↗
- Right to cureofficial sourceleginfo.legislature.ca.gov ↗
- Rent controlsecondary sourcenaahq.org ↗
- Just causesecondary sourcenmhc.org ↗
- Median rentofficial sourcewww2.census.gov ↗
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