How long does an eviction take in California?
For unpaid rent, expect about 8.5 weeks from the first notice to the lockout in California, and anywhere from 4.5 to 17.5 weeks if the tenant fights it or the court is busy.
California eviction timeline, step by step
- Notice to pay or leave 5 daysofficial source
3 days to pay or quit, excluding weekends and court holidays (Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 1161(2)) source · secondary source - File the case and get a judgment about 21-75 days (typical 40)official source
10 court days after personal service to respond source - Judgment to lockout 6-21 daysofficial source
Sheriff serves a 5-day notice to vacate after the writ of possession, then locks out source - If the tenant appeals 30-day windowofficial source
30 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) source
Timeline model: notice + filing-to-judgment window + judgment-to-lockout window; the high case adds 21 days for a contested hearing. Methodology.
Can the tenant pay and stay?
Can pay in full during the notice period. official source source
Eviction costs in California
| Cost | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Court filing fee | $240-$385 | Statewide: $240 for claims up to $10,000; $385 for $10,000-$25,000 official source source |
| Serving the tenant | $50 | Santa Barbara County Sheriff: Sheriff service of an unlawful detainer summons and complaint $50 (Santa Barbara County Sheriff 2026 schedule) official source source |
| Sheriff/marshal lockout | $180 | Santa Barbara County Sheriff: Sheriff writ of possession, real property (eviction) $180; re-posting $105 (Santa Barbara County Sheriff 2026 schedule) official source source |
| Lawyer, uncontested | $500-$1,500 | National rough estimate, not state-specific estimate |
| Lawyer, contested | $2,000-$5,000+ | National rough estimate estimate |
| Median gross rent | $2,104/mo | Census ACS 2024 1-year (±$9) data file |
Tenant protections
| Statewide rent control | Yes | Statewide cap (AB 1482): 5% + CPI, max 10% secondary source source |
| Statewide just-cause rules | Yes | Just cause required after 12 months of tenancy (AB 1482) secondary source source |
| 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 / pre-filing program | No | None statewide found in the sources we checked |
| Local rules | Check | Many cities add stricter local rent control and just-cause rules; San Francisco and Los Angeles have a tenant right to counsel. |
Eviction cost calculator for California
| What | Typical | Low to high |
|---|
Full timeline and sources · Total = rent × (months behind + months to evict + months to re-rent) + court fees + lawyer + turnover. How we calculate.
Tenant screening
Reserved for a tenant-screening partner (credit, eviction and background checks). No partner yet; nothing here is a recommendation.
Rent-guarantee insurance
Reserved for a rent-guarantee or landlord insurance partner that covers unpaid rent and eviction costs. No partner yet.
Landlord-friendliness score: 49/100
Timeline 22.9/50 · right to cure 14/20 · statewide protections 12/30. How the score works.
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 EvictionMath estimate built from the state's notice period and court deadlines, last checked 2026-10-17.
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).
Is California landlord-friendly for evictions?
California scores 49 out of 100 on the EvictionMath 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
| Field | Source type | Link | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notice period | official source | leginfo.legislature.ca.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Notice period (backup) | secondary source | www.nolo.com | 2026-10-17 |
| Court deadlines | official source | www.selfhelp.courts.ca.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Judgment to lockout | official source | www.selfhelp.courts.ca.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Appeal | official source | courts.ca.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Filing fee | official source | courts.ca.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Service fee | official source | www.sbsheriff.org | 2026-10-17 |
| Lockout fee | official source | www.sbsheriff.org | 2026-10-17 |
| Rent control | secondary source | naahq.org | 2026-10-17 |
| Just cause | secondary source | www.nmhc.org | 2026-10-17 |
| Median rent | official source | census.gov (ACS B25064) | 2026-10-17 |
Every field on this page has a source. Found an error? Laws change; tell us via the newsletter reply.
Compare similar states
New Jersey (49, 7 wk) · New York (43, 11.5 wk) · Washington (43, 6 wk) · Vermont (56, 11 wk) · Maryland (59, 6.5 wk)