Eviction in San Diego County (San Diego), California
Where eviction cases are filed in San Diego County (San Diego), what it costs, local rent levels and where to get help — with the official court, county and HUD sources.
Quick facts: eviction in San Diego County (San Diego)
- Eviction court
- Superior Court of California, County of San Diego - Central Division (Hall of Justice) — Superior Court (unlawful detainer cases) Court page
- Filing fee
- $240 (unlawful detainer, limited civil, demand up to $10,000); $385 (limited civil, over $10,000 to $35,000); $435 (unlimited, over $35,000). Tenant's answer: $225 / $370 / $435. Judicial Council of California, Statewide Civil Fee Schedule effective Jan. 1, 2026 (rows 2, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12; appendix for Riverside/San Bernardino/San Francisco)
- Notice before filing (state law)
- 3-day notice to pay rent or quit, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and judicial holidays. The notice must state the amount due, the name, phone number, and address of the person to pay, and the payment method. It may be served any time within one year after the rent becomes due. California rules
- HUD Fair Market Rent, 2-bedroom (FY2026)
- $3,001/month HUD
- Renter households
- 532,140 (45% of households) Census ACS 2020–2024
Last verified against official sources: 2026-10-22
Where eviction cases are filed in San Diego County (San Diego)
Eviction cases in San Diego County (San Diego) are heard by the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego - Central Division (Hall of Justice) (Superior Court (unlawful detainer cases)).
- Hall of Justice (Central Division) — 330 W. Broadway, Room 225, San Diego, CA 92101 · website
Court eviction page · E-filing · Search court records · Self-help center
The court states all unlawful detainer actions must be filed in the Central Division. UD departments hold virtual hearings (Teams links on the court's UD virtual hearings page).
How much it costs to file an eviction in San Diego County (San Diego)
$240 (unlawful detainer, limited civil, demand up to $10,000); $385 (limited civil, over $10,000 to $35,000); $435 (unlimited, over $35,000). Tenant's answer: $225 / $370 / $435.
Plaintiff UD fees include the extra $15 under CCP 1161.2 for limited civil UD. Low-income parties can ask the court to waive fees with Judicial Council form FW-001 (Request to Waive Court Fees). Sheriff/marshal service and lockout fees are separate and not included.
How eviction cases work locally
| Single filing location | All unlawful detainer actions are filed in the Central Division, Hall of Justice, 330 W. Broadway, Room 225. Source: Official source |
|---|---|
| Virtual hearings | UD departments hold virtual hearings via Microsoft Teams / conference phone. Source: Official source |
The California eviction process
California state law sets the notice periods and court steps everywhere in the state, including San Diego County (San Diego):
- Landlord serves a written notice: 3-day pay or quit, 3-day perform or quit, 3-day quit, or 30/60/90-day notice, with just cause stated where AB 1482 or local law applies
- Landlord files an Unlawful Detainer complaint and the tenant is served with the summons and complaint
- Tenant files a response (usually an Answer) within 10 days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and judicial holidays (5 more court days if served by mail through the Secretary of State's address confidentiality program)
- If the tenant answers, a trial is set (per the courts, usually about a month after the request); if not, the landlord can get a default judgment
- Judgment for possession; landlord obtains a Writ of Execution and delivers it to the sheriff
- Sheriff serves a Notice to Vacate giving the tenant 5 days, then performs the lockout
Full California eviction rules with sources →
Rent in San Diego County (San Diego)
HUD FY2026 Fair Market Rents for the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA MSA (the rent levels used for Section 8 vouchers):
| Studio | $2,288 |
|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | $2,459 |
| 2 bedrooms | $3,001 |
| 3 bedrooms | $3,998 |
| 4 bedrooms | $4,845 |
Source: HUD Fair Market Rent documentation
Median gross rent in San Diego County (San Diego): $2,246/month (Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates).
Metro-wide FY2026 FMR shown. HUD says all Housing Choice Voucher programs in this area use Small Area (ZIP-code) FMRs, which vary by ZIP; see the county page on huduser.gov.
County tenant ordinance
No county-level tenant protection ordinance for unincorporated San Diego County was found on official sites. City ordinances (e.g., City of San Diego, Chula Vista, Lemon Grove) apply within those cities only.
Eviction help in San Diego County (San Diego)
Free legal help
- Legal Aid Society of San Diego — Clinic at the Central Division; also the court's Sargent Shriver housing provider (866-244-0101).
- San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program — Landlord-tenant clinic at the North County Division.
Right to counsel: Sargent Shriver Housing Project: free legal representation in unlawful detainer cases for eligible low-income parties, provided by the Legal Aid Society of San Diego (866-244-0101). Not a universal right to counsel. Source
City rules in San Diego County (San Diego)
Other California counties
- Eviction in Los Angeles County (Los Angeles, Long Beach)
- Eviction in Orange County (Santa Ana, Anaheim, Irvine)
- Eviction in Santa Clara County (San Jose)
- Eviction in Alameda County (Oakland, Fremont, Hayward)
- Eviction in San Bernardino County (San Bernardino, Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga)
- Eviction in Riverside County (Riverside, Moreno Valley)
- Eviction in Sacramento County (Sacramento)
- Eviction in City and County of San Francisco
- Eviction in Fresno County (Fresno)
- Eviction in Contra Costa County (Concord, Richmond, Antioch)
- Eviction in Kern County (Bakersfield)
- Eviction in San Mateo County (San Mateo, Redwood City, Daly City)
- Eviction in Ventura County (Oxnard, Thousand Oaks, Ventura)
- Eviction in San Joaquin County (Stockton)
- Eviction in Sonoma County (Santa Rosa)
- Eviction in Santa Barbara County (Santa Maria, Santa Barbara)
- Eviction in Stanislaus County (Modesto)
- Eviction in Monterey County (Salinas)
- Eviction in Tulare County (Visalia)
- Eviction in Solano County (Vallejo)
- Eviction in San Luis Obispo County (San Luis Obispo)
- Eviction in Placer County (Roseville)
- Eviction in Merced County (Merced)
- Eviction in Santa Cruz County (Santa Cruz)
- Eviction in Marin County (San Rafael)
- Eviction in Butte County (Chico)
- Eviction in Yolo County (Davis)
Related
- California landlord-tenant law
- How long an eviction takes in California
- California eviction notice periods
- Notice deadline calculator
- How to evict a tenant in California (landlords)
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file an eviction in San Diego County (San Diego)?
How much does it cost to file an eviction in San Diego County (San Diego)?
Where can I get help with an eviction in San Diego County (San Diego)?
What is the fair market rent in San Diego County (San Diego)?
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.