Eviction in Sonoma County (Santa Rosa), California
Where eviction cases are filed in Sonoma County (Santa Rosa), what it costs, local rent levels and where to get help — with the official court, county and HUD sources.
Quick facts: eviction in Sonoma County (Santa Rosa)
- Eviction court
- Superior Court of California, County of Sonoma — Superior Court (unlawful detainer, limited civil) Court page
- Filing fee
- $240 to $450 to file an eviction (unlawful detainer) case, depending on the amount demanded California Courts Self-Help Guide, Eviction forms
- 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)
- $2,827/month HUD
- Renter households
- 71,400 (37% of households) Census ACS 2020–2024
Last verified against official sources: 2026-10-23
Where eviction cases are filed in Sonoma County (Santa Rosa)
Eviction cases in Sonoma County (Santa Rosa) are heard by the Superior Court of California, County of Sonoma (Superior Court (unlawful detainer, limited civil)).
- Civil and Family Law Courthouse — 3055 Cleveland Ave., Santa Rosa, CA 95403 · website
Court eviction page · E-filing · Search court records · Self-help center
UD ex parte matters go to the Civil and Family Law Courthouse, (707) 521-6610.
How much it costs to file an eviction in Sonoma County (Santa Rosa)
$240 to $450 to file an eviction (unlawful detainer) case, depending on the amount demanded
Statewide range. If you can't afford the fee you can ask the court to waive it (fee waiver forms). Confirm the exact amount on the local court's fee schedule. Local fee page: https://www.sonoma.courts.ca.gov/forms-filing/fee-bail-schedules
Source: California Courts Self-Help Guide, Eviction forms
The California eviction process
California state law sets the notice periods and court steps everywhere in the state, including Sonoma County (Santa Rosa):
- 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 Sonoma County (Santa Rosa)
HUD FY2026 Fair Market Rents for the Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA MSA (the rent levels used for Section 8 vouchers):
| Studio | $1,949 |
|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | $2,155 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,827 |
| 3 bedrooms | $3,887 |
| 4 bedrooms | $4,147 |
Source: HUD Fair Market Rent documentation
Median gross rent in Sonoma County (Santa Rosa): $2,158/month (Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates).
Sonoma County Residential Tenancy Protections Ordinance (Ordinance No. 6496)
Applies: Rental properties in the unincorporated area of Sonoma County
- Just cause from start of tenancy: Just cause protections begin at the start of a covered tenancy (not after 12 months as under state law) and extend to income-restricted properties.
- Nonpayment evictions: Allowed only when past-due rent exceeds thirty days' rent, and no more than twice per calendar year.
- Relocation assistance: Where state law requires relocation payments, landlord pays the greater of actual rent or Fair Market Rent.
- Notices and reporting: Landlords must give tenants required information and a County-approved notice form, and report all terminations in unincorporated Sonoma County.
Eviction help in Sonoma County (Santa Rosa)
Free legal help
- Legal Aid of Sonoma County — Listed by the Superior Court under related links.
Other California counties
- Eviction in Los Angeles County (Los Angeles, Long Beach)
- Eviction in San Diego County (San Diego)
- 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 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 Sonoma County (Santa Rosa)?
How much does it cost to file an eviction in Sonoma County (Santa Rosa)?
Where can I get help with an eviction in Sonoma County (Santa Rosa)?
What is the fair market rent in Sonoma County (Santa Rosa)?
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.