How to File an Eviction in Los Angeles County (Step-by-Step)

Evicting a tenant in Los Angeles County comes with extra complexity — between state law, the LA Rent Stabilization Ordinance (LARSO), and local court procedures, getting it right requires attention to detail. Here’s the complete step-by-step process.

Before You File: LA-Specific Rules

The LA Rent Stabilization Ordinance (LARSO)

If your rental property is within the City of LA and was built before October 1, 1978, LARSO may apply. This means: – Just cause eviction — You need a valid reason (nonpayment, nuisance, owner move-in, etc.) – Rent caps — Annual increases limited to 3–4% (set by the LA Housing Department) – Relocation assistance — Required for no-fault evictions (owner move-in, renovation, Ellis Act) – Registration — Your property must be registered with the Housing Department

Check if LARSO applies to your property at the LA Housing Department website or by calling (866) 557-7368.

AB 1482 (Statewide)

Even if LARSO doesn’t apply, the statewide Tenant Protection Act (AB 1482) may. It covers most properties not exempt under the law and provides: – Just cause eviction for tenants with 12+ months of tenure – Rent increase caps (5% + CPI, max 10%)

Step 1: Serve the Correct Notice

Reason	Notice Type	Period
Nonpayment of rent	3-Day Notice to Pay or Quit	3 days
Lease violation	3-Day Notice to Cure or Quit	3 days
Serious violation (can’t be fixed)	3-Day Notice to Quit	3 days
Month-to-month, <1 year	30-Day Notice to Quit	30 days
Month-to-month, 1+ years	60-Day Notice to Quit	60 days

Serve the notice using personal service, substituted service, or post-and-mail (see our 3-day notice guide for details).

Step 2: Wait for the Notice Period to Expire

Do not file before the notice period fully runs. For 3-day notices, the filing day is the day AFTER the 3rd day. Weekends and court holidays extend the deadline.

Step 3: Prepare the Unlawful Detainer Documents

Your filing package: – Complaint — Unlawful Detainer – SUM-130 (Summons) – CM-010 (Civil Case Cover Sheet) – Attachment with lease, notice, and proof of service

Step 4: File at the Correct LA County Courthouse

LA County has multiple courthouses for UD cases. File at the courthouse for the district where the property is located:

Area	Courthouse
Downtown LA, Hollywood, Westside	Stanley Mosk Courthouse, 111 N. Hill St.
Long Beach, South Bay	Gov. Deukmejian Courthouse, 275 Magnolia Ave.
Compton, South LA	Compton Courthouse, 200 W. Compton Blvd.
Pasadena, Northeast	Pasadena Courthouse, 300 E. Walnut St.
Burbank, Glendale	Burbank Courthouse, 300 E. Olive Ave.
Pomona, West Covina	Pomona Courthouse, 400 Civic Center Plaza
Torrance	Torrance Courthouse, 825 Maple Ave.
Santa Monica	Santa Monica Courthouse, 1725 Main St.
Van Nuys, North Valley	Van Nuys Courthouse, 6230 Sylmar Ave.
Inglewood	Inglewood Courthouse, 1 Regent St.

Filing fee: $385–$435

Step 5: Serve the Tenant

The tenant must be served with the Summons and Complaint within 60 days of filing. The tenant then has 5 business days to respond.

Step 6: Default or Trial

No response in 5 business days → Request default judgment
Tenant files Answer → Trial scheduled within ~20 days

Step 7: Writ of Possession and Sheriff Lockout

After winning judgment: 1. File for Writ of Possession 2. Deliver to the LA County Sheriff with fee ($165) 3. Sheriff posts 5-day notice on property 4. Sheriff returns for lockout if tenant hasn’t left

Total LA County Eviction Timeline

Scenario	Timeline
Nonpayment, default judgment	4–6 weeks
Nonpayment, contested	6–10 weeks
30-day notice, default	6–8 weeks
60-day notice, contested	10–14 weeks

How Superior Court Docs Can Help

LA County evictions have more rules, more courthouses, and more things that can go wrong than anywhere else in California. Superior Court Docs knows every courthouse, every local rule, and every common error.

Eviction documents starting at $899. 📞 (213) 973-7248 or get started.