How long does an uncontested California eviction take?

5–9 weeks from notice to sheriff lockout in 2026. AB 2347 (effective January 1, 2025) added roughly a week by extending the tenant answer window from 5 to 10 court days.

What about contested cases?

3–6 months typical. Habitability counterclaims, retaliation defenses, legal-aid representation can push past 6 months. Plan to the longer timeline.

What causes the longest delays?

Tenant bankruptcy filings (automatic stay), motions to set aside default, appeals, habitability defenses requiring evidence, court calendar backlogs in specific counties.

Does the county matter?

Yes. OC Superior Court runs efficient UD calendars. LA County is busier. Bay Area counties have varied congestion. Sheriff scheduling adds 1–3 weeks after the writ regardless of county.

Can I speed up the timeline?

Limited. Procedural deadlines are statutory. Speed comes from getting every step right the first time — defective notices and improper service add weeks each.

Week-by-week timeline 2026

California eviction timeline. 5–9 weeks uncontested in 2026.

AB 2347 extended the answer window; the 2026 baseline added roughly a week to the pre-2025 timeline. Bankruptcy, set-aside motions, and habitability defenses push contested cases past 6 months.

TL;DR

Uncontested 5–9 weeks. Contested 3–6 months. AB 2347 (Jan 2025) extended tenant answer from 5 to 10 court days. Sheriff scheduling adds 1–3 weeks after writ. Bankruptcy stays, set-aside motions, habitability defenses extend further.

Week	Stage	Status
0	Serve 3-day or 30/60/90-day notice	Day 0
1	Notice period runs	Wait
1–2	File UD, serve summons	Initiated
2–4	Tenant 10-court-day answer window (post-AB 2347)	Pending
4–5	Default judgment OR trial set	Decided
5–6	Trial (contested cases) or judgment entry	Resolved
6–7	Writ of possession issued	Writ in hand
7–9	Sheriff posts 5-day, schedules lockout	Imminent
9+	Sheriff lockout	Possession restored

Common questions — timeline

Uncontested timeline?

5–9 weeks in 2026.

Contested?

3–6 months.

Longest delays?

Bankruptcy, set-aside, appeals, habitability defenses.

County matters?

Yes. OC efficient. LA County busier. Bay Area varied.

Speed it up?

Get every step right first time. Procedural deadlines are statutory.