Is the eviction filing fee the same in every California county?

Almost. The base fee is set statewide, but Riverside County and San Bernardino County and San Francisco County add a local courthouse-construction surcharge, so some amounts are higher there. County pages show the exact local figure.

What does the $240 fee not include?

Serving the other party (billed separately by the sheriff, constable, process server, or clerk), certified copies, publication notices where required, and attorney's fees. The notes above cover what service typically costs for this case type.

California Eviction Filing Fees by County

Filing a eviction case in California costs $240, paid to the Superior Court Clerk (Superior Court). That base fee holds in 55 of 58 counties; Riverside and San Bernardino and San Francisco add a local surcharge.

Filing	Fee
Unlawful detainer complaint, amount claimed up to $10,000 $225 limited-civil first paper + $15 fee under Code Civ. Proc. § 1161.2 — Gov. Code §§ 70613(b), 70602.5; Code Civ. Proc. § 1161.2	$240
Unlawful detainer complaint, amount claimed $10,000 to $35,000 Gov. Code §§ 70613(a), 70602.5; Code Civ. Proc. § 1161.2	$385
Unlawful detainer complaint, amount claimed over $35,000 Gov. Code §§ 70611, 70602.5, 70602.6	$435

Source: Superior Court of California — Statewide Civil Fee Schedule (effective Jan. 1, 2026) — schedule dated 2026-01-01, last checked 2026-08-25.

The tenant filing an answer pays the matching first-appearance fee for the case level (for most evictions, $240 up to $10,000 claimed).
Service of the summons and a writ of possession after judgment are billed separately by the sheriff or a registered process server.

Eviction fees by county

Common questions

Is the eviction filing fee the same in every California county?: Almost. The base fee is set statewide, but Riverside County and San Bernardino County and San Francisco County add a local courthouse-construction surcharge, so some amounts are higher there. County pages show the exact local figure.
What does the $240 fee not include?: Serving the other party (billed separately by the sheriff, constable, process server, or clerk), certified copies, publication notices where required, and attorney's fees. The notes above cover what service typically costs for this case type.